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There is a brand-new sole survivor. After a season full of ups and downs, including contestant Jake Latimer being medically evacuated due to a bite from a highly venomous snake, Survivor crowned its 49th winner on December 17.
Kristina Mills and Rizo Velovic were sent to the jury ahead of the season's final tribal council, leaving Savannah Louie, Sophi Belerdi, and Sage Ahrens-Nichols to face off in front of a jury of people they had voted out.
In the end, the cast chose Savannah to receive the $1 million prize and the title of "sole survivor."
“It feels incredible,” she told host Jeff Probst about her history-making win. “It's this larger-than-life feeling. I usually have the right words, I usually have some crap to say, but in this moment, I don't even know what to say.”
Savannah added, "I've never been through anything like this before. "It's a crazy feeling."
Before being crowned the winner, the final three women—the first all-female final three since season 29 in 2014—were questioned by a tense jury about how each contestant outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted the other contestants. Kristina asked Savannah to name a family member or partner of each jury member, which she eventually did not do.
In the season's penultimate episode, emotions ran high when Steven Ramm was sent to the jury in a surprise move despite using his "Block A Vote" advantage, all because Sage eventually sided with Savannah, Rizo, and Sophi—her opponents throughout the season. Sophie Segreti had previously joined the jury, which Sage described as "revenge" for Sophie's dismissal of her ally Jawan Pitts.
While Survivor's 49th season has concluded, anticipation for the CBS competition series' milestone 50th season has grown in recent months. In May, Jeff revealed who would return for Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, and the cast included many fan favorites like The White Lotus creator Mike White, season 45 winner Dee Valladares, and season 48 champ Kyle Fraser.
Cirie Fields, known among Survivor fans as "the greatest player to never win," will also appear on the next season, and she has been mostly quiet about her experience.
"I can tell you one thing about season 50, and I haven't said this about any other season," she told E! News in July. "I've been watching since Richard Hatch [won Season 1]. "I am both a fan and a contestant."
Given her unique perspective, she declared that the 50th season was the "best season ever." Best. Not just because I was present. "Best. Season. Ever."
