'Survivor 50' premiere recap — Who was voted out first?
'Survivor 50' premiere recap — Who was voted out first?
Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY Thu, February 26, 2026 at 4:07 AM UTC
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"Survivor 50" is on, and not a single one of the 24 returning players is holding back with $1 million and bragging rights over the show's most competitive season on the line.
In the historic three-hour premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 25, two players have already exited the game. However, only one was voted out.
The episode featured conversations and competition between legends of the game, new-era breakout stars and "The White Lotus" creator Mike White, all willing to give everything they had. It also saw some compelling reunions and rivalries. Ozzy Lusth's 18-year history with Cirie Fields led to an immediate palpable bond, while his rocky past with Benjamin "Coach" Wade led to a betrayal 14 years in the making.
Two players also lost their votes, two others earned advantages in the game, and one discovered the new Billie Eilish boomerang idol, a new advantage explained in a note written by the Grammy-winning pop star herself. And of course, one player landed the infamous reputation as the first person out.
From left: Chrissy Hofbeck, Benjamin "Coach" Wade, Mike White, Dee Valladares and Tiffany Ervin in the "Survivor 50" premiere airing Feb. 25, 2026.
However, the episode did not end there, as viewers witnessed the following morning when another player was medically pulled from the game. With only 22 players left, still more than the show has ever had, things are only just getting started.
Who was voted off 'Survivor' Season 50?
Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, the sole representative of Season 1, was the first person voted out of "Survivor 50."
Even before the Cila tribe lost the first immunity challenge, Jenna was rallying the tribes to make Cirie the first boot. Not only did Cirie cost them the challenge, but she has proven to be an undeniable social strategic threat over her four times playing the game.
Jenna Lewis-Dougherty and Rick Devens in the "Survivor 50" premiere airing Feb. 25, 2026.
Plus, her bond with Ozzy made the pair a dangerous duo.
However, Jenna's fast-paced, aggressive gameplay ultimately proved her downfall, as the remaining seven tribe members unanimously voted her out.
"First in, first out," she said before host Jeff Probst snuffed her torch as he did 25 years ago.
Who was medically evacuated from 'Survivor 50'
Season 48 winner Kyle Fraser was the second person out of the game despite not being voted out.
The New York attorney injured his ankle during a sprint to jump over an obstacle during the immunity challenge. His tribe, Vatu, still managed to win after Q Burdette carried him over, and Kyle later returned to camp with a sprained ankle.
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Kyle Fraser in the "Survivor 50" premiere airing Feb. 25, 2026.
However, Jeff Probst later arrived at the Vatu beach, which fans know is never a good thing. He was joined by Dr. Joe Rowles, who told him it was too risky to keep him in the game despite Kyle's passionate pleas to stay.
The Vatu tribe was devastated by the loss of a key team member, particularly Genevieve Mushaluk, who said she valued him as a person and a player.
Who on 'Survivor' won an advantage?
Ozzy Lusth won an extra vote after convincing Q on Exile Island to give up his vote following the pair's loss to Coach in the first journey of the season. He returned to camp, only telling Cirie about the ability.
Ozzy Lusth in the "Survivor 50" premiere airing Feb. 25, 2026.
Season 49 winner Savannah Louie later beat Colby in another journey competition, earning a block-a-vote advantage that she did not share with any of her Cila members.
Who found/has the Billie Eilish boomerbang idol?
Genevieve Mushaluk found the show's first Billie Eilish boomerang idol, which the "Birds of the Feather" singer explained in a letter came with a twist.
The Season 47 representative had to send the idol to a player on a different tribe and hope they were later blindsided at tribal council so the idol would come back to her.
Genevieve Mushaluk in the "Survivor 50" premiere airing Feb. 25, 2026.
She opted to send it to Ozzy after remembering that he had been voted out with an idol in "Survivor: Micronesia" in 2007. Ozzy has no clue about the twist but knows he can only play the advantage on himself.
How to watch 'Survivor' Season 50
You can watch on CBS and stream live on Paramount+ for subscribers of the Paramount+ with Showtime plan. Episodes can be streamed the next day for subscribers of any Paramount+ plan.
The first 48 seasons of the show are all available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.
'Survivor 50' cast
The full cast list for Season 50 includes:
Jenna Lewis-Dougherty: Seasons 1 (Borneo), 8 (All-Stars)
Colby Donaldson: Seasons 2 (The Australian Outback), 8 (All-Stars), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains)
Stephenie Lagrossa Kendrick: Seasons 10 (Palau), 11 (Guatemala), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains)
Cirie Fields: Seasons 12 (Panama – Exile Island), 16 (Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains), 34 (Game Changers)
Ozzy Lusth: Seasons 13 (Cook Islands), 16 (Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites), 23 (South Pacific), 34 (Game Changers)
Benjamin "Coach" Wade: Seasons 18 (Tocantins – The Brazilian Highlands), 20 (Heroes vs. Villains), 23 (South Pacific)
Aubry Bracco: Seasons 32 (Kaôh Rōng – Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty), 34 (Game Changers), 38 (Edge of Extinction)
Chrissy Hofbeck: Season 35 (Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers)
Christian Hubicki: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath)
Angelina Keeley: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath)
Mike White: Season 37 (David vs. Goliath)
Rick Devens: Season 38 (Edge of Extinction)
Jonathan Young: Season 42
Dee Valladares: Season 45 winner
Emily Flippen: Season 45
Q Burdette: Season 46
Tiffany Ervin: Season 46
Charlie Davis: Season 46
Genevieve Mushaluk: Season 47
Kamilla Karthigesu: Season 48
Kyle Fraser: Season 48 winner
Joseph Hunter: Season 48
Savannah Louie: Season 49 winner
Rizo Velovic: Season 49
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Survivor 50' premiere recap: Who found Billie Eilish boomerang idol?
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