Survivor 50, worth playing for?
Absolutely, especially for Survivor 49’s Savannah Louie and Rizo Velovic, who were announced Dec. 17 as the final two contestants for the CBS show’s 50th season.
Savannah and Rizo—who placed first and fourth, respectively, on the Dec. 17 finale—join previously announced castaways including The White Lotus creator and season 39 alum Mike White, season 45 winner Dee Valladares and season 48 champ Kyle Fraser.
Missing from the tribes? Season 40 Winners at War castaways like Boston Rob Mariano and Parvati Shallow.
"We made a decision not to bring any of the winners from Winners at War because we had just seen them and it was a big season," host Jeff Probst previously explained. "That was the reason why. That simple."
But fans will still get contestants with plenty of Survivor experience. After all, Aubry Braco—back for her fourth time—Ozzy Lusth—returning for his fifth play—and Cirie Fields, who has been hailed the greatest player to never win by fans, will be hitting the beaches of Fiji.
“I can tell you one thing about season 50, and I haven't said this about any other season,” Cirie told E! News in July. “I've watched since Richard Hatch [won season one]. I'm a fan as well as a contestant. Best season ever. Best. Not just because I was there. Best. Season. Ever.”
After all, Jeff dug deep when selecting the all-star cast.
“I printed out their faces on 4×6 magnetic sheets with their names, the season they first played and how old they will be if they play in 50,” the 63-year-old told Variety in August 2024. “I’m going to put them on the whiteboard and take in the very first steps toward what I think will go down as the most enjoyable problem we’ve ever had to solve: How are you going to get this down to a handful of people to play Survivor 50 that will satisfy the fans and will honor 50 seasons?”
As he put it, “50’s gotta be a celebration. Let’s do a great season of Survivor but put an emphasis on the word ‘fun.'"
So who will outwit, outplay and outlast? Only time will tell when Survivor season 50 premieres February 25, 2026. Until then, grab your torch and get to know all the stars competing for that $1 million prize…
Mike White
Season 37 (DAVID VS. GOLIATH)
Cirie Fields
Seasons 12 (PANAMA-EXILE ISLAND), 16 (MICRONESIA – FANS VS. FAVORITES), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS), 34 (GAME CHANGERS)
Ozzy Lusth
Seasons 13 (COOK ISLANDS), 16 (MICRONESIA – FANS VS. FAVORITES), 23 (SOUTH PACIFIC), 34 (GAME CHANGERS)
Benjamin "Coach" Wade
Seasons 18 (TOCANTINS – THE BRAZILIAN HIGHLANDS), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS), 23 (SOUTH PACIFIC)
Stephanie Lagrossa Kendrick
Seasons 10 (PALAU), 11 (GUATEMALA), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS)
Jenna Lewis-Dougherty
Seasons 1 (BORNEO), 8 (ALL-STARS)
Colby Donaldson
Seasons 2 (THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK), 8 (ALL-STARS), 20 (HEROES VS. VILLAINS)
Tiffany Ervin
Season 46
Charlie Davis
Season 46
Q Burdette
Season 46
Emily Flippen
Season 45
Dee Valladares
Season 45 Winner
Jonathan Young
Season 42
Christian Hubicki
Season 37 (DAVID VS. GOLIATH)
Angelina Keeley
Season 37 (DAVID VS. GOLIATH)
Kyle Fraser
Season 48 Winner
Aubry Bracco
Seasons 32 (KAÔH RONG – BRAINS VS. BRAWN VS. BEAUTY), 34 (GAME CHANGERS), 38 (EDGE OF EXTINCTION)
Chrissy Hofbeck
Season 35 (HEROES VS. HEALERS VS. HUSTLERS)
Rick Devens
Season 38 (EDGE OF EXTINCTION)
Kamilla Karthigesu
Season 48
Joseph Hunter
Season 48
Genevieve Mushaluk
Season 47
Savannah Louie
Survivor 49
Rizo Velovic
Survivor 49