By John Powell – GlobalTV.com

News Flash: Savannah Louie is the Sole Survivor.

The 32-year-old reporter, journalist from Atlanta, Georgia, was victorious over fellow finalists Sophi Balerdi and Sage Ahrens-Nichols at the final tribal council taking the home the million dollar check.

Savannah won five of the final jury votes while Sophi Balerdi received two and Sage Ahrens-Nichols just one. Sage’s closest friend in the game, Jawan, voted for her to win. MC and Kristina voted for Sophie and Savannah received the rest.

Fighting from the bottom at the merge with her allies Rizo and Sophie, Savannah had to win her way into the finals beating Rizo in the fire challenge. Sophi won the final immunity challenge and decided to take Sage not one of her two closest allies to the final tribal council.

Savannah did win immunity which sent Kristina to the jury making Savannah one of a few Survivor women who have won four individual immunity challenges.

“I wanted to be like Kim (Spradlin), a player I was inspired to be like. Maybe I didn’t get here the same way. Maybe I didn’t have the same social game as Kim did, which we can all recognize, but it feels incredible! It is 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 know what to say because I have never experienced anything like this before. It is a crazy feeling!” Savannah said tipping her hat to Kim Spradlin, the winner of Survivor: One World back in 2012.

Sophi was proud of her game and finishing in second place.

“Second place, Jeff! It is crazy because I know I am not the strongest person here. I know I am not the smartest person here but I outwitted, I outplayed and I outlasted all of these people so I am super excited,” she said.

Rizo, who bluffed using his idol during nine tribal councils before finally using it, did so because he wanted to inspire future players to play differently.

“I wanted to inspire a new mind-set for people. I want people to be innovative and creative because when you sit back and let the game play you, you are going to get your torch snuffed,” he told producer/host Jeff Probst.

Viewers got to see a sneak peek of the upcoming Survivor 50 which is all returning players throughout the history of the show. From the footage it was clear that Rizo and Savannah will be playing again as well. Two Canadians will also be playing again: Genevieve Mushaluk (47) and Kamilla Karthigesu (48).

The rest of the cast are:

Angelina Keeley (David vs. Goliath)
Aubry Bracco (Kaôh Rōng, Game Changers & Edge of Extinction)
Charlie Davis (46)
Chrissy Hofbeck (Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers)
Christian Hubicki (David vs. Goliath)
Cirie Fields (Panama – Exile Island, Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites, Heroes vs. Villains & Game Changers)
Benjamin “Coach” Wade (Tocantins, Heroes vs. Villains & South Pacific)
Colby Donaldson (The Australian Outback, All-Stars & Heroes vs. Villains)
Dee Valladares (45)
Emily Flippen (45)
Jenna Lewis-Dougherty (Borneo & All-Stars)
Joe Hunter (48)
Jonathan Young (42)
Kyle Fraser (48)
Mike White (David vs. Goliath)
Ozzy Lusth (Cook Islands, Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites, South Pacific & Game Changers)
Quintavius “Q” Burdette (46)
Rick Devens (Edge of Extinction)
Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick (Palau, Guatemala & Heroes vs. Villains)
Tiffany Nicole Ervin (46)

For the first time ever, the game is “In the Hands of the Fans”. Earlier this year, fans voted on key elements of the game, including “Idols or No Idols,” “Final Four Fire Making: Keep It or Lose It” and “Live Finale and Reunion Show in L.A. – or Keep the Winner Reveal and Aftershow in the Jungles of Fiji.” The players won’t know what the fans voted for until they are competing on the island.

Survivor 50 will premiere on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, on Global TV. To celebrate the season 50, during the two weeks before the three-hour premiere, 10 encore episodes will air celebrating the iconic cast and some of their most memorable moments.