Top 10 Best Survivor Players of All Time

Survivor has been thrilling audiences for over two decades, bringing together people from all walks of life to compete in a game of strategy, social skills, and sheer determination.

With so many seasons and so many players, it's only natural to ask: who stands out as the best of all time? These are the players who not only survived the harsh conditions and challenges but also outsmarted, outplayed, and outlasted their competition in unforgettable ways.

The Top Ten

Parvati Shallow

Parvati Shallow is an American television personality, best known for her strategic and social gameplay on the reality competition series Survivor. She won the $1,000,000 grand prize as the Sole Survivor of Season 16, "Survivor: Micronesia" (Fans vs. Favorites).... read more

It amazes me to see Rob M ranked number 2 on this list. The most overrated player ever, he doesn't come close to the greatest players like Parvati, Cirie, Yul Kwon. He got outplayed in three seasons, so Survivor producers realized the only chance he had was to team him up with a bunch of starstruck sheep morons and adding a stupid twist in case his tribe was too scared to keep him around, like the other tribe was with Russell.
Anyway, Parvati deserves the number 1 spot, although I believe others like Cirie, Yul Kwon, Yao Man, Sandra Diaz, and Tom Westman deserve it too. I credit Parvati's success to teaming up with Cirie, who is at least just as dangerous as Parvati. It is not a surprise both were targeted early in HvV, and Parvati showed how great she is at this game by aligning herself with Russell (who is a great player with terrible social gameplay) and playing him the entire season. It took a little bit of luck. If Russell wasn't there (or if all those people had the chance to watch Samoa before), I believe she would be gone right after Randy (or even before him), but she showed exactly how you play someone with a very aggressive style, like Russell.
Rob Mariano

Robert Carlo "Rob" Mariano, known by the nickname Boston Rob, is an American television personality widely known for appearing on several reality shows.
He has competed on Survivor five times as a player and once as a mentor. His first appearance, on Season 4, Survivor: Marquesas, resulted in... read more

Oh, Rob is number one no matter what. You can't argue for anyone else. I mean, during his winning season, he manipulated a whole tribe into only talking to whom he said to talk to, eating what he said to eat, and voting for whom he said to vote for. I mean, he created the one and only Survivor cult ever. I mean, he took Matt out twice without question, scaring all of them into submission. He said like five times, "No man should have this much power."
He is the greatest of all time. He has arguably won twice. He has two million dollars from Probst, one from his wife and one from him. He has experienced every road in Survivor. He is the only person to know every path. He has been voted out before the merge, voted out and joined the jury, got to the final and lost, and got to the final and won. He is literally the one guy who knows every path.
He is number one. To conclude with something I quoted earlier, "No man should have this much power, but I am glad I do." And we are glad you did, Rob.
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, being the victor in Season 7, "Survivor: Pearl Islands" and Season 20, "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains."... read more

Sandra has won twice, and still, she is not believed to be the best player. This fact only accentuates her skill, which is to this day unmatched. She always does what's needed for her to survive another day, never more and never less. Others do more or less, where when they do more, the jury turns on them, and when less, they get voted out. She is honest and outspoken, which fools other contestants into believing the jury won't like her. But they do. Sandra rarely has to defend her actions because she is consistent in her gameplay and pretty much brings her reasoning out in the open.
Because Sandra is still underestimated, she stands a good chance to win again if there were another all-star season. My favorite player ever.
Russell Hantz

Russell Hantz is an oil company owner and former contestant on the reality television show Survivor. He competed on three seasons of American Survivor and one season of Australian Survivor.
His highest placement was in his debut during Season 19, Survivor: Samoa, where he finished second. Many... read more

Russell is the king of Survivor for making Survivor what it is today. His victory went beyond simply getting to the end. Instead, it went to rival over all throughout outwitting, outplaying, and outlasting those who failed to see his greatness out of despise and jealousy. His vigorous and almost clairvoyant gameplay made not only the survivors tremble in confusion but also had the viewers waiting for more of his "evil" magic.
Clearly, Russell is highly intelligent, although he cannot be considered a superior man by definition due to the virtuousness and righteousness qualifications needed as stated by Confucius. Russell can be king. Boston Rob and Russell Hantz had a lot in common in terms of gameplay, however, Boston Rob does not hold a candle to Russell because of his inability to highlight the numbers. Rob sees his fellow survivors as numbers, while Russell sees them as pawns capable of damage through his influence to rival the numbers. This key feature is what put Russell above others, especially in a numbers game. Moreover, his... Immunity idols...
Yul Kwon

1. Yul should automatically be ahead of Parvati, as he ousted her in the season they played together. Parvati wasn't even a threat in that season because Yul was too smart for her.
2. Yul should be ahead of Rob because it took Rob four seasons to finally win the game, and it only took Yul one. People seem to forget that Rob didn't do anything in the first season he played. He was gone early.
And...
3. Russell is a great player, but he still hasn't won the game because he alienated everyone. He got a lot of help from hidden immunity idols too. Yul is easily the best player that I have seen.

To all the people who claim that Yul had too much power from the idol, they need to take a step back and look at the big picture. Players don't pick the twists in their seasons.
Yes, it made him untouchable during the merge, but so what? He didn't choose how the idol worked. He deserves more credit than he is given.
Cirie Fields

Cirie Fields is an American nurse and reality TV personality who competed on four seasons of Survivor, first appearing in Season 12, Survivor: Panama (Exile Island). She advanced deep into the game with the Casaya Tribe, ultimately finishing in fourth place.... read more

Whenever she was in jeopardy, she pulled some sort of strategic move in order to stay safe. This continued until she wasn't in jeopardy anymore.
When it was a toss-up between her and Melinda, Melinda continued to use the phrase "I'll be pissed!" at tribal council, while Cirie cried and explained how disappointing it would be to have to leave. Who would you vote for? Filled with kindness and "I'm sorry," she quickly made it to the Final 4 after pulling one of the brightest number moves and eliminating Courtney.
This continued in Micronesia, although her couch-mother strategy was changed to a more strategic game. She managed to blindside person after person, including Yau-Man, Joel, Ami, Ozzy, Jason, Erik, and finally Natalie.
Despite her performance in Heroes vs. Villains, she is the ultimate strategic player and is able to analyze you and boot you off with a sweet smile and a funny laugh.
Kim Spradlin

Not flawless. A great player, but she made a few dumb moves, including an emotional decision to get rid of Kat, reducing her Salani numbers to 3 against the 3 Manono. At the time, the Manono played to force a tie against the 3 Salani. Also, she kept her hidden immunity idol as a souvenir when she needed to use it to protect her ally Chelsea. In not doing so, she risked losing Chelsea's trust, who knew she had the idol. She also risked the other three players booting Chelsea that round and then Kim the next round.
She could have thrown challenges after the switch to protect the Salani numbers. She didn't, and was only saved because Colton left. Other than that, she's a great player.
Richard Hatch

Richard Holman Hatch Jr. is an American former reality television contestant, who won the very first season, "Survivor: Borneo." He later appeared on Season 8, "Survivor: All-Stars," before being convicted of tax evasion for not reporting his winner's earnings and serving 51 months in federal prison... read more

He invented Survivor strategy. If he ever returned to the game for a third time, I don't know how well he'd actually do, but that doesn't matter. He paved the way for Parvati, Boston Rob, Cirie, Russell, Kim, and all the other Survivor greats. Without him, Survivor would not be what it is today.
Therefore, he is undoubtedly the best.

He literally made the game what it is today. People love him, people hate him, but beneath it all, he defined Survivor, making it the watchable, lovable scramble of exciting reality TV it is today. He is a legend.
Todd Herzog

He should be higher. He was brilliant and knew how to keep his allies from flipping, and deceived them in such a way that they still liked him enough to vote for him in the end. His brilliance at the last tribal council didn't hurt either.

Todd absolutely dominated his season. I'm not sure if he should be number 3 or if Parvati should be, but to me, these two are pretty well tied.

Best manipulative player ever, who proved that age has nothing to do with being a great strategic player. Physical ability is not as important as mental ability in the game.
Oscar "Ozzy" Lusth

Oscar Ozzy Lusth is my favourite player of all time. Yul won that season, and deserved to win for playing the best strategic game. But Ozzy was equally deserving as he played the best physical game. If you remember, this was the season when the teams were divided into cultures: Caucasian, Latino, Asian, and African-American. When there was a mutiny, both Candice and Jonathan went back to their own team, leaving Ozzy, Yul, Sundra, and Becky in a team of 4 against the team of 8, which included Parvati who took another two tries at the game before winning.
Because of the fabulous way Ozzy and Yul played, the underdog team of 4 took it right to the end. Yul got 5 votes against Ozzy's 4, but Ozzy won the car. They got to the end without scheming and lying, and cleaned the faces of the stronger team of 8. Both Yul and Ozzy should be much higher than the likes of manipulative Parvati, and controlling Boston Rob.

The Newcomers

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Aubry Bracco

She is such a great social player, and I don't know why she didn't win over Michele. Probably because Michele was nicer than Aubry, so the jury liked her better.
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David Jelinsky

The Contenders

Tony Vlachos

Tony is the greatest of all time. Even though Parvati won twice too, Tony's wins are more impressive considering the competition and his threat level. He can adapt, find idols, and blindside without burning votes.
It's actually unbelievable how he does it, and even though he was voted out early in GC, that's not really his fault, as there was an anti-winner agenda that season.
I can't believe he's not even top 5 on this list. The greatest strategic player ever, a top 4 social player ever, a challenge beast as seen in Season 40, and an incredibly entertaining player as well. What more could you ask for? Quite simply the greatest of all time.
J.T. Thomas

JT had such an amazing first run that there was an open opportunity to make huge moves in his coming seasons to get him to the million dollars.
He came into his returning seasons willing to take more risks, and unfortunately, they didn't work out for him. It came at the misfortune of other amazing players.
Overall, JT is a great Survivor player, and he played one of, if not the most, dominating games we've ever seen.

In his first season, J.T.'s social game was so strong that people were sabotaging their own games to help him progress. He played a very good physical game towards the end and had a strong strategic game. I believe his strategic game is underrated.
Many people call Stephen the strategist, but Stephen has said that he and J.T. made the same moves. J.T. is the first person to play a perfect game and the only person to play the most perfect game. Since he also won the fan favorite award, he is considered the only person to have played the most perfect game.
Tom Westman

Tom Westman is a Sole Survivor of the reality television series Survivor. He won Survivor: Palau, the show's tenth season, and later returned to compete in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. Westman is known for his strong leadership and physical abilities during his original season.

Are you kidding? 27th? He played a perfect game. First, he led his team to the most dominant immunity challenge streak ever. Won individual immunities. Then, he got rid of his greatest threats in order: Coby, Stephenie, and Greg. Then, at the end in the greatest final immunity challenge ever, he guilted the only person that could maybe have beaten him into quitting. What? Dominated physically, socially, strategically, and mentally. Never lost his cool. Never got into trouble. Always maintained control and managed jury votes.
He should have won a clean sweep, but Coby voted for the other person just to be different. Even more dominant than Boston Rob's Redemption Island win.
Rob Cesternino

Rob C. deserves to be higher on the list. In Amazon, he likely would have still won even after flipping so much during the merge. He was one of the most influential players in the game, creating the idea of flipping on alliances. He deserves a lot of credit.
Yeah, in All-Stars he got booted early, but remember, everyone knew how much of a threat he was in strategy. He was voted out because everyone knew how dangerous he could be. So why are people like Russell called "great strategists," but no one mentions Rob Cesternino? His jury liked him despite all he did, and if both Jenna and Matt say that he deserved to be at Final Tribal the most, then that is a testament to his skill at the game. Rob C. is on the list of influential players in the game, right along with Tina Wesson, Richard Hatch, and Brian Heidik.
Malcolm Freberg

Malcolm's first appearance was during Season 25, Survivor: Philippines. He managed to emerge, along with eventual winner Denise Stapley, from the ruins of the Matsing tribe to go deep into the game. In the end, despite winning an advantage at the Final Immunity Challenge, he was unable to perform and... read more

Malcolm is hands down my favorite player to ever be on the show. His gameplay style is so unique and successful that he is seen as a threat in every part of the game, warranting his vote-outs.
He is amazing at all aspects of the game (social, physical, and strategic), but he is recognized as such a threat that even the slightest misstep costs him his game.
He has a lovable personality that earns him everyone's trust instantly, an ability only two or three other Survivors possess. Malcolm is a great player, and if he was given another opportunity, I think he would have a decent shot at the money.

I think Malcolm is top 20 for me, mainly because there is nothing bad about him. He just plays the game. Physically strong, strategically and socially great, and excellent at finding idols and making alliances. He had the most potential of anyone in all 3 seasons, and got voted off because he was a threat in all 3 seasons.
That just goes to show how much of a player he is.
Amanda Kimmel

She came runner-up twice. She would've won, though she was bad at Final Tribal Council in Survivor: China. She went straight into Micronesia without seeing Survivor: China, so she couldn't fix her FTC mistakes. She was a powerhouse on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, but she only lost because the Heroes sucked at strategy. She was a big target at the merge, and that's why she got eliminated. Russell Hantz called her the female version of Boston Rob.

No picture of her, sorry, but she could have won Survivor: China. Best game that season, even better than Todd's. She should have won China, and second place was the perfect position for her in Micronesia.
John Cochran

John Martin Cochran, commonly known as Cochran, is an American reality television personality and television writer.
He first appeared on Season 23 of Survivor, titled Survivor: South Pacific, where he was a member of the Savaii Tribe and later joined the Upolu alliance after the merge. He was... read more

Seriously?! This guy blindsided all of his allies/threats with a smile on his face. Even more importantly, he sent out the ones who respected his gameplay, such as Malcolm, Andrea, and Brenda. He had such good control of the jury, he played every person except his closest ally in the game, and he won a bunch of immunity challenges.
He was the definition of outplay, outwit, and outlast.

Cochran is definitely one of the smartest people to ever play the game. He knew people would not see him as a threat, so he used that to his advantage. He knew who was going home every Tribal Council and he got rid of Malcolm, Andrea, and Brenda - the three people that could have possibly beaten him.
He made his moves with perfect timing, and on top of all that, he got every single jury vote at the end.
Brenda Lowe

By far, my favorite Survivor player ever to play from the seasons I have seen (only a few). I really wish she had won Survivor: Caramoan, but there is always another chance. Now she is pregnant and is ready for a whole new adventure. Brenda is the best.

Probably better than Parvati when it comes to physical strength. But I like them both. I hope for a showdown like Heroes vs. Villains 2. Brenda for the hero and Parvati for the villain.

She was beautiful and kicked ass in challenges. One of the sexiest and most exotic women to be on Survivor. Gotta love the Asian beauty.
Spencer Bledsoe

Spencer is amazing. He excels in challenges, has a hilarious personality, and offers the best voting confessionals in Survivor history. For example, his confessional about J'Tia, where he said, "The fact that you're a nuclear engineer is genuinely, genuinely scary," is unforgettable. He's an awesome guy who deserved to win in Cagayan and Second Chance.
I remember actually predicting the final three of Second Chance by just picking three random players. When all three, including Spencer, actually made it, it blew my mind. This guy is an outstanding Survivor player, and he deserves to come back in the next All-Stars/Heroes vs Villains/Legends season.

When he predicted the Final Two, I was just blown away. I liked him from the beginning, and even when he was playing negatively, you always knew he'd rather play honestly than deceptively.
If anyone had the worst time in his season, it was definitely this guy. He's one of the few players I want to come back and actually be put on a good tribe.
Ciera Eastin

Ciera is one of my favorite Survivors. She was strategic and also very likable. In Blood vs. Water, Ciera showed that she was willing to make big moves to win the game. She voted out her mom to prove her loyalty to the majority alliance.
Additionally, Ciera and Hayden caused a rock draw at the final six. If Tyson had drawn the white rock, Ciera probably would have won the game. In Cambodia, she survived multiple votes even after being in the minority alliance. She also blindsided Woo right before the merge because he was a huge challenge threat. Ciera is a really great Survivor player.

Though I don't think Ciera is the best Survivor player ever, it is important to remember that from day one, she and the other girls were targeted. Not only did she manage to survive, but she also ended up becoming a dominant player in Survivor: Blood vs. Water.
She went to great lengths to prove her loyalty but was also unafraid to make strategic moves, such as drawing stones and voting her mother out. I'd say she's easily one of the most underrated players in the game.
Tyson Apostol

The guy was quite a character and added tons of laughs in Tocantins, although he basically voted himself out in Heroes vs. Villains. But in Blood vs. Water, he was a machine. When the merger happened, he proved time and time again that he was the smartest player, as well as dominating in challenges. He played, in my opinion, a pretty flawless game from Day 1 to 39.
Won more challenges than any Season 27 competitor, stuck to alliances, manipulated players like Monica and Sierra, and when he made it to the final tribal council, we all knew who would win. He won 7-1-0 with only Vytas voting for Monica. Tyson, based on his Season 27 performance alone, should be in the top ten players list because he took over the game from start to finish.
Yau-Man Chan

One of the players who deserved to win a million. He used the idol at the right time. He honored his word with other contestants. He is forgiving. After Dreamz did not keep his word to Yau, Yau still forgave him. Yet, he is still underrated.
Yau should have a spot in returning to Survivor again. In Fiji, he is the only one that brightens the hearts of those who watch that season. So sad that he did not last longer in Micronesia. He is so likable that Cirie wanted him out immediately, even though the rest of his tribemates did not want him to go. And after he got voted out, he was still a good sport in the end. Hopefully we will see Yau in future Survivor seasons. It's nice to watch good-hearted people on the show again.
Stephenie LaGrossa

She is an underrated player when people think of this. She became iconic when she was the last remaining player on her tribe in Palau, played an impressive game in Guatemala, and finished as the runner-up. In HvV, she went out early, but it was by luck, and she had started to form the necessary alliances and ammo she needed to win the game. A true legend.

She made it to be the last person left on her tribe twice, and the first time, it happened before they even merged. She outlasted more tribal councils than the winner. Then, in Guatemala, she came back with a vengeance, knocking out any allies at any time and controlling everything the way she wanted.
Unfortunately for her, the jury of Guatemala were still holding grudges and gave the money to another worthy player, Danni.
Chris Daugherty

I think Chris is very underrated. As is the season. Even Probst said that this was one of his favorite winners. Chris played a great social game and played every single person while laughing and making jokes. Hell, he won even though there were 6 girls against his 4 guys, and it's true, he was saved by Twila, but every winner needs that once in a while. Every winner has been saved by an alliance or fellow contestant before. This guy is great.

Definitely in the top ten of all time. To start so weak and then to survive and win over the women's alliance. That was absolutely incredible, and he does not get the credit he deserves. Very smart mental player who should have been in at least one of the all-star seasons.
Denise Stapley

This woman reminded me of an older version of Stephanie LaGrossa, who was a strong female player noted for being the first player to be on a one-woman team (only for a short while). The point being, she dominated socially and gave every ounce of energy physically. She was never confrontational! She handled conflict like a pro. Not to mention, she is from Iowa! #IowaNation
I love watching older people dominate in Survivor because it is a hard game to win. I'm all about effort and what you do as a player to win, not riding the coattail of someone else. Denise was one heck of a player to watch, and I was so glad she scored with the jury across the board. She deserved it!