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'Survivor 50': Who deserves to win? The cases for the final 5 players

May 19, 2026  Twila Rosenbaum  2 views
'Survivor 50': Who deserves to win? The cases for the final 5 players

At this point, it's Rizo's game to lose. But the same can be said for any of the five remaining contestants heading into Wednesday's Survivor 50 finale, where one sole player will walk away with a juiced-up $2 million prize.

But who will it be? Will it be upstart Rizo Velovic, who entered as the ultimate question mark because none of the other contestants had seen his season of Survivor? Or will it be Tiffany Ervin, who has won three key Immunity Challenges? Here's a breakdown of the remaining five, their cases for winning, and some ancillary awards from the historic season.

Why Rizo should win

He came in as the Wild Card — an unknown in a cast of knowns. Rizo Velovic was a cast member on Survivor 49, which wrapped filming just weeks before Survivor 50 started taping. None of the other players knew who this kid calling himself "RizGod" was or why he was so cocky. But he came on as a fanboy, geeking out over his favorite Survivor players. He was targeted early but struck up a key alliance with Cirie and Ozzy, which provided protection. He also held an Idol that kept him safe so much that he never had to play it. Rizo had one of the highest mountains to climb, and even making it this far puts him near the top. Is it enough to win $2 million? That is the question.

Why Aubry should win

Oddsmakers have Aubry Bracco as the overwhelming favorite. This would be her first Survivor win after three previous attempts. She played a stealthy, strategic game and took credit for the ouster of Ozzy Lusth after leaking his strategy. "I had one mission: get Ozzy out of this game. And I just drove the nail into his coffin," she said. "I've learned my lesson. This time, I'm ruthlessly focused on one thing: get rid of every threat. That ember of fire inside me is bigger. Now it's go-time." Major threats have been eliminated, and she's still standing. Maybe now it's finally her time.

Why Joe should win

Joseph "Joe" Hunter has an unflashy nickname and an unflashy game. This holdover from Season 48 finished as second runner-up in his previous season. This time, he played a solid physical game, winning several challenges, and kept a cool head socially. But he doesn't seem pivotal enough to major moves; he was never targeted because others knew they'd be safe against him in a jury vote. That same unflashiness may cost him the title.

Why Jonathan should win

Jonathan Young, the bearded hulk from Survivor 42, is the closest this season came to Jason Momoa. His physical stature made him a great asset in challenges. But was his strategy enough? Heading into the finale, Jonathan falls into the middle category with Joe — good enough to make the finale, but perhaps not exemplary enough to win the whole thing. They might cancel each other out.

Why Tiffany should win

Tiffany Ervin was on her way out last week until she won the Immunity Challenge that brought her to the finale and resulted in Cirie Fields' exit. She showed up at key moments. The Season 46 veteran came eighth in her previous season, sent home with an Idol in her pocket. This time, she won several challenges (nearly another but was disqualified after review) and played a sneaky good social game. She came on strong in the second half and made a solid case. But will the jury agree?

And now, other Survivor 50 awards:

Most Entertaining Player

Rick Devens was the life of the party — causing chaos, stirring up trouble, and creating intrigue. He made a show out of a fake Idol and even volunteered to flip a coin to increase the jackpot from $1 million to $2 million. His luck ran so hot it seemed his Shot in the Dark would come up in his favor. It didn't, ending his game prematurely — or way after he should have been gone. He was the MVP, the agent of chaos that kept the engine revving.

The 'Got Too Cocky' Award

Ozzy Lusth, a Survivor Hall of Famer playing for the fifth time, said he had a dream he was voted out with an Idol in his pocket. And then he was voted out while holding an Idol — the most boneheaded move of the season, exposing his hubris. At one point, Survivor 50 was his to lose, and that's the moment he lost it.

The 'Went Too Hard' Award

Kyle Fraser, winner of Survivor 48, returned for Survivor 50 but was airlifted out after an Achilles rupture during the first episode's challenge. His ouster likely affected the game's outcome in ways we'll never know.

The 'Most Talked About Without Doing Anything' Award

The so-called "Billie Eilish Boomerang Idols" floated around the island, and everyone talked about the singer. But she never showed up or gave a concert. We just had to take it at face value that she was a fan. (Surely it had nothing to do with her 3D concert movie released by CBS-affiliated Paramount Pictures?) At least Zac Brown and Mr. Beast appeared.

The 'Tidewalker' Award

"Coach is old and kind of dismantled," said Dee Valladares, but that's part of the charm of Benjamin "Coach" Wade. He pulled a nasty sneak attack, spent time on the island spouting haikus, and came up with nicknames like "The Tidewalker" for himself. He made it to jury. Don't ever change, Coach.

The 'How'd She Last As Long As She Did?' Award

Cirie Fields played Survivor for the sixth time and was immediately on everyone's radar, yet she made it to sixth place through masterful social strategy. Everyone respected her too much to cut her loose early. She was one place from the finale, and if she had made it to jury, she would have won without question. Cirie didn't win Survivor 50, but she guaranteed herself the title of Best Player Who Has Never Won.


Source: Yahoo Entertainment News


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