Best Survivor Winners

The Top Ten
1 Parvati Shallow Parvati Shallow is an American television personality and was the $1,000,000 winner of the reality television series Survivor: Micronesia.

Parvati is the best WInner and one of the best players on survivor simple. People keep saying that if it was a final 3 cirie would have won, how sure are you guys about that? Even if it was a final 3 parvati would have won because inasmuch as cirie played a good social game she was just too idle and didn't make big moves. Parvati didn't need to orchestrate the whole female alliance but she was the driving force behind it. It's not easy to have a huge target on you from day 1 and survive. Get over it haters of Parvati! She's the best.

Parvati was a strategic mastermind who directed some of the heat toward Cirie and was the leader of the Black Widow Brigade. She stuck with Amanda and h loved her find the idol, she was amazing in Micronesia. Now I've never seen Cook Islands so I don't know how she played her first time around. She was really good in Micronesia, but Hereos vs Villians was by far her best strategic game and one of the bes strategic games ever played. If only Snadra wasn't so likeable. And even this is hard for me to say as a huge Sandra fan, Parv is a better player and played a better game on HvV. If only you the crabby Hereos weren't so angry at her for siding with the biggest villain in survivor history, Russell Hantz, because he ruined their games. She was a physical flirtatious devious likeable smart strategic mastermind. Brilliant player.

What makes Parvati better than the likes of B Rob and two times winner Sandra, is that unlike them, her tribe pretty much hated her and considered her as the reincarnation of Satan from Day 1 (Eliza's alliance in Micro and Rob's in HvV). Yet, she still managed to go to the very end and beat Russel whom she manipulated all season long. Not only that, but her black widow brigade is one of greatest alliance in Survivor history. JT, who won Tocantins got destroyed by her, and we all know how he thinks of the opposite sex.

This has to be a joke. the only reason she won Micronesia is because they did not have a final 3 or Cirie would have spanked her. that and Eliza thought Amanda had won China and lobbied hard against her at ponderosa because of that. She certainly did not deserve to win HvV, she would have never gotten a hero vote. If jeri had went instead of Sandra, jeri would have won 8-. whoever put her at the top is an idiot

2 Rob "Boston Rob" Mariano

No matter in physical or in social he played better, I feel he can give people security not only in the game, I think he is the man can handle everything well in life, and he found his love in the game. How successful he is!

When he won in his 4th season, he pretty much controlled what everyone was doing. He easily held the reigns and wisely brought two people who he knew wouldn't win to the finals with him.

So overrated, it isn't even funny. The guy didn't even make jury 2 of his first 3 seasons, lost Survivor to a goat (Amber), and only barely won against 2 gigantic goats who couldn't have won vs anyone on a rigged season (RI).

He is definitely one of the best players and played one of the most dominant games. However, it took him 4 tries to win and he won against a bunch of idiotic rookies who worshiped him.

3 Yul Kwon

I'm surprised to see Yul so high. I don't know why people think he was responsible for winning all those challenges with his tribe of four. Ozzy clearly had more to do with it than he did. The only "big move" Yul made was to get Jonathan on their side, and he could only do that because he was lucky enough to get sent to Exile Island at just the right time. That idol he got was overpowered. If it had been a later season, the idol wouldn't have been playable at the Final Tribal Council. He's just really lucky that Ozzy didn't flush the idol out when he had the chance, otherwise it would've been Ozzy with Sundra and Becky in the final three and we all know who would have won. 5 out of 6 immunities, for goodness' sakes. Ozzy was the clear winner, even if he isn't the smartest player. Also, I have to respond to the guy that said Bob had numbers the whole time. That is blatantly false. His alliance was getting picked off one by one, but he won five individual challenges in a row to stay in. ...more

How is BOB CROWLEY ahead of Yul?!?! Yul dominated the whole Cook Islands, had an amazing comeback to lead his team to the final four. Bob on the other hand had the numbers the whole game and never had any mental stress he only won a couple of challenges and that's it. Sugar should have won over Bob, or even Susie.

To everyone complaining about the idol, Yul played in a season where the idol was still a fresh off the boat twist, and he used it to his advantage in a way no one else would've. Yul was a great player. The greatest even.

How is Yul ahead of Tom Westman? Yul did little other than convincing jonathan to flip. He would have been gone if not for his idol. Tom had icredibly strong challenge performance, a very strong social game, and good strategic game.

4 Sandra Diaz-Twine Sandra Diaz-Twine is an American television personality who became known for her appearances on the reality game show Survivor. She's well known for being the first person to win twice. (Tony Vlachos is the second person to win twice.)

The only reason she's near the top is that she won twice. While I haven't seen Pearl Islands, I am certain that her win on Heroes vs Villains was tied with Natalie White's win for worst Jury decisions ever. Sandra sat out most of the team challenges and came close to last in all of the individual challenges. And then she claimed that was her "strategy," which is pretty laughable. She never had any control in the game. The Jury liked that she "played an honest game" or something like that, but she was almost as villainous as Russell if you ask me. She ripped off Sugar's top in the middle of a challenge, lied to Russell about Coach, and threw Russell's hat in the fire for no reason. Parvati did nothing like that. She was very sweet, she won multiple challenges, and that play with giving the two idols to Jerri and Sandra was brilliant. She should've won with Russell in second. Then she'd be the only two-time winner and Sandra would become just as forgettable as Vecepia.

Sandra is underrated. People don't think she has a good strategy and rode the coattails of others. Her strategy has always been anyone but me and every time her or her friends (Courtney) were about to go home, she made a brilliant move to save them. You've seen what happened to Coach. that's all I have to say. You might not understand my speaking sorry.

Sandra is the survivor who shows that you don't need to be a physical player to win. She combines a loyal game with a game involving a high level of deceit, manipulation, cunning, and adaptation, which is what it's all about. In both Heroes vs. Villains and Pearl Islands, she had the odds stacked against her, (Burton and Jon in Pearl Islands, and Russell in H vs V were against) but she overcame them spectacularly.

Some people say, "Sandra didn't deserve to win." That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. If she won, she deserved to win. She outwitted and outplayed with her sarcastic and caustic humor and her intelligence. Outlast means to stay longer than everyone else right? So I guess she did that too. TWICE.

5 Tom Westman Tom Westman is a Sole Survivor of the series Survivor. He competed on Survivor: Palau and Heroes vs. Villains.

Should be a lot higher than 5th. Below Boston Rob, are you kidding me. Rob would get schooled by Tom if they were on a tribe together.

Way better player than Rob, Sandra, or Russell. Only Yul of those above him on the list even compare.

Completely controlled every moment of Palau. Even made Ian quit for friendship.

Should have way more votes and be much higher on the list.

6 John Cochran John Martin Cochran, commonly referred to as simply Cochran, is an American reality television personality and television writer.

He is funny and notorious. I love it when they interview him. He is probably number one on my funniest survivors list.

Learned from his mistakes in his first season and played a perfect game in his second. Way to go, Cochran!

Definitely Cochran because he played a great strategic game and deserved his 8-0-0 win!

Perfect game! Should be way higher.

7 Todd Herzog

He really knew this game he got the stronger players out he lied and he worked the jury and that's why he deserved to win.

He played the game step by step. He put himself in such a power position whoever he wanted gone would be gone.

All I can say that he had the best tribal council performance.

He had an AMAZING strategy and was playing the game the whole time! Also a very funny contestant... hahaa Courtney was also amazing (: best alliance ever!

8 Tony Vlachos

Woah woah woah. Why is this man so low on the list? Sure, his game in Cagayan was very cut throat and almost a similar game to Russel Hantz (well, I actually love this style of play: way too fun to watch) but in Winners at War he played an AMAZING GAME. He actually played kindly, whilst still keeping his antics, but not being stupid about them. Tony is awesome! SPY SHACK FOR LIFE

Well Deserved Winner of Survivor: Cagayan. He dominated from start to finish and he played one of the best strategic games that Survivor has ever seen.

Now one of the only 2 two time winners, and probably the better of the two-timers in my opinion, should be number 1 or at least number 2 to parv

Why the heck is he #14? He should be at least in the Top 6.

9 Kim Spradlin

She owned her season, much like boston Rob did in Redemption island. She had so many alliances: 2 different majority alliances, and an uncountable number of sub alliances, and somehow she kept them all secret from each other and was the leader of each one. She made each deal seem genuine making it impossible for anyone to turn on her. The best part was no one felt betrayed until they were already voted out so in the game no one felt that they had a reason to vote her out.

I pretty much second what the other poster said (the one that starts with "she owned her season") and I'd like to add that she didn't give people much of a chance to vote her out because she was so dominant in Immunity Challenges. One of the strongest female challenge performers in the history of the show, right up there with Laura Morett.

She pulled off arguably one of the greatest strategic games, with a flawless mindset. She kept her options open, orchestrated blindsides TC after TC, and to top it all off, she won 4 individual immunities, which is major.

A big strategist. I really think she got an easy win.

10 Richard Hatch

Hello people he invented the game survivor! If it wasn't for him people might still be voting off based on whether or not you help around camp! I can't believe people think Parvati Shallow and Todd Herzog played better then Rich I mean for crying out loud he was able to through the last challenge and I think that says enough.

Being the first, he had no example to follow. He made the ideal 4 person alliance, and took them to the end. This was considered "unethical" yet he won over challenge queen Kelly with the best Final Tribal Council performance ever. Don't forget he also threw the last challenge because he could.

He knew how to play survivor before anyone else. And was he right. He should be back to show these kids how its done.

Richard must have been pretty powerful. I thought he was first off

The Contenders
11 James "JT" Thomas Jr.

JT never got a single vote against him during this season, and that already proves something! He played a brilliant game and won individual immunity challenges quite often. And he was like three times faster than anybody else! His final perfect move was to pick Stephen with him to the FTC. JT showed us that you don't have to stab everybody in the back to stay in the game. His honest lasting alliance and friendship with Stephen was so nice to watch!

Everybody knew he was going to win from the start. When he won the last immunity he had to choose between Erinn and Stephan. Was he smart to choose Stephan because he got every single vote.

He was very hard working

He might've won a second time if he hadn't been stupid and given an immunity idol to the other tribe

12 Chris Daugherty

He owned his season. after screwing his tribe from an early lead and they lost, but he convinced the fat guys to keep him and became the leader of his alliance who had to babysit his alliance from killing each other. then during the switch, he made deals with all of the newcomers. at the merge when all the other men got screwed, he teamed up with three women who would never last against a jury, and kicked out the other three, one of them very sore about not going to the end. Then after backstabbing two allies, he took a loudmouth with him and gave the best bs in survivor history to get 5 votes, half of them from those he screwed.

Meh, I don't think he was that impressive, save for a few Immunity wins. He only stayed in because the women's alliance viewed him as the least threatening of the men. Then when he was the only man left, Twila came to him and told him to join forces with her, Scout, and Eliza. Though winning those last couple Individual Immunities probably saved him, so kudos to him for that.

His season was Probst's favorite season, and Probst thought this guy was one of the best winners. Parvati, Tina, Yul, Todd, and Tom are the most overrated winners, with Tina and Parvati tying for first in the catagory.

Don't really know what your talking about, the women didn't just turn on each other for the fun of it. Chris caused them to. Also best underdog story=one of best winners.

13 Wendell Holland

I adore Wendell's game. He had a amazing social game and his jury management was flawless. Making Dominick appear as bigger threat was very smart. Many downplay his game, but his under the radar game moves and his comp wins at the second half of the game got him a win

Wendell definitely played the stronger game of him and Dom.

14 Earl Cole

Only received one vote against him throughout the whole game and then won in a stunning fashion (9-0-0 vote). His game was VERY similar to JT's

Should be top 15 easy

15 Brian Heidik

Honestly, one of the best one time players ever. Made the goat strategy and weaved in and out of final 2 alliances and still won. Chris took many pages out of Brian's book. If a great winner wins by using another winner's strategies, that shows how good of a player you are to be imitated at all.

Dominated the game end to end, and was never not in control. Created the strategy of bringing an unlikeable player to the end.

He is the more successful version of Boston Rob by winning in first try.

Hand's down best game played...very underrated

16 Jeremy Collins

How is Jeremy below Bob? Jeremy played a great strategic game, creating the meatshield strategy which is now commonly used in modern survivor. Bob was practically carried to the end by sugar, and only won because he was the least disliked in the final 3. He won challenges constantly, sure, but he never made good strategic plans or had any power through most of the game.

He had the best social game of the entire season and was playing in a very difficult season to win. Jeremy to snag himself a good spot in the majority alliance, get people to trust him, and convince people that there were better targets to get rid of. A lot of the castaways went to Jeremy when trying to make game decisions. The 10-0-0 sweep after Final Tribal Council was very impressive as well.

He led the majority alliance, after aligning with his tribemates he told them that he had their backs so this resulted in nobody turning on him, he found 2 idols, played them at the right time, aligned with the bigger targets so people would focus their attention on them and forget about him, let Savage, Joe and stephen take all the heat, found a way to not make himself a target till the f6, won the final immunity challenge and played a good social game. The sympathy card meant nothing, He would have won regardless.

He got the sympathy vote after the final tribal you knew he was going to win very predictable

17 Robert "Bob" Crowley

Uh... can you say 57-year old CHALLENGE BEAST?!? Winning five individual challenges in a row is amazing enough in its own right, but to do it at his age is remarkable. His whole alliance was decimated, but he stayed in by winning. Then when he finally did lose, Sugar decided to give him a chance making fire against Matty because he was so nice to everybody and so hard-working. She said he was like a father to her, which is quite a statement given that her father had recently passed away. In a season with at least four huge villains, I'm glad that one of the good guys won in the end. (I can't believe Susie almost won though! That would have been terrible! )

Most likable winner and also most underrated. He saved himself twice by making the best fake idols in survivor history. Stayed alive by winning three immunities. Got Sugar to vote with him by playing up the grandfather role. Winning the fire challenge against Matty. The list goes on and on. Just an underrated winner in a highly underrated season. (He's also my personal favorite player of all time).

Bob was one of the best strategists in Survivor. He was able to get an alliance together and some key players out of the game. Susie winning would have been awful because she played very little game. Sugar wouldn't have been a bad winner, but Bob was the clear choice.

Love him so much. I would murder myself if Susie was the winner. She rode more coattails than Natalie. Bob was the damn INVENTOR of fake immunity idols. Deserving winner.

18 Tina Wesson

How is Tina below Bob? Tina played an extremely dominant winning game, playing incredibly socially, strategically and physically. Bob was practically carried to the end by sugar, and only won because he was the least disliked in the final 3. He won challenges constantly, sure, but he never made good strategic plans or had any power through most of the game.

Probably one of the best strategies if she got Colby Donaldson to bring her. Colby would have won if he brought Keith

She was a very kind lady

She's an amazingly strong, smart, kind woman. And she reminds me of my mom :) I adore her!

19 Danni Boatwright

I think Danni deserves more credit than she gets. If you really stop and think about it, most winners only have one or two big moves that get them to the end. First, Danni bought a clue that helped her win Immunity. And then she had a conversation with Judd about who the power players were, making sure that Stephenie saw them talking. Stephenie was then easily convinced by Danni that Judd wanted her gone, and she was able to slide right back into the game after being the only member left in her alliance. Most of all, I think she deserved the money because she gave such honest, straightforward answers at the Final Tribal Council. She knew that that's what the Jury wants to hear. I wish Rafe had won, but Danni is still an underrated winner.

She should actually be in the top 10. Underrated winner and someone everyone loved to see win.

20 Sarah Lacina

How is Sarah below Bob? Sarah played a great social and strategic game, being able to effectively use advantages and make strategic plans. Bob was practically carried to the end by sugar, and only won because he was the least disliked in the final 3. He won challenges constantly, sure, but he never made good strategic plans or had any power through most of the game.

Played the Cesternino game. Knew when to flip, knew when to strike, and always found a way out. Great winner, even though I wanted Cirie to win more.

One of the best

21 Natalie Anderson

She made a couple of genius moves that I never would have thought of: voting out Alec instead of Keith and using her idol to spare Jaclyn. You look at winners like Rob and Kim and think that they dominated their seasons, but it's easy to forget that either one would have lost if they hadn't won the last Immunity Challenge. Natalie didn't depend on that. She had the best Final Four strategy ever. If Jaclyn won, she knew she could get her and Missy to vote out Keith, which is what happened. But even if Keith had won, she knew she could get him to vote Missy (which he did), and possibly Jaclyn would as well. Both felt like they owed her for saving them, and they didn't want to look like jerks in front of the Jury. A really smart player if you ask me.

A crazy player, but a bit disappointed about one person in the F3: Jaclyn. Here's what I wanted to happen: in F6, Missy and Baylor vote Jaclyn out on the revote, disappointing Natalie, but at least she got SOME revenge. Jon wins the practice advantage and immunity and Natalie considers targeting Missy or Baylor. Despite voting for Baylor, Natalie plays her idol on her, negating the three votes against her, while Missy and Baylor vote Keith out. Natalie wins the final challenge and Missy reluctantly votes Jon out. Natalie, Missy, and Baylor F3. Nevertheless, Natalie was all about big moves when Nadiya went out first.

Jaclyn should have voted for her and created a tie between Natalie and Baylor. Missy and Jaclyn would have sent Natalie home on the revote. Eliminated by your own idol.

Natalie should be much higher on this list. She made incredible moves on her season

22 Ethan Zohn

Not sure why he won

23 Denise Stapley

Michael should have won

24 Sophie Clarke

Easily the most underrated winner ever. I think she gets overlooked because she didn't make any "big moves." But there's a reason for that. She criticized Albert in an interview for wanting to make big moves for the sake of making big moves. Sophie knew better. Why mess things up when you're in an alliance with four Christian men, a couple of which would rather die then go back on their word? I think she strategically made sure she was hanging out with those guys on the first night. Something tells me they're not the kinds of people she'd normally hang out with. She's such a razor-sharp, well-spoken individual that all she really had to do was make it to the end somehow. The rest was history. Nobody could answer questions at the Final Tribal as smartly as she did. Oh, and did I mention she was tough as nails. She won three Immunity Challenges, including one against Ozzy. That last challenge win alone was enough for her to deserve the million because Coach and Albert would've been ...more

A brat-yes
Strategic mind-yes
Strong player out there-no but she was one of the best players out there because she was one of the few people not on the religious beliefs side of the season. I was super happy she won over Albert and Coach. Seriously she won immunity's and and made tons of survivor blindsides and moves that no cares for. People out there saying "she was a brat which is why Coach should've won" that is stupid cause many people are brats but get so much love. In South Pacific she was great but so far in Winners at war she is amazing and thinking strategically.

25 Aras Baskauskas

Likable, had a strong social game, and was great at challenges. One of the most underestimated winners in survivor history, really would have liked to see him play another time to make a bigger splash in survivor history. Pretty much did everything he could in his one season unlike most of these people who have played multiple times.

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