Drop your buffs, grab your torches and come on in – “Survivor 49” has officially arrived at CBS! The highly-anticipated season, featuring 18 brand new castaways is set to air its grand two-hour premiere episode tonight, Wednesday, September 24 at 8:00pm ET.
In the month leading up to tonight’s premiere, “Survivor” has prepped fans for yet another season of betrayal, blindsides and outright “bonkers” gameplay in what longtime host and executive producer Jeff Probst is calling “one of the most unpredictable seasons in a long time.”
Ready to see which contestant has what it takes to outwit, outplay and outlast all the others for a chance to earn the title of “Sole Survivor” and the $1 million grand prize? Here’s everything we already know about “Survivor” Season 49’s contestants and tribe breakdowns, as well as some spoilers surrounding tonight’s premiere episode.
Meet the Tribes of ‘Survivor 49’: Hina, Kele and Uli
The full cast for “Survivor 49” was announced on August 20, 2025, revealing that personalities like a NASA rocket scientist, a former Marvel Studios executive producer, an alt-rock singer and a former professional ice hockey player were among the 18 castaways vying for this season’s million-dollar prize. Here’s a closer look at who’s who on each of this season’s three starting tribes: Hina, Kele and Uli.
Who’s Who on the Hina Tribe?
Jason Treul
Robert Voets/Getty32-year-old law clerk Jason Treul kicks things off for the Hina Tribe (wearing yellow buffs). Originally from Anaheim, California, Truel flew to Fiji last year as an alternate for Season 49. The castaway has since made headlines pre-season after Probst revealed that he’d been added to the cast just 12 hours before filming began.
Michelle ‘MC’ Chukwujekwu
Like Truel, 29-year-old fitness trainer Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu similarly joined the cast just hours before the game kicked off. Currently residing in San Diego, California, MC has revealed that she’s hoping to replicate “Survivor 45” champion Dee Valladares’ winning combination of physical strength and social prowess to succeed this season.
Kristina Mills
Also on the Hina tribe is 36-year-old MBA career coach Kristina Mills. Coming to Season 49 from her home in Edmond,Oklahoma, Mills described herself as “Cirie [Fields] 2.0” because, like the legendary five-time castaway, she’s playing “Survivor” for the first time as a mother in her 30s who “absolutely loves” her comfortable couch.
Matt Williams
Up next is 52-year-old airport ramp agent Matt Williams. The oldest contestant on Seasn 49, Matt originally hails from Farmington, Utah. After arriving in Fiji to film the season, Williams reiterated his determination to emerge victorious from the game, telling Entertainment Weekly, “I am prepared, I am disciplined, I am adaptable, and I am on a beach in Fiji. At this point, all I need is patience.”
Sophie Segreti
Robert Voets/CBSSophie Segreti, a 31-year-old strategy associate from New York City will similarly join the Hina tribe in tonight’s premiere episode. Describing herself as loud, funny and competitive, Sophi revealed that she was inspired to audition for the show after watching Amber Brkich win “Survivor: All Stars” as a kid.
Steven Ramm
Finally, 35-year old NASA rocket scientist Steven Ramm will round out the Hina Tribe. Currently residing in Denver, Colorado, Ramm said that his love for “discovery” motivated his Season 49 appearance, telling EW, “Like a deep space mission, ‘Survivor’ is a journey into the unknown.”
Who’s Who on the Kele Tribe?
Alex Moore
First up for the Kele tribe (wearing blue buffs) is 27-year-old political communications director Alex Moore. Currently living in Washinton, D.C., Moore works for Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky on Capitol Hill, but on “Survivor,” he hopes to use his ability to keep state secrets under lock and key to his advantage to outwit his competitors.
Kimberly ‘Annie’ Davis
Joining Moore on the Kele tribe is 49-year-old Kimberly “Annie” Davis. Also known as “Trashy Annie” in her day job as an alt-rock singer, Davis currently resides in Austin, Texas. Despite being the oldest female contestant on this season’s cast, Annie hopes that her “spontaneous, risk-taker, wrecking ball” energy will be enough to take her all the way to Final Tribal.
Jake Latimer
Up next is one of “Survivor 49”s Candaian representatives, 36-year-old Jake Latimer. Despite working as a correctional officier in St. Albert, Alberta, Latimer used to play professional ice hockey, lending him a physical prowess that will undoubtedly prove to be an asset in the early game. During pre-season interviews, Latimer made headlines when he revealed that he missed the birth of his son to play “Survivor.”
Jeremiah Ing
Also representing Canada is 39-year-old Jeremiah Ing. A global events manager based in Toronto, Ontario, Jeremiah previously revealed that he sees “Survivor 49” as the next step in the journey that has taken him to 44 countries across seven continents. In pre-season interviews, Ing notably revealed that he’d been hit by a car just hours before boarding a flight to Fiji to film the upcoming season.
Sophi Balerdi
27-year-old Sophi Balerdi will similarly start the season on the Kele tribe. An entrepreneur from Miami, Florida, Balerdi hopes her social prowess will prove enough to earn her the title of Sole Survivor. “I am not coming into this expereince with any muscles, any athletic background,” she told EW, “but I do know how to talk. I am going to leverage my ability to scratch the surface with people and connect deeply.”
Nicole Mazullo
Rounding out the Kele tribe is 26-year-old financial crime consultant Nicole Mazullo. Currently residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Nicole is coming into the game, not only as the season’s youngest female contestant, but also dead set on taking home the million with her jovial, quick-witted and adaptable personality.
Who’s Who on the Uli Tribe?
Jawan Pitts
Up first for the Uli tribe (wearing red buffs) is 28-year-old video editor Jawan Pitts. Currently living in Los Angeles, California, Jawan describes himself as friendly, fearless and formless, telling EW, “I will be the Sole Survivor because I’m the perfect blend of booksmart and street smart. I’m a student of the game, and most importantly, I’m not afraid to take risks to pursue my dreams.”
Nate Moore
The next member of the Uli tribe is yet another California-based filmmaker. This time it’s 47-year-old Nate Moore, a former executive producer for Marvel Studios. After lending his talents to MCU projects like “Black Panther” and “Captain America,” Moore is finally taking a step in front of the camera for “Survivor 49.”
Rizo ‘Riz God’ Velovic
Up next is 25-year-old tech sales associate Rizo Velovic. Hailing from Yonkers, New York, the castaways who refers to himself as “Riz God” hopes to make an impact on “Survivor” history this season – and he might just succeed. Though unconfirmed, Velovic is heavily rumored to be one of the two Season 49 players who were invited back to compete on “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” next year.
Savannah Louie
Like Rizo, 31-year-old Savannah Louie is similarly rumored to compete on both Season 49 and Season 50. Oddly enough, they’ll both be starting this season on the same tribe. A former news reporter from Altanta, Georgia, Savannah describes herself as an adventurous and “no-nonsense” player who’s ready to prove herself as an “under-the-radar physical threat.”
Sage Ahren-Nichols
CBS30-year-old Sage Ahrens-Nichols is up next for the Uli tribe. The clinical social worker, currently based in Olympia, Washington, previously revealed that she’s had her sights set on a reality TV career for years, nearly landing spots on CBS’s “Big Brother” and Netflix’s “The Mole” before finally getting cast on “Survivor 49.”
Shannon Fairweather
Finally, 28-year-old Shannon Fairweather will round out the Uli tribe. A wellness specialist from Boston, Massachusetts, Fairweather entered the game with a pre-established connection to “Boston Rob” Mariano, who worked as a bartender at her parent’s Boston-based sports bar – now home to the first-ever “Survivor” Ultimate Fan Cafe – before he rose to reality TV stardom.
‘Survivor 49’ Premiere Spoilers
While Jeff Probst has teased the premiere of “Survivor 49” as “mind-blowing,” “unpredicatbale” and scorched by the “unrelenting” Fijian heat, we also know that the season will see the continuation of the new era 26-day format, penalties for losing tribes after each challenge, and the return of the Shot in the Dark twist.
That being said, online sleuths and superfans already think they’ve unearthed some additional spoilers, including which contestant is most likely to become the season’s first boot.
Which Castaway is Rumored to be the First Boot of ‘Survivor 49’?
After a deep analysis of Season 49’s various promos, superfans on Reddit have posited that the Hina tribe are rumored to emerge victorious from the season’s first Immunity Challenge, meaning that Jason, MC, Kristina, Matt, Sophi and Steven will all be safe from tonight’s first Tribal Council ceremony.
While fans haven’t been able to figure out which of the two remaining tribes will be joining Jeff at the all-new Tribal Council area tonight, a closer look at promotional footage hints that players like Jeremiah, Nate, and Sophi B will also survive the premiere.
That leaves, according to Reddit, nine players still in danger of becoming the first boot of “Survivor 49”: Alex, Annie, Jake, Nicole, Jawan, Rizo, Savannah, Sage and Shannon. Given that Rizo and Savannah are heavily rumored to be competing on “Survivor 50,” it’s also safe to assume that they survive until at least the Merge.
The general consensus, however, is that Nicole Mazullo will be the player voted out at tonight’s Tribal Council.
CBS“I think Nicole is first boot, but not 100%,” wrote one fan on Reddit, while another added, “First boot isn’t hard confirmed, but seeing as everyone but Nicole is seen in a future episode’s challenge, it’s most likely her.”
Some Fans Think ‘Survivor 49’ Will Begin with a Shock Medevac
While many fans seem to believe that the season’s first elimination will be standard fare for the longrunning reality competition series, others are expecting the unexpected.
“Here’s a tinfoil hat speculation for you,” wrote one fan, “I think Nicole is the first out, but she’s a medevac, not a vote. Jeff has been talking up how awful the heat was this season, and how it genuinely affected castaways…On top of that, the reaction shot of Uli at the 2nd immunity challenge was too much of a shock to just be a regular vote. I think that was their reaction to Nicole being pulled from the game.”
At the moment, however, this remains purely speculation. To find out what really happens, fans will have to tune into the two-hour premiere of “Survivor 49” tonight, Wednesday, September 24 at 8:00pm ET on CBS. New episodes of the season will be available to stream the following day on Paramount+.
