The 10 Best Idol Plays In Survivor History, Ranked

Fans of Survivor impatiently await the premiere of the show’s 40th iteration released this week, which features a star-studded all-winners cast and two million-dollar prize. “Fans of football wait a year to watch the Super Bowl, but fans of Survivor have been waiting 20 years for Winners at War!” Tony Vlachos exclaims in the first few minutes of the premiere, shown during a Survivor retrospective CBS special aired last week.

Jeff Probst told Rob Cesternino during an interview at a special screening of the premiere this Monday: “this will be the best season we’ve done – even better than Heroes vs. Villains, than Fans vs. Favorites… it’s off the charts good because of the players!” Professing this will be the best season to date means there will be some big shoes to fill, and undoubtedly features some unforgettable moves by these all-stars. Let’s take a look back at the ten best idol plays the game has seen thus far, in preparation for Wednesday’s premiere.

10 Yau-Man Plays First Successful Idol

In a small yet historic victory, fan-favorite Yau-Man Chan played the first-ever successful idol at the final six in Survivor: Fiji.

Though he originally planned to save his idol for the final 5, Yau-Man had a “bad feeling” and trusted his gut, eliminating Stacy Kimball from the game.

9 Russell Correctly Plays Second Idol in Samoa

Russell Hantz was Survivor’s first contestant to find a hidden immunity idol without needing a clue. After unsuccessfully playing an idol at the previous tribal council, the ‘Galu’ alliance had every reason to suspect Russell had no other idols, thinking it was next to impossible for him to find another idol so soon after just playing one.

They couldn’t be more wrong. Russell shocked fans and his fellow tribemates when he retorts: “I ain’t finished playing just yet,” and plays yet another idol, saving himself after negating seven votes.

8 Rick Devens Fakes Out Ron Clark

Though Survivor: Edge of Extinction is considered one of the worst seasons, castaway Rick Devens entertained viewers week after week. This “challenge beast with the dad-bod” broke the record of most idols held by a single player in one season, finding a total of four. Contestant Ron Clark gave Devens an ‘advantage menu’ knowing very well it was no longer active, and Devens began this great fake-out at the final eight tribal council.

He brings the ‘menu’ to Jeff, who confirms its invalidity, and Devens turns to his tribe and says: “Ron and Julie, you are villains. I was already going home, did you just want to make me look stupid? So my kids think I’m an idiot?” Beginning to walk back to his seat, Rick throws up his arms and goes: “Except… You’ve proven time and time again you’re untrustworthy…. so I would like to play this hidden immunity on myself!” auspiciously eliminating Ron, sending him to the jury.

7 Natalie Anderson Plays Her Idol On Jaclyn

Natalie Anderson boldly played her idol at the final five of Survivor: San Juan Del Sur. Instead of ensuring her own safety, Natalie approaches Jeff and shocks the jury when she says: “Jaclyn, did you vote for who I told you to vote for?” She nods, consequently being saved by Natalie’s idol play. Natalie and Jaclyn knocked Missy’s daughter Baylor out of the game, finally breaking up the unbreakable mother-daughter duo.

Natalie successfully won the respect of Jaclyn, and the majority of the jury, further solidifying their decision to cast their votes to make Natalie the Sole Survivor at the final tribal council.

6 Amanda Kimmel Plays A Surprise Idol

The final six of Survivor: Micronesia left Amanda Kimmel at risk as the main target to go home. When she was asked whether or not she had the idol, Amanda truthfully told her alliance members she never found it, which happened right before tribal council. This moment is the only in Survivor history where editors kept the audience in the dark, not revealing Amanda’s idol find until her tribal council exposure.

Amanda swings the idol around her finger as she brings it up to Jeff, and successfully knocks Alexis Jones out of the game, which must have been satisfying since Alexis had a habit of flirting (and breaking into production camp) with Amanda’s beau, ‘Favorites’ tribe member Ozzy Lusth.

5 Jeremy Collins & Kelley Wentworth Final Six Idol Plays

The final six in Survivor: Cambodia was unforgettable, and the first time Jeff Probst deemed it necessary to bring a whiteboard on stage during the live finale. Kimmi Kappenberg switched alliances right before the vote, which Spencer Bledsoe caught onto. Outing her at tribal council, Kelley Wentworth and Jeremy Collins decide to play their idols, and caused every vote to be negated, a Survivor first.

 On the re-vote, Tasha Fox and Kimmi tied 3-3, and the group was deadlocked. In this scenario, if the tribe can’t unanimously decide who to eliminate, the two people voted for would become immune, and rocks would be drawn. Since Keith Nale was the only person not immune (Spencer had immunity, Jeremy/Kelley played idols), Keith would be the one to go, but the group finally decided to terminate Kimmi’s game.

4 Ben Driebergen Negates All Votes

After overhearing a conversation at the well in the final seven in Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, rogue player Ben Driebergen told the opposing alliance about Lauren Rimmer’s idol and extra vote, which got back Lauren. As an attempt to sway his vote, Lauren decided to give Mike Zahalsky half of her immunity idol, warranting her trust.

At tribal council, Mike throws the half idol in the fire, destroying its powers accordingly. Ben proceeds to call out Lauren’s advantages and panics the entire tribe. Ben made history after negating every vote but his after playing his first idol at this tribal council and would continue to play two more later on.

3 Russell Plays Idol On Parvati

Another unforgettable idol play from Heroes vs. Villains, when Boston Rob fails to defeat Russell Hantz. Tyson Apostol was supposed to vote for Russell but ultimately voted for Parvati after Russell convinced him to, which led to a surprising turn out for Tyson, after Russell pulls out an idol and plays it on Parvati!

Parvati was safe, and Tyson’s vote-switch meant Russell no longer had the most votes cast, inadvertently sending himself out of the game. A masterful, game-saving move on Russell’s part, which helped both him and Parvati soar to the final three.

2 Parvati Shallow Plays Two Idols

The Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains merge held five members of each tribe which naturally anticipated a tie for the first vote. J.T. Thomas hilariously wrote Russell Hantz a letter and gave him his immunity idol, hoping to convince this true-blue Villain to switch to the ‘Heroes’ alliance, not realizing how tight Russell was with mega-flirt, Parvati Shallow.

Parvati had skillfully gathered who the ‘Heroes’ would be voting for. Knowing Amanda Kimmel was bluffing when she said the ‘Heroes’ were targeting her, insisting she should play the idol on herself. She made a gamble and played not one, but two idols on her alliance members – Sandra Diaz-Twine and Jerri Manthey – a move Russell Hantz wasn’t even privy to. The ‘Heroes’ did in fact vote for Jerri, and the Villains successfully secured J.T. as the merge boot – with his very own idol.

1 Kelley Wentworth Blows Everyone Away

The ‘Witches Coven’ alliance in Survivor: Cambodia was severely on the out at the second merge vote. After Joe Anglim told Kelley Wentworth she could be in danger of going home, Kelley successfully pulled off one of the best and most shocking idol plays of all time, after not telling a soul about its existence. The votes are cast, and Kelley reaches in her bag and plays her idol, with shocked faces all around.

She negated all nine majority votes against her, the record for most votes cast against a single player. Kelley Wentworth established herself as a Survivor legend during this very moment and makes the top of the best idol plays list.

About The Author