On Wednesday, May 20, the highly-anticipated three-hour live finale of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” will hit CBS screens nationwide, during which one of the competition’s remaining five castaways – Rizo Velovic, Aubry Bracco, Joe Hunter, Jonathan Young and Tiffany Nicole Ervin – will be named the “Sole Survivor” of the milestone golden anniversary season, taking home a life-changing $2 million grand prize in the process.
Before the Final Five face off in the upcoming finale, we’re taking a closer look at each of the “Survivor 50” finalists, starting with five fast facts you need to know about Rizo Velovic – better known to fans as “the man, the myth, the legend, R-I-Z-G-O-D, RizGod, baby.”
Who is ‘Survivor 50’ Finalist Rizo Velovic?
GettyRizo Velovic made his “Survivor” debut on the cast of “Survivor 49” in 2025, making it all the way to the Final Four before being eliminated by the season’s eventual winner, Savannah Louie, in the dreaded fire-making challenge just short of Final Tribal Council.
When the finale of Season 49 aired in December 2025, CBS revealed that Velovic would be returning to compete on “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” as well, with Rizo having just nine days to recuperate between filming the back-to-back seasons.
At the time of writing, here are Rizo’s basic biographical stats:
- Age: 26 years old (November 23, 1999)
- Current Residence: Yonkers, New York
- Hometown: Yonkers, New York
Keep reading to learn more about RizGod’s family, relationship status, career and major achievements, both on and off the “Survivor” island.
What is Rizo Velovic’s Relationship Status?
Rizo Velovic has been dating his longtime girlfriend Elizabeth Doqaj since 2019.
“Caught in ur orbit for almost 7 years, baby us at the end,” wrote the registered nurse, who affectionately refers to herself as “LizGod,” in a May 8 TikTok post, anticipating the high school sweethearts’ upcoming anniversary.
The post included a carousel of photos from throughout Rizo and Liz’s relationship, including snaps of them standing at the top of the Empire State Building, posing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, and even attending their high school prom together as teenagers.
When it comes to Rizo’s “Survivor” career, Doqaj has been his number one fan online throughout his back-to-back seasons, uploading countless videos reacting to her boyfriend’s gameplay through the medium of hilarious TikTok lip-synchs.
What Does Rizo Velovic Do for Work?
Rizo Velovic currently works as both a tech sales professional and a Notary Public in Yonkers, New York.
Despite his youth, Rizo’s work ethic, both on and off “Survivor,” is a direct reflection of the hard work of his parents, who moved to the United States in the late 1990s in hopes of giving Rizo and his brother the chance to chase the American dream.
“My entire upbringing has prepared me for [‘Survivor’]. Being the oldest son of two in an Albanian immigrant household, my parents were working two jobs to put food on the table, whereas I was expected to live the American dream. Having that much responsibility at such a young age motivated me to make sure my parents’ sacrifices weren’t for nothing,” Velovic told Entertainment Weekly last year. “Everything I do is for them.”
Because of his parents’ busy schedules, Rizo was tasked with taking care of everything else at home, from filing his family’s taxes, to house hunting and essentially raising his little brother, who was diagnosed with autism at a young age.
While Rizo admitted it was difficult to keep an eye on his brother while attending school and filing W-2 forms, he’s often cited his brother as his “best friend” and main motivation for playing “Survivor,” noting that they’d often watch the competition series together as kids while their parents were at work.
Did Rizo Velovic Go to College Before Playing ‘Survivor’?
Rizo Velovic attended the University of Albany, where he eventually received his Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication.
During his studies, Rizo began working in broadcast journalism, allowing him to indulge his passion for professional sports by conducting live coverage of local teams like the New York Yankees, the Knicks and the Rangers.
By the time he was finished with college, however, Velovic decided to shift career paths, opting for a more lucrative future in tech sales.
“I actually support a lot of my family in terms of helping my parents and my younger brother. Broadcast journalism doesn’t really pay that much to start off. You’re pretty much working for free,” he told EW last year. “And for someone in my position, it was like, ‘I can’t afford to be making $13 an hour when there’s a lot more that needs to be done.’”
What Are Rizo Velovic’s ‘Survivor’ Stats?
CBSRizo Velovic made his “Survivor” debut on the cast of “Survivor 49” less than a year ago in September 2025.
In addition to being the youngest castaway on the season, Velovic also made history as the first “Survivor” contestants of Albanian descent.
RizGod made it all the way to the Final Four last year thanks to his masterful ability to keep his opponents from flushing his very public Immunity Idol and the help of his “Tres Leches” alliance members Savannah Louie and Sophi Balerdi.
In the end, Rizo’s torch was snuffed after he failed to defeat Savannah in the dreaded Final Four fire-making challenge, becoming the final member of the season’s Jury. Louie, on the other hand, would go on to claim the season’s $1 million grand prize.
Just days after his elimination, however, Velovic was invited to return to compete on “Survivor 50,” which began filming just nine days after “49” wrapped.
Concerning his run on the milestone season so far, Rizo managed to get his hands on yet another Hidden Immunity Idol, which he’ll no doubt use to once again secure his spot in the Final Four during the finale.
CBSHe’s also formed iconic alliances with “Survivor” legends Cirie Fields and Ozzy Lusth, though he ultimately contributed to both of their eliminations as the competition closed in.
Can “RizGod” Rizo Velovic finally secure a seat at Final Tribal Council – and maybe even the “Sole Survivor” title – after nearly 50 consecutive days on the island? Find out when the live season finale of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” hits CBS screens nationwide this Wednesday, May 20 at 8:00pm ET.
