Survivor’s Rizo Reveals The Part of the Competition Fans Didn’t See

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Survivor 49 fans were left out when it came to a key piece of the finale.

Final tribal member Rizo Velovic, known as “Rizgod,” says the final episode was edited in a way that didn’t fully show how upset the jury was with Sage Ahrens-Nichols after she repeatedly voted against her allies, ultimately costing them the game.

After the December 17th finale, Rizo explained to TopMob News that they underestimated how angry the jury was with Sage. He said the jury essentially confirmed that the majority alliance had imploded. Rizo pointed out that in the final ten, he, Savannah Louie, and Soph Belardi were outnumbered by a group of seven, yet they managed to get three of the final four spots.

Although the jury felt Sage was responsible for their team losing a numerical advantage during the game, Rizo argued that other players were secretly controlling things.

He explained that many jurors seemed angry with Sage, but the truth was that Savannah, Soph, and he were the ones who had created the situation that led to the jury being formed in the first place.

After 20 seasons, viewers finally saw an all-female final three: Sophi, Sage, and Savannah. Savannah ultimately won, and it was a proud moment for Rizo to watch them make their final pitch to the contestants they had previously eliminated.

Wow, that final Tribal Council was intense! As a fan, I thought all three women played incredibly well. Sage really made a compelling argument for her win, and Soph did too. But ultimately, Savannah knew exactly what she needed to do to take home the crown, and it was amazing to watch her pull it off!

Indeed, though he didn’t take home the crown, the “Rizgod” is proud of what he accomplished.

He told TopMob he felt amazing, even without winning the prize money. He was proud to be the first person from Albania to appear on a CBS reality show, and he wanted to make his family and the game he loves proud. He believes he accomplished that goal.

I didn’t win Sole Survivor, but I’m proud I helped a close friend and ally take home the win – and I wasn’t ever actually voted off the show!

Oh my gosh, you guys, it just keeps getting better! He’s still going to be on my screen! Not only that, but he’s teaming up with Mike White and Dee Valladares for Survivor 50! I can’t even handle how amazing this is! Seriously, this is a dream come true – getting more of him is the best news ever!

A year ago, if you’d told me I’d be on Survivor not just once, but twice, especially on the milestone 50th season, I would have called you a liar. But here I am, living the dream, so I guess you were right!

For more secrets from Survivor, keep reading…

Every season, tens of thousands of people try out for the show. The casting team deliberately combines dedicated Survivor fans with people they often find through modeling or acting agencies. However, even those recruited still have to complete the standard audition process.

Former casting director Lynne Spillman, who worked on the show from its start until 2018, shared with Reality Wanted that they often received repeat applications from the same individuals year after year.

Now, host Jeff Probst is handling casting. 

He explained to Entertainment Weekly that the process usually begins with a Zoom call where the subjects share details about their lives. He admitted he often spends the first few minutes wondering how they’ve accomplished so much at a young age, and comparing it to his own life at 24.

The selection process includes further interviews, including sessions with the show’s psychologists. Host Jeff Probst explained they’re simply trying to understand the contestants’ true personalities. He often tells applicants they don’t need to be anyone other than themselves. It sounds basic, but it’s true – they don’t need a dramatic life story, a knack for comedy, a college education, or any other fabricated persona. Authenticity is key.

Even if you’re one of the first contestants voted off, you still earn money by appearing on Survivor – although it might be a blow to your pride.

Here’s a quick rundown of what competitors make:

Players voted off before the final jury still get a free trip to Fiji, as they need to remain on location throughout filming to keep the show’s outcome a secret. On top of that, each contestant receives $10,000 for attending the live finale and reunion show at the end of the season.

In an interview with TMZ, Jonny Fairplay revealed how much money contestants on the show supposedly earn. He claimed the first person voted off receives $12,500, and those who make it to the jury get $40,000. Fairplay then admitted he might have shared confidential information, potentially violating a non-disclosure agreement.

The winner of Survivor receives a $1 million prize, but even second place gets $100,000, and third place earns $85,000. The show used to award a fan-favorite prize of $100,000 or a car (when sponsored), but that award is no longer given.

Season two of Survivor, The Australian Outback, is the only one to last longer than 39 days, likely due to the massive popularity and high ratings of the show’s first season.

Plus, each episode covers about three days of the competition, which means editors have to carefully cut down a huge amount of footage – between 300 and 500 hours – into a concise 44-minute show. Remember, the contestants are filmed around the clock!

Filming the Tribal Council scenes usually takes between one and two hours because Jeff Probst asks each contestant the same question individually. When it’s time to count the votes, Probst works with the show’s producers. They watch a live feed of the voting and decide the order in which Probst will announce the results.

According to the Survivor Wiki, castaways are only allowed to bring one small, handheld item with them when filming begins – they can’t bring any luggage.

All clothing worn during the 39-day shoot must be approved by the production team beforehand, including any potential wear and tear.

Ugh, I was SO annoyed they wouldn’t let me bring my favorite parka into the game! I mean, they said we had to wear stuff that really represented us, like our everyday clothes, and that parka is totally me. Angelina from David vs. Goliath told EW all about it after that crazy moment with Natalie – you know, when she tried to get Natalie to just give her her jacket! Apparently, you start with one outfit and that’s it for the whole game, unless you can somehow, like, scheme something up. It was wild!

During a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session, former contestant Max Dawson shared that producers would go to great lengths to control what contestants wore, even directing them to specific stores with pictures of the exact items they wanted them to buy. For example, John Cochran’s famous sweater vests weren’t his choice – they were selected for him by the show’s team!

According to Today, contestants are provided with a kit of essential items, including feminine hygiene products, birth control, important medications, contact lens solution, sunscreen, and bug spray.

Basic supplies like tampons aren’t always readily available. Lauren-Ashley Beck, who appeared on Season 39 of the show, said she had her period twice during her month on set. The second time, she had to wait almost a full day to get a tampon because the crew needed to go to a local village to get more.

Some actors opt for procedures like laser hair removal or teeth whitening before filming, as a way to avoid visible imperfections like toothbrush marks or razor burn.

So…where are Probst and the crew members staying while the competitors are roughing it? 

Jeff Probst shared during a 2014 Reddit AMA that the Survivor crew’s sleeping arrangements depend on the location. For example, when filming in the Philippines, they were lucky enough to find a large, typically deserted casino and hotel on one of the islands. He wasn’t sure what the place was normally used for, but it provided a comfortable base camp, with each crew member getting their own room complete with a shower and air conditioning.

They’ve used tents in the past, he explained, recalling a particularly memorable experience in Kenya. He described sleeping in individual tents where, each night, he’d pull out his cot to stargaze. In the mornings, he’d carefully unzip his tent, trying not to disturb the zebras or giraffes that were often grazing nearby. He called it a truly unforgettable experience.

Jeff Probst says there’s no typical day for him. Each day is long, surprisingly enjoyable, and filled with constant work, as “Survivor” essentially operates around the clock. As an Executive Producer, he’s always needed, but he credits his incredible production team for making it all possible.

It might surprise you to learn that Survivor has a dedicated “Dream Team” – the crew responsible for testing every challenge before the contestants do. They run through each challenge at least twice: once to ensure it functions correctly and to plan the best camera shots, and a second time so footage of them completing it can be used in the episode to illustrate the challenge to viewers as Jeff Probst explains it.

It’s understandable if the show’s rules, as explained by Jeff Probst, can be confusing. Luckily, the contestants receive a more detailed explanation from John Kirhoffer, the challenge producer who oversees all the show’s games and answers their questions. A representative from CBS legal is also on hand to make sure everything is fair.

Contestants see the show’s doctors both before and after each challenge. Medical staff are also available at all times in case of emergencies—for example, three competitors once passed out during a single challenge on Survivor: Kaôh Rõng.

Even if you’re voted off early in the competition, you’ll still stay for the entire 39 days at the filming location – a little secret benefit of keeping things under wraps! Eliminated players who make it to the jury are sent to a place called “Ponderosa,” where they can relax with amenities like food, entertainment, and running water. It’s typically a resort or hotel, and they’re able to hang out and chat with the other jury members.

During the Micronesia season of Survivor, CBS launched Life at Ponderosa, an online show letting fans see what happens after contestants are eliminated from the game.

If you’re voted out of the game before reaching the jury stage, you’ll move to a nearby location once the jury members begin gathering.

Surprisingly, the show wasn’t forced to evacuate the cast because of a natural disaster until a cyclone struck Fiji during Season 33, Millennials vs. Gen X, in 2016. And when a disaster halts the game, it comes to a complete standstill.

After shutting down the game, we brought all the tribes back to base camp to keep everyone together. We isolated each tribe in a completely empty room – no food, bedding, or anything else. Producers watched them closely all night, and surprisingly, they kept their word and didn’t try to communicate or make deals. We appreciated that they honored our agreement. The next morning, we brought them back to their beaches and restarted the game, as promised.

During season 37 in 2018, the castaways had to be evacuated twice because of cyclones in Fiji. Both times, they were kept isolated to ensure fair play. However, host Jeff Probst praised the contestants for respecting the game even during those interruptions.

The players understood we were trying to protect them,” Probst explained to EW. “They also recognized the game wasn’t over, just paused, and that’s why they didn’t cause any trouble or try to bend the rules.

Although it looks like contestants walk to challenges and Tribal Council on the show, production staff actually drives them. However, they aren’t allowed to discuss the game or strategize during these trips when cameras aren’t rolling.

Jeff Probst, the host and showrunner of Survivor, recently shared his favorite winner during an EW panel: John Cochran from Season 26. He also named Parvati Shallow and Rob Mariano as players who have executed the best strategies throughout the show’s history.

And during a Reddit AMA, he revealed his least favorite Survivor twist ever: The Medallion of Power. 

He admitted he wasn’t happy with how things went, saying he should have been more vocal. Everyone makes errors, he acknowledged, but he hoped the team generally agreed their decisions were sound. He explained that, as any showrunner knows, you can’t predict what will be successful until you actually try it.

But his favorite surprise element was the hidden immunity idol, which first appeared in season 11.

Jeff Probst told The Hollywood Reporter that Survivor has incorporated ideas from Tyler Perry multiple times, including the “special powers” idol. This idol, which could be played after the votes were tallied, notably helped Tony Vlachos win in Cagayan. However, viewers generally didn’t like this particular idol.

Besides Perry, Jimmy Fallon has also offered ideas. A group of TV showrunners and producers are running a contest where they each contribute $200. The person who guesses correctly wins the entire pot, while the one who’s wrong has to pay for a huge celebratory dinner at the end of the season – it’s gotten as high as $8,000 before!

Before filming begins, each participant signs a contract agreeing not to publicly criticize the show or its creators, and acknowledging the inherent risks and potential for injuries involved in competing on Survivor.

However, there’s a significant penalty—a $5 million fine—for breaking the confidentiality agreement. This means you can’t reveal any details about the show, or even that you’re a contestant, until CBS officially announces it.

During season 37, Alec Merlino risked legal trouble when he shared a photo with fellow contestant Kara Kay on Instagram before the show aired, captioning it with a profanity. Though producers didn’t pursue a $5 million penalty based on his non-disclosure agreement, they did exclude him from attending the live finale taping.

The main issue throughout my time on Survivor has been the controversy surrounding a picture taken of me. I have complete respect for CBS, the show, and Jeff Probst, and I’m grateful for the incredible experience. I fully own my mistake – it was unfortunate – but I believe the situation was misinterpreted, and that’s all I’ll say about it, as things can easily be taken out of context with social media, as Alec told EW.

Back in 2001, Stacey Stillman, who was the third person voted off in the first season of Survivor, filed a lawsuit against CBS and the show’s creator, Mark Burnett. She claimed Burnett manipulated her elimination and rigged the show’s results. Her lawsuit stated that Burnett misused his connections with the contestants and persuaded two of them to switch their votes.

CBS and Mark Burnett, the show’s creator, dismissed the lawsuit as without merit. The network then filed its own lawsuit, seeking $5 million in damages due to a breach of contract – specifically, for speaking publicly about the show when they weren’t allowed to. Eventually, the legal dispute was resolved privately, outside of court.

Over the years, Survivor has seen many couples find love, most famously Boston Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich. They met during the All-Stars season and are now married with four daughters.

Jeff Probst, surprisingly, also found romance on the show. He began dating contestant Julie Berry after filming for Survivor: Vanuatu finished. They kept their relationship private until after her season aired and dated for several years before splitting up in 2008.

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2025-12-19 17:49