Updated - Ranking the Survivor winners

 

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Boston Rob - where does he rank on the all-time winners list?  My rank may surprise you!

Updated - Ranking the Survivor winners - Survivor Examiner, Examiner.com

survivor winner

"Survivor: Nicaragua" Winner Crowned

Boston Rob acknowledged that his alliance on the show was almost cult-like. "I kept a lot of it to myself," he said.

Rob explained he formed a bond with the strange Phillip and the young Natalie. The show identified Phillip as a "former federal agent?" with a question mark.

The twist of Redemption Island jazzed up this edition of "Survivor." Ejected players went there to fight for a chance to re-enter the game. The final duel on Redemption Island matched four people, including Matt, the sentimental favorite for his ability to endure. The competitors had to balance a vase, but Matt was out after surviving 10 duels on Redemption Island.
Andrea, described as "a tough farm girl," won that challenge. She made an uncomfortable re-entry into the game, and her goal was to outwit Rob. He strutted through the finale with his usual boastful style about playing the game so often.

Ashley won a pivotal challenge and voided Rob's plan to oust her.

Andrea, after a quick re-entry, was again out of the game. The final four were Boston Rob, Phillip, Natalie and Ashley. Boston Rob was determined to win "Survivor" finally, and he revealed that his wife, Amber, had encouraged him to try again.

Amber had won it all on "Survivor: All-Stars," and she was in the studio audience with their two young children when his victory was announced.

On "Survivor: Redemption Island," the final four had to race through a complicated maze and solve a puzzle. Ashley and Rob were the only contenders in the difficult contest. Rob won, ensuring he could plead his case before the jury. Rob decided that Ashley, the most formidable competitor, had to go, and she was gone.

Rob moved into the final three with professional dancer Natalie, who is only 19, and Phillip, who displayed odd behavior and wore plum-colored underwear. He burned them in the finale.

Before the jury, Natalie noted that she would be the youngest female winner in the show's history. Phillip said that his loyalty to Boston Rob had gotten him to the finale.

Rob said he was a hard worker who had formed many alliances and that he finally wanted to win for his family.

"I hope that I played the game the best in your eyes and I hope you vote for me," Rob told the jury.

When the jury finally had its say, Ashley told off Rob for "deceiving a lot of people." Matt also told off Rob for being a duplicitous person, but Rob responded that it was necessary to play his way to win the game.

Rob vowed this would be the final time he played "Survivor."

This season, "Survivor" lived in the shadow of "American Idol," which airs in the same Wednesday time slot and remains the country's most popular series. Even so, the production values on "Survivor" remain superlative. The challenges were elaborately staged. The photography and editing were first-rate.

Survivor winners

Where are they now? 'Survivor' winners

They outwitted, outlasted and outplayed and won the grand prize. With the upcoming season finale this Sunday of "Survivor: Redemption Island"  we see what past season winners have been up to while off the island with their winnings.

Richard Hatch

When: Season 1, Borneo

Then: Worked as a corporate trainer  in Newport, R.I.

Now: Has been battling the federal government concerning his winnings and was recently handed down a heavy ruling 

Tina Wesson

When: Season 2, Outback

Then: The Tennessee native, wife and mother of two was working  in the health care field.

Now: She was the oldest female to win the competition. She wrote a book  about life's challenges and is an accomplished racquetball player.

Ethan Zohn

When: Season 3, Africa

Then: After graduating from college  he became a professional soccer player in an African country and played for a Massachusetts team and a Hawaiian team.

Now: Has been battling a deadly disease  with recent good news, and started a nonprofit soccer organization.

Vecepia Towery

When: Season 4, Marquesas

Then: The Northwest native  was the first African-American contestant to win.

Now: Had a baby and was featured on a TLC documentary show.

Brian Heidik

When: Season 5, Thailand

Then: Worked as a soft-core porn star with his wife and played football in college

Now: Was arrested in 2006 after his wife called police because he allegedly shot a family pet with an arrow.

Jenna Morasca

When: Season 6, Amazon

Then: Was a college student  worked as a swimsuit model and in professional wrestling.

Now: Did a pictorial for this racy magazine, dated another "Survivor" winner  and they appeared in another reality series

Sandra Diaz-Twine

When: Season 7, Pearl Islands  Season 20, "Survivor: Heroes & Villains" in Samoa

Then: The wife and mother of two children worked as an office assistant in this Southern town.

Now: The two-time winner lives in Fayetteville, N.C., and works as a bank teller.

Amber Brkich

When: Season 8, "Survivor: All-Stars" in Pearl Islands, Panama

Then: Was a contestant on "Survivor: Outback"  posed for this male magazine and married a fellow contestant.

Now: She and her husband appeared on a racing reality show and have two children.

Chris Daugherty

When: Season 9, Vanuatu

Then: Worked as a heavy equipment operator in his home state.

Now: Married his girlfriend at this unlikely place and landed in hot water with his employer  in connection with a "Survivor" event.

Tom Westman

When: Season 10, Palau, Brazil

Then: The New York City native  and father worked in a dangerous but revered profession  for more than 20 years.

Now: Quit his job in 2005 to focus on being a motivational speaker and returned for "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains." Is he considered a hero or villain?

Danni Boatwright

When: Season 11, Guatemala

Then: Was a beauty queen  competed in a national pageant  and finished as first runner-up to a famous actress.

Now: Married to a football player  for the Kansas City Chiefs and works in sports broadcasting for this local channel.

Aras Baskauskas

When: Season 12, Panama


Then: Played NCAA basketball for a California school and lived in South Africa to study a disciplinary exercise.

Now: Founded and owns a winter hat company and is a yoga instructor in Santa Monica, Calif.

Yul Kwon

When: Season 13, Cook Islands

Then: He attended a prestigious California school  finished law school at another Ivy league school and was an aide for a prominent senator.

Now: In 2009 was appointed to a government post and married his girlfriend  the wedding aired on the TV Guide channel. 

Earl Cole

When: Season 14, Fiji

Then: The former California advertising executive was on a first date when asked by a casting director if he and his date would like to appear on a reality show. Two days later, he was offered the opportunity to be a contestant on "Survivor."

Now: Was married in 2007; the wedding was featured on the Style Network

Todd Herzog

When: Season 15, China

Then: The openly gay contestant had a high-flying job and grew up in this Utah-based religious group.

Now: Stated in 2009 that he is dating another contestant  and had to renounce his citizenship  to collect his winnings.

Parvati Shallow

When: Season 16; Micronesia

Then: Was a competitor in the female version of a male-dominated sport and competed in "Survivor: Cook Islands" before her winning season.

Now: Appeared in a surfing movie  with a fellow contestant  and competed on "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains."

Robert Crowley

When: Season 17, Gabon

Then: The father of two was a high school teacher  and lived in "the Pine Tree State."

Now: As the oldest "Survivor" winner, he retired from teaching and has written his autobiography.

James "J.T." Thomas Jr.

When: Season 18, Tocantins

Then: This Southerner  worked and operated a ranch  and graduated from Troy University.

Now: He returned to ranching, appeared on "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" and was among those on a sexy list.

Natalie White

When: Season 19, Samoa

Then: Originally from "the Natural State," White worked in sales.

Now: She resides in her home state and maintains that she and the second-place finalist are "friends."

Jud Birza

When: Season 22, Nicaragua

Then: The California native was using his good looks for work and did work for a preppy clothing company. He was the youngest winner of the show, at 21.

Now: He was arrested this year on a drug charge after illegally skateboarding in Santa Monica, Calif., and appeared in a straight-to-DVD homoerotic horror movie.
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