Survivor Snuff
Season 39 - Island of the Idols
Mamanuca Islands, Fiji (Aired to ) 20 castaways, 39 days
Boston Rob Mariano and Sandra Diaz-Twine returned as non-competing mentors on the Island of the Idols; contestants attempted lesson-based challenges for advantages; Dan Spilo was ejected and did not join the jury; final four fire-making returned (Dean beat Lauren); an idol nullifier canceled Janet’s idol.
Episodes
Castaways
Tommy Sheehan
Age
26
Hometown
Bayville, New York
Current Residence
Long Beach, New York
Occupation
Fourth Grade Teacher
Traits
Social, Steady, Observant
Why Applied
Lifelong fan who wanted to test his social game and make his students proud
Life Experience
Elementary teacher used to managing personalities and building trust with kids and parents
Unique Gameplay
Never needed idols or necklaces; cultivated cross-tribe bonds, convinced Noura to take him to the Final 3, and won 8–2–0
Finish
1
Dean Kowalski
Age
28
Hometown
Westfield, New Jersey
Current Residence
New York, New York
Occupation
Tech Sales Representative
Traits
Athletic, Crafty, Last-Minute
Why Applied
Thrives under pressure and wanted to compete in a game he’s watched for years
Life Experience
Former college basketball player turned hustling salesman in NYC
Unique Gameplay
Late-game surge with immunity wins; crafted and flaunted a fake legacy advantage; used an idol nullifier to cancel Janet’s idol; runner-up 2 votes
Finish
2
Noura Salman
Age
36
Hometown
London, UK / Bethesda, Maryland
Current Residence
North Potomac, Maryland
Occupation
Entrepreneur
Traits
Energetic, Unpredictable, Fiercely Independent
Why Applied
To push herself and showcase her unconventional approach to life and business
Life Experience
Built a portfolio of wellness/fitness ventures; comfortable leading and standing out
Unique Gameplay
Won final immunity, put Tommy straight to the end, and forced Dean vs. Lauren in fire; third place (0 votes)
Finish
3
Lauren Beck
Age
28
Hometown
Bakersfield, California / Rochester Hills, Michigan
Current Residence
Glendale, California
Occupation
Nanny
Traits
Loyal, Aware, Strategic
Why Applied
Superfan who wanted adventure and a chance to make a life-changing move
Life Experience
Relocated for work; relied on intuition and relationship-building
Unique Gameplay
Core Vokai strategist with Tommy; lost final four fire-making to Dean and became the last juror
Finish
4 (On Jury)
Janet Carbin
Age
59
Hometown
Neptune, New Jersey
Current Residence
Palm Bay, Florida
Occupation
Chief Lifeguard
Traits
Principled, Protective, Respected
Why Applied
To show older women can excel in the elements and in strategy
Life Experience
Career lifeguard leader known for calm under pressure and advocacy for others
Unique Gameplay
Found idols and earned broad respect; was eliminated when Dean nullified her idol at five
Finish
5 (On Jury)
Dan Spilo
Age
48
Hometown
New York, New York
Current Residence
Los Angeles, California
Occupation
Talent Manager
Traits
Driven, Intense, Direct
Why Applied
Longtime fan drawn to the competitive social experiment
Life Experience
Hollywood talent rep used to high-stakes negotiations
Unique Gameplay
Ejected on day 36 and did not join the jury
Finish
6
Elaine Stott
Age
41
Hometown
Woodbine, Kentucky
Current Residence
Rockholds, Kentucky
Occupation
Factory Worker
Traits
Funny, Down-to-Earth, Likable
Why Applied
To change her life and represent small-town fans with heart
Life Experience
Blue-collar grinder who wins people over quickly
Unique Gameplay
Constant social threat; targeted late and became the 8th juror at five
Finish
7 (On Jury)
Karishma Patel
Age
37
Hometown
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Current Residence
Houston, Texas
Occupation
Personal Injury Lawyer
Traits
Resilient, Emotional, Tenacious
Why Applied
To represent Indian American women and prove she could survive socially and physically
Life Experience
Navigated career and identity pressures as a first-generation Indian American
Unique Gameplay
Played an idol to save herself and survived repeated votes before becoming the 7th juror
Finish
8 (On Jury)
Elizabeth Beisel
Age
26
Hometown
Saunderstown, Rhode Island
Current Residence
Saunderstown, Rhode Island
Occupation
Olympic Swimmer
Traits
Competitive, Driven, Outgoing
Why Applied
Post-Olympic challenge to test herself in a new arena
Life Experience
Two-time Olympic medalist used to elite pressure and performance
Unique Gameplay
Post-merge juror; cast a finalist vote for Dean at the end
Finish
9 (On Jury)
Missy Byrd
Age
24
Hometown
Decatur, Georgia
Current Residence
Tacoma, Washington
Occupation
Air Force Veteran
Traits
Assertive, Athletic, Fearless
Why Applied
Survived a brain tumor and wanted to seize life and compete at the highest level
Life Experience
U.S. Air Force Academy background and major health battle forged grit
Unique Gameplay
Early Lairo driver and strategist; voted out during the split double-tribal as the 5th juror
Finish
10 (On Jury)
Aaron Meredith
Age
36
Hometown
Uncasville, Connecticut
Current Residence
Warwick, Rhode Island
Occupation
Gym Owner
Traits
Strong, Competitive, Straightforward
Why Applied
To test his body and mind and make his family proud
Life Experience
Small-business owner and father balancing work, fitness, and family
Unique Gameplay
Physical force with two individual wins; blindsided at the split merge tribal as 4th juror
Finish
11 (On Jury)
Jamal Shipman
Age
33
Hometown
Jersey City, New Jersey
Current Residence
Providence, Rhode Island
Occupation
College Administrator
Traits
Thoughtful, Protective, Principled
Why Applied
To challenge himself and play a values-driven strategic game
Life Experience
Student affairs leader used to conflict mediation and mentorship
Unique Gameplay
Received the ‘blank’ Island of the Idols parchment and a constrained vote-blocking twist; mid-merge juror
Finish
12 (On Jury)
Kellee Kim
Age
29
Hometown
Newport Beach, California
Current Residence
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Occupation
MBA Student
Traits
Clever, Calm, Decisive
Why Applied
Loves the game’s mix of logic and human behavior and wanted to push herself
Life Experience
Consulting/finance background and graduate studies honed analytical thinking
Unique Gameplay
Played an idol for Dean at merge to blindside Jack; later voted out with two idols in her pocket
Finish
13 (On Jury)
Jack Nichting
Age
23
Hometown
Newport News, Virginia
Current Residence
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Occupation
Graduate Student
Traits
Laid-Back, Friendly, Open-Minded
Why Applied
To live an adventure and bring positivity to the island
Life Experience
Student with a surfer vibe who values community
Unique Gameplay
First juror after the merge; blindsided following Dean’s protection at tribal
Finish
14 (On Jury)
Jason Linden
Age
32
Hometown
New York, New York
Current Residence
New York, New York
Occupation
Personal Injury Lawyer
Traits
Brainy, Hyper, Schemer
Why Applied
Superfan eager to play hard and prove a lawyer can be fun and loyal
Life Experience
Trial lawyer used to reading people and arguing cases under pressure
Unique Gameplay
Early target for ‘idol hunting’ and perceived scheming; pre-merge boot
Finish
15
Tom Laidlaw
Age
60
Hometown
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Current Residence
Greenwich, Connecticut
Occupation
Former NHL Defenseman
Traits
Tough, Old-School, Disciplined
Why Applied
To live his ‘true grit’ mantra and prove toughness translates to Survivor
Life Experience
Ex-NHL player and broadcaster focused on fitness and leadership
Unique Gameplay
Older-school tribe anchor who was cut at the swap stage
Finish
16
Chelsea Walker
Age
26
Hometown
Marlton, New Jersey
Current Residence
Los Angeles, California
Occupation
Digital Content Creator
Traits
Resourceful, Superfan, Adventurous
Why Applied
Lifelong dream as a superfan and to test herself outdoors
Life Experience
Media producer used to tight deadlines and creative problem-solving
Unique Gameplay
Found an idol early but was blindsided and left with it in her pocket
Finish
17
Vince Moua
Age
27
Hometown
Merced, California
Current Residence
Palo Alto, California
Occupation
Admissions Counselor
Traits
Stealthy, Earnest, Quick-Learning
Why Applied
First Hmong contestant seeking representation and a gritty adventure
Life Experience
Worked in education and community outreach; prides himself on adaptability
Unique Gameplay
Completed a stealth task on Island of the Idols; voted out holding an unused idol
Finish
18
Molly Byman
Age
27
Hometown
Boston, Massachusetts
Current Residence
Durham, North Carolina
Occupation
Law Student
Traits
Poised, Analytical, Social
Why Applied
To dive into a high-pressure, high-fun social experiment before her legal career
Life Experience
Law training sharpened her strategic mind and people skills
Unique Gameplay
Early tribe hub who was targeted as too comfortable and blindsided pre-merge
Finish
19
Ronnie Bardah
Age
35
Hometown
Brockton, Massachusetts
Current Residence
Henderson, Nevada
Occupation
Professional Poker Player
Traits
Calculating, Confident, Observant
Why Applied
To apply poker reads to the ultimate social bluffing game
Life Experience
World-traveling grinder comfortable managing risk and tells
Unique Gameplay
First boot after the tribe read his gameplay intentions and flipped
Finish
20
Finalists
Tommy Sheehan
Winner of $1,000,000
Jury Votes (8)
- Elaine Stott
- Jack Nichting
- Jamal Shipman
- Janet Carbin
- Karishma Patel
- Kellee Kim
- Lauren Beck
- Missy Byrd
Dean Kowalski
Jury Votes (2)
- Aaron Meredith
- Elizabeth Beisel
Noura Salman
Jury Votes (0)
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