Who won 'Survivor?' What to know about the winner in the Season 48 finale

USA Today

22-05-2025

Who won 'Survivor?' What to know about the winner in the Season 48 finale
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It all comes down to this. After spending 26 days living in Fiji in grueling conditions and minimal to no supplies, a winner of "Survivor" Season 48 has been crowned and given the $1 million prize.
The finale episode, titled "Only One of Yous Can Win," started with five players and was slowly whittled down to three before a jury of previously voted-out players cast their votes for the winning player.
It's been a season where physical strength and unwavering loyalty have held more weight than the deception and betrayal commonly found in previous seasons of the long-running reality competition show.
Even as five players became four and a fire challenge resulted in four players becoming three, there was still only one "sole survivor."
Here's what happened on the season finale of "Survivor" Season 48.
Who's left on 'Survivor' Season 48?
Here are the five remaining contestants at the start of the "Survivor" Season 48 finale:
Eva Erickson , a 24-year-old PhD candidate living in Providence, Rhode Island
, a 24-year-old PhD candidate living in Providence, Rhode Island Kyle Fraser , a 31-year-old attorney residing in Brooklyn, New York
, a 31-year-old attorney residing in Brooklyn, New York Mitch Guerra, a 34-year-old P.E. coach living in Waco, Texas
a 34-year-old P.E. coach living in Waco, Texas Joe Hunter , a 45-year-old fire captain living in West Sacramento, California
, a 45-year-old fire captain living in West Sacramento, California Kamilla Karthigesu, a 31-year-old software engineer living in Foster City, California
'Survivor' Season 48 cast: Meet the 18 castaways hoping to win $1 million in Fiji
Who was voted out in the final five in 'Survivor'?
An advantage was hidden around camp with the prize hidden in a puzzle lock. After realizing that the dots on signs nearby corresponded to letters of the alphabet, Eva Erickson won the advantage in a complicated obstacle course that challenged players both physically and mentally: at the halfway point, she was given the number to advance her to the next obstacle instead of having to shoot a ball into a basket.
Kamilla Karthigesu won the immunity challenge, guaranteeing her a spot in the final four. She also won a reward of pasta and chocolate cake in the "Survivor" sanctuary that she shared with Eva.
Working with her longtime secret ally Kyle Fraser, the pair moved to vote out Mitch Guerra, fearing that if he made it to the end, he would win the game. Allies Joe and Eva also agreed to vote Mitch.
The plan was a success, with the 34-year-old P.E. coach living in Waco, Texas, becoming the second to last member of the jury.
Who made fire in the final four in 'Survivor'?
After winning the last immunity challenge of the season, Kyle faced with a difficult decision: Who to bring with him to the final three and which pair to choose to face off and make fire for the final spot.
Kyle picked Joe Hunter to join him in the final three, setting up a showdown between Kamilla and Eva. Eva had an early lead in the challenge, as Kamilla struggled to get a spark to light, but Eva's flame began to die and move with the wind. The setback wasn't enough to let Kamilla catch up, however, as Eva's fire soon grew again and burned the rope, raising the flag and making her the winner and last member of the final three.
Kamilla became the final member of the eight-member jury who voted to decide the $1 million winner of Season 48.
Who won 'Survivor' Season 48?
The jury finally had a chance to question Kyle, Joe and Eva after watching tribal councils all season before casting their vote for the winner.
Questions from jurors centered on loyalty, a big theme of the season, as well as secret moves. Eva revealed she was a PhD student and had a secret "safety without power" advantage she found, but never played. Kyle revealed he was a lawyer and had a season-long close secret ally of Kamilla, and together, the duo were responsible for some of the biggest moves during the season.
In a 5-2-1 vote, Kyle was crowned the winner of "Survivor" Season 48 and received the $1 million prize. Eva came in second with two votes, and Joe came in third.
Who is Kyle Fraser, the winner of 'Survivor' Season 48?
Kyle is a 31-year-old attorney living in Brooklyn, New York. He spoke openly on the show about his previous incarceration but kept the fact that he was an attorney a secret from other players.
Throughout the season, Kyle was in the majority alliance with Joe and Eva but had a secret working relationship with Kamilla, in which the duo managed to pull off some of the biggest moves of the season, including the Shauhin vote-out.
Who made up the 'Survivor' Season 48 jury?
The jury was made up of eight players who had been previously voted out this season. Each jury member had the chance to address the final three, asking them questions about their attempts to outwit, outplay and outlast before casting their $1 million vote.
Here's who made up the Season 48 jury:
Shauhin Davari, a 38-year-old debate professor living in Costa Mesa, California
a 38-year-old debate professor living in Costa Mesa, California Mitch Guerra, a 34-year-old P.E. coach living in Waco, Texas
a 34-year-old P.E. coach living in Waco, Texas Kamilla Karthigesu , a 31-year-old software engineer living in Foster City, California
, a 31-year-old software engineer living in Foster City, California David Kinne, a 39-year-old stunt performer living in Buena Park, California
a 39-year-old stunt performer living in Buena Park, California Cedrek McFadden, a 46-year-old surgeon living in Greenville, South Carolina
a 46-year-old surgeon living in Greenville, South Carolina Chrissy Sarnowsky, a 55-year-old fire lieutenant living in Chicago
a 55-year-old fire lieutenant living in Chicago Star Toomey, a 28-year-old sales expert living in Augusta, Georgia
a 28-year-old sales expert living in Augusta, Georgia Mary Zheng, a 31-yar-old substance abuse counselor living in Philadelphia
Who's in the cast for 'Survivor' Season 50?
CBS has teased on social media that the cast for Season 50, titled "In the Hands of the Fans," will be released May 28. It will be the first returnee season in the show's new era.
How to watch 'Survivor' Season 48
Season 48 of "Survivor" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET / PT on CBS and streams on Paramount+ for subscribers of the Paramount+ with Showtime plan.
Episodes can be streamed the next day for subscribers of any Paramount+ plan.
The previous 47 seasons of the show are all available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.
Watch every season of Survivor on Paramount+
Who is the host of 'Survivor'?
Jeff Probst has hosted all 48 seasons of the show, which has been on the air since 2000. He also serves as an executive producer.
'Survivor' 50: Jeff Probst talks casting all-stars season, whether he'd play 'Traitors'
Who won 'Survivor' Season 47?
Rachel LaMont won Season 47 of "Survivor," in a 7-1-0 vote against Sam Phalen, who got one vote, and Sue Smey.
Lamont, a 34-year-old graphic designer from Southfield, Michigan, was originally on the Gata tribe and became the fifth woman ever to win four individual Immunity Challenges in a season.
Where is 'Survivor' filmed?
While "Survivor" previously took contestants to remote locations around the world, from the Pearl Islands to the Philippines and Guatemala, the show has been filmed in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji for the past 15 seasons.
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