Survivor veteran Rick Devens wins Big Brother 28, earning $810,000

Rick Devens, who previously appeared on Survivor seasons 38 and 50, was crowned the winner of Big Brother 28 after receiving six of the seven jury votes in the finale aired on October 1. The runner-up, Taylor Brown, earned the $75,000 consolation prize.

Devens also claimed the $50,000 America’s Favorite Player award and an additional $10,000 for completing the “Pharaoh’s Curse” challenge, bringing his total winnings to $810,000.

The final showdown followed Devens’ victory in the third part of the final Head of Household competition, where he chose Brown over fellow jury member Drew Campbell, a decision that surprised many viewers.

"Brown made a strong pitch for me to take her to the end, and she was clearly successful," host Julie Chen Moonves said during the episode.

Devens, along with former contestants Dee Valladares and Angela Murray, entered the season as reality-TV “Icons” competing against new players. Throughout the season, several houseguests expressed frustration with Campbell’s gameplay, describing him as a double-dealer who favored the Icons.

"I always knew he was tight with the ‘Icons’ and I knew he talked too much, but I had been kind of assuming he had my best interests and he didn’t," former houseguest Mallory Aurichio told Page Six.

"In terms of the game, you best believe I have hard feelings towards him," contestant Yash Patel added, while noting he holds no grudge outside the game.

Valladares, a Survivor 45 winner, said she would have kept Devens in the final two if she had won the final Head of Household, emphasizing the strategic need for mutual jury support.

Former Big Brother season 13 champion Rachel Reilly, reflecting on the season’s dynamics, said she hoped future installments would see more “Survivor” players challenge the regular cast, praising Devens and fellow Icon Dee for their strategic play.