The 7 Best ‘Survivor’ Players Of All Time, Ranked
It takes an extraordinary amount of skill to navigate the murky world of Survivor.
From enduring grueling physical challenges to balancing fragile alliances with fellow castaways, it requires a mixture of brawn, brains, stamina, and resilience to succeed in CBS’s long-running reality competition. Yet even then, one wrong move or strategic mistake could abruptly end a contestants’ tenure on the series, regardless of how well they played the game up to that specific point in time.
With just under 50 seasons of Survivor, there have been literally dozens of remarkable players who have stepped foot onto the series’ uncharted shores. But like Survivor’s overarching competition, only a select few have truly earned the right to call themselves the greatest contestants in the show’s history. From ingenious in-game tacticians to mentally and physically imposing powerhouses, here are some of the best players to ever appear on Survivor.
7. Russell Hantz
Every story needs a villain, and when it comes right down to it, few Survivor contestants have so thoroughly embraced that antagonistic role as Russell Hantz has. Taking the phrase “lie, cheat, and steal” as his personal mantra, Russell ran roughshod over his fellow tribe members, adopting an almost Machievallian level of deception when it came to manipulating his rivals. Viewing allies and enemies alike as mere pieces to be moved around on the board, Russell sometimes seemed like a chess grandmaster lording over a game of checkers, crushing his opponents with a delightful smile on his face.
6. Richard Hatch
The very first winner in Survivor’s history, Richard Hatch laid out the essential strategy it took to achieve victory in CBS’s televised reality show. Pioneering the idea of alliances, Richard adopted the necessary tactical mind to thrive within the game, liberally using others to advance his way towards the series’ first Final Tribal Council. In a contest where everyone was still deciphering the ground rules, Richard looked around, set up his own ironclad plan, and played the game accordingly.
5. Tony Vlachos
It takes plenty of traits to succeed at Survivor, from the peak physicality it takes to win challenges to the strategic mindset to make and break alliances as you see fit. In this sense, Tony Vlachos possessed almost every telltale sign of a Survivor contestant destined for victory. Not only could he dominate physically demanding challenges, he also appeared likable enough to form friendships that made a massive difference in the Final Tribal Council. He might have made enemies along the way, but even those he personally helped eliminate begrudgingly cast him their final vote of support.
4. Cirie Fields
Where do we even begin with Cirie Fields? Often described as a legend in the annals of Survivor, Cirie seemed like the perfect stand-in for the average viewer at home: an ordinary person who used their wiles and wits to climb to the very top of the series’ hierarchy. A kind and generous people-pleaser who used clear and effective communication to forge alliances and establish friendships, Cirie’s dramatic foresight allowed her to thrive in Survivor’s interpersonal environment.
3. “Boston” Rob Mariano
Survivor has had no shortage of colorful characters, but few match the utter charisma exemplified by “Boston” Rob Mariano. A fan-favorite player known for his strong New England accent, outspoken wit, and signature Red Sox cap, “Boston” Rob personified the vividly eccentric characters one expected to see in a Survivor season. Though he might have come across as coarse at times, Rob’s rugged personality betrayed a profoundly logical thinker, catapulting him to continued success every time he appeared on Survivor.
2. Parvati Shallow
A student of interpersonal relationships, Parvati understood the importance of relying on alliances till the very end. Using her charisma to win over allies and enemies alike, she also understood the need to manipulate others from afar, swaying the opinions of her tribe without calling too much attention to herself. What’s more, Parvati also proved endlessly duplicitous when it came to advancing her status in the game, discarding allies whenever she believed they had served their purpose. (Although we guess you don’t earn the nickname “The Black Widow” for nothing.)
1. Sandra Diaz-Twine
That Sandra won Survivor not once, but on two separate occasions should tell viewers all they need to know about this formidable veteran contestant. Using her unassuming appearance to lull others into a false sense of security, Sandra had an uncanny ability to fade into the background during pivotal councils, only to reemerge when the opportunity suited her best. Industrious, hardworking, and maintaining an objective view about her alliances, her winner-take-all mentality propelled her to victory two different times (a first in Survivor history).
