In the season finale of Survivor 49, former reporter Savannah Louie outlasted her competitors to win the $1 million prize by a vote of 5-2-1. She defeated ally Rizo Velovic in a fire-making challenge at the Final 4 and tied the record for most individual immunity wins by a woman with four victories. The all-female Final 3 featured Louie alongside Sophi and Sage, marking the first such outcome since Survivor: San Juan del Sur.
The Survivor 49 finale aired on December 18, 2025, crowning Savannah Louie as the Sole Survivor after a strategic and emotional season in Fiji. Starting from a disadvantaged position early on, Louie built a strong alliance with Rizo Velovic and Sophi, leveraging her physical prowess to secure four individual immunity wins, tying the record held by players like Kelly Wiglesworth and Kim Spradlin-Wolfe.
At the Final 5, after a challenging reward where Louie selected Sage for a steak meal despite their rocky relationship—stemming from early alliance tensions and perceptions of Louie as a 'mean girl'—the group voted out Kristina. Sophi then won immunity at the Final 4, sending Louie and Rizo to fire-making. Louie, expressing low confidence in the skill, prevailed, eliminating Rizo and advancing with Sophi and Sage to the Final 3.
Rizo, known for his innovative use of a hidden immunity idol—inspired by players like Tony Vlachos—held it throughout much of the game, using it to deter votes and protect his alliance. In his exit interview, he stated, 'I brought power back to the idol,' and believed he would have won had he beaten Louie in fire-making, predicting the same 5-2 vote split.
Final Tribal Council featured probing jury questions, including Jawan's inquiry into each finalist's 'whys' and Kristina's challenge to Louie to name a family member or partner for every juror, highlighting social game dynamics. Louie admitted, 'I don't think I can do that,' but defended her gameplay from the bottom to the top.
The jury awarded Louie five votes, with Sophi receiving two and Sage one. Louie reflected on the win's secrecy, saying it felt like 'taking off this super heavy backpack.' She also addressed resurfacing past workplace trauma, noting the isolation on the island mirrored real-life feelings. Rizo praised the family's viewing experience, representing Albania proudly. Sophi, a first-time immunity winner, appealed through her caregiving story and post-disaster tribe recovery.
