Survivor 49
S50: In the Hands of the FansChallenges: MPF percentile
9%
Seasons: 2 | Days played: 25+ | Wins: 0 | Jury: 1
- Survivor 49 (2025) - 4th place, 15th out - 8th juror.
- Eliminated via F4 fire in Episode 13, "A Fever Dream" (Day 26).
- Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans (2026) - nth place, nth out.
- Season has not yet finished airing.
Rizo Velovic on social media: Instagram
| Challenge stats | Tribal council stats | Jury stats | Overall stats | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | ChW | ChA | ChW% | VFB | VAP | TCA | TC% | wTCR | JVF | TotJ | JV% | SurvSc | SurvAv |
| Survivor 49 | 0.88 | 11.38 | 0.08 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 0.88 | 3.56 | - | - | - | 0.96 | 4.44 |
| S50: ItHotF | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | NA | NA |
| Career | 0.88 | 11.38 | 0.08 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 0.88 | 3.56 | - | - | - | 0.96 | 4.44 |
Rizo Velovic - Performance ranks
Tribal: VFB% percentile
88%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
89%
Challenges: MPF percentile
NA
Tribal: VFB% percentile
NA
Tribal: rVAP percentile
NA
Performance ranks are a quick visual measure of the contestant's season vs. historical data from all prior contestants, in three basic (scorable) categories:
1. Performance in individual challenges (MPF), as a measure of "physical game";
2. Ability to vote people out consistently (VFB%, or VFB/TCA), or "strategic game"; and
3. Ability to avoid being voted against (rVAP, or TCA-VAP) - which scales better than a percentage would - for "social/strategic game."
See also: Full glossary for all these abbreviations.
Rizo Velovic - Challenge record
Tribal/team challenge record (3-for-11; 2 2nds; 1 sit-out):
- Survivor 49, Ep. 1 RC: "Cube-Bert Sea" - Collects the initial crates with Jawan, but Uli loses.
- Survivor 49, Ep. 1 IC: "Baby Snakes" - Helps work the snake track, and Uli doesn't lose! (2nd*/3).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 2 RC/IC: "Mona Lisas and Mad Ladders" - Crosses the obstacles; Uli doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 3 RC/IC: "Sea of Love" - Sits out of another Uli second-place finish.
- Survivor 49, Ep. 4 RC/IC: "Stackie Robinson" - Helps carry and stack blocks, but new Hina loses.
- Survivor 49, Ep. 5 RC/IC: "Turn the Cage" - Helps haul the cage, lands two shots, but Hina loses.
- Survivor 49, Ep. 6 RC: "Panic! At the Disc Throw" - Hits all four targets with the disc; new Hina wins! (1st/3).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 6 IC: "Let It Slide" - Climbs to retrieve the sticks, Hina wins (1st/3).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 7 RC: "Rolling Stones" - Climbs and retrieves the machete for the winning team.
- Survivor 49, Ep. 9 RC: "Get In the Ring" - Climbs, lands one ring for the yellow losing team.
- Survivor 49, Ep. 10 RC: "Swing Dings" - Eventually crosses the bar, but yellow team loses.
Individual challenge record (0-for-9): (Mean % finish: 34.8%)
- Survivor 49, Ep. 7 IC: "Hard to Handle" - First out, on the first stage (6th/6).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 8 RC/IC: "Chimney Sweeps" - Third out overall, first on blue team (8th/10).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 9 IC: "Disconnected" - First man to drop his disc (4th/4).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 10 IC: "Teetering on the Edge" - One of several working on the puzzle when Sophie wins (tie-3rd/8).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 11 RC/IC: "Revolver" - Not among the leaders as Steven wins (tie-2nd/7).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 12 RC: "Fun Uncle" - Reaches the sandbag toss, but does not win (tie-2nd/6).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 12 IC: "Gimme One Step" - First person eliminated, in under 3 minutes (6th/6).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 13 F5 IC: "Counting Crows Nest" - First to the puzzle, does not win (tie-2nd/5).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 13 F4 IC: "Debby Spoon" - Still assembling his table maze puzzle as Sophi wins (4th/4).
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):
- Survivor 49: None.
Tribal/team challenge record (0-for-0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet.
Individual challenge record (0-for-0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet.
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet.
Career totals - challenges
| Wins: | 3 |
| 2nd place: | 2 |
| Played: | 11 |
| Win %: | 0.36 |
| Sat out: | 1 |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 9 |
| Win %: | 0.00 |
| Mean % Finish: | 34.8% |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 0 |
| Win %: | - |
| Mean% Finish: | - |
Rizo Velovic - Tribal Council record
Idols held/played (1/1; 0 votes voided):
- Survivor 49, Ep. 3: Finds the Beware clue during the group search at Uli, but because Uli didn't lose an IC, can't find the idol (Day 6).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 4: Retrieves the idol (with the ex-Ulis help) after new Hina's IC loss (Day 8).
- Survivor 49, Ep. 13: Finally plays his idol for himself as it expires at Final 5, voiding no votes (Day 24).
VFB - Votes for the person booted (8/9):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep4 | Matt | Matt Williams (voted out, 4-2-1) | Yes |
| Ep5 | Jason | Jason Treul (voted out, 5-1) | Yes |
| Ep7 | Steven | Nate Moore (voted out, 7-4) | - |
| Ep8 | MC | MC Chukwujekwu (voted out, 4-1) | Yes |
| Ep9 | Alex | Alex Moore (voted out, 6-2-1) | Yes |
| Ep10 | Jawan | Jawan Pitts (voted out, 5-3-1) | Yes |
| Ep11 | Sophie | Sophie Segreti (voted out, 6-1) | Yes |
| Ep12 | Steven | Steven Ramm (voted out, 4-1) | Yes |
| Ep13 | Kristina | Kristina Mills (voted out, 4-1) | Yes |
| 9 | TOTALS | 8 | |
VAP - Votes against (3):
- Survivor 49, Ep. 5: One vote, from Jason.
- Survivor 49, Ep. 9: One vote, from Alex.
- Survivor 49, Ep. 10: One vote, from Kristina.
Jury votes made (1/1):
- Survivor 49, Ep. 13: Voted for Savannah Louie, who won, 5-2-1.
Idols/advantages held/played (0/0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet
VFB - Votes for the person booted (0/0):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | TOTALS | 0 | |
VAP - Votes against (0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet.
Jury votes made (0/0):
- In the Hands of the Fans: None yet.
Career totals - Tribal Council
| Advantages held/ played: | 0/0 |
| Idols found: | 1 |
| Idols played: | 1 |
| Votes voided: | 0 |
| VFB: | 8 |
| Tribals: | 9 |
| VAP: | 3 |
| Made: | 1 |
| For winners: | 1 |
| Received: | - |
Rizo Velovic - Pictures
-
Survivor 49 intro shot -
Survivor 49 intro shot -
Official CBS pre-game interview shot -
On the boat, Day 1 -
Opening sequence confessional about his family -
Greeting Probst -
Watching the puzzle stage, Ep1 RC -
With Alex, reading the Fight for Supplies instructions -
Trying to get some help on the puzzle -
Rizo comes back to win it! -
Heading out with supplies -
Telling the tribe about the journey -
Dropping off the first snake, Ep1 IC -
Working the snake track, as Uli takes second -
Discussing things that are fire or cinema, Ep2 -
The Uli four is formed -
Watching the puzzle stage, Ep2 RC/IC -
Uli takes second! -
Learning about Jake's medevac, pre-Ep3 RC/IC -
Same -
The new Hina tribe, Ep4 swap -
Oops -
Learning about Matt's pre-airport job -
Hauling blocks, Ep4 RC/IC -
Hina trailing -
The losing Hinas -
Telling Sophi about his idol -
Nate delivers the map -
Idol found -
Talking to Jason -
Hina, Ep4 Tribal -
Listening to Probst -
Reading the Ep5 journey message -
Listening to Nate's journey report -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 IC -
About to land the second shot -
The still-losing Hinas -
Hina, Ep5 Tribal -
Listening to Jason -
The new NEW Hina tribe, Ep6 swap -
Discs flung, Hina wins! Ep6 RC -
Reward feasting -
Talking to MC -
Preparing to not fish -
Hey guys, we should check for an advantage -
Working the table maze with Savannah -
Hina wins! -
Time to merge! Ep7 -
Sage explains the previous night's Tribal -
Listening to the rules for the challenge advantage scramble -
Uli reunion -
Officially merged, pre-Ep7 RC -
Narrowly avoiding boulders -
Yellow team wins! -
Starting line, Ep7 IC -
Reward feasting -
Merge tribe, Ep7 Tribal -
Listening to Probst -
Not feeling great about being on the bottom, Ep8 -
The blue team, pre-Ep8 RC/IC -
Chimney Sweeps-ing -
The losing blues -
Talking about his plan to shift the vote away from him (and his idol) -
Savannah's here, and can vote! -
Pitching Sophie on his MC plan -
Blue team plus Savannah, Ep8 Tribal -
Talking to Probst -
Watching Jawan land a ring, Ep9 RC -
Jawan and Sage are against us... -
Starting line, Ep9 IC -
I think I can flip the vote onto Alex, who's playing both sides -
Lewatu, Ep9 Tribal -
Listening to Sophi -
Starting line, Ep10 RC -
Watching Savannah try to land a ball -
Three boys on a bench -
Removing discs, Ep10 IC -
A puzzle? Yeah, I'm cooked, chat -
News from Sophie -
Lewatu, Ep10 Tribal -
Playing his fake idol, after Kristina's real one -
Savannah taunting Jawan during the vote reveal -
Explaining his fake-idol play, Ep11 -
Reading the "strenuous" journey note -
Listening to Steven's journey report -
You have a vote steal, Steven, I know it! -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 IC -
Stacking blocks -
Enjoying reward with Steven and Kristina -
Telling Sage what she'd already decided, to vote Sophie -
Lewatu, Ep11 Tribal -
Talking to Probst -
Trying to land a sandbag, Ep12 RC -
Sanctuary reward feasting with Savannah and Sophi -
Tres Leches alliance officially named -
Tears for letters from home -
Starting line, Ep12 IC -
Lewatu, Ep12 Tribal -
Sorry, Sophi, I'm playing this for myself ... er, but not tonight -
I'm guaranteed a spot in the final four now! Ep13 -
Reading the challenge advantage scramble instructions -
Copying Savannah's puzzle -
Crows nest-ing, Final 5 IC -
Having a lead on the puzzle is really paying off -
Trying to talk Savannah into voting Sage -
Lewatu, F5 Tribal -
Pre-challenge lineup, F4 IC -
Ugh, another puzzle -
Practicing firemaking, with Savannah -
Making fire, F4 Tribal -
Savannah wins, so Rizo is out -
Snuffed, final juror, Day 25 (Episode 13) -
With the jury, Final Tribal Council -
Finalists + jurors, Aftershow
-
On the boat, Day 1 -
Arrival -
Clearing a net, early challenge -
Confessional shot
Rizo Velovic - Interviews
Pre-game interviews
- Mike Bloom at RHAP (8/23/25): "Survivor 49 Preseason Interview: Rizo Velovic"
- Mike Bloom at Parade.com (9/4/25): "Rizo Velovic Reveals How He'll Bring His 'Rizgod' Persona to Life"
Post-game interviews
- Dalton Ross at EW.com (12/18/25): ""
- Mike Bloom at Parade.com (12/18/25): "Survivor 49 Star Rizo Velovic Reveals the Real Strategy Behind His Idol 'Antics'"
- Rob Cesternino at RHAP (12/18/25): "Survivor 49 Finalist Exit Interviews"
Pre-game interviews
- None yet.
Post-game interviews
- None yet.
Rizo Velovic - Bios
Official CBS Survivor 49 bio excerpts, as preserved by Mike Bloom in Parade.com (August 20, 2025):
"3 Words to Describe You: Optimistic, funny, motivated
Why do you want to be part of Survivor? I want to chase greatness. I want to be one of the best players to ever play this game. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to play Survivor. Well, now I am here and it’s time to dream bigger. I also want to give my family and friends a reason to gather around weekly. I want to make my friends and family and the entire country of Albania proud. Being the first Albanian descent player to play this game means a lot to me.
What’s one life experience you feel has prepared you for the game? My entire upbringing has prepared me for this game. Being the oldest of two in an Albanian immigrant household, my parents were working 2 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. Everything I do is for them.
Which previous player do you identify with the most? David Wright because he is the epitome of perseverance. He never gave up and went from zero to hero. He went from someone anxious to being the player of the season. He never gave up and I identify with that mindset.
Who do you think you will play most like? I hope to play like JT from Tocantins. I want to be a complete player socially, strategically, and physically. I want people to know me for being a great person and having great allies supporting me, but also as someone who isn’t scared.
What will you value in an alliance partner? Someone that is honest, loyal, and predictable. Ideally, I’d like to have a ride or die to the end. Someone who, no matter what, I can count on. But realistically, I want someone who is truthful and whose next move I can predict.
Favorite hobbies: Traveling and visiting new sporting venues across the world, playing basketball, spending time with friends and family. Most importantly, being a suffering NY sports fan.
Pet Peeves: In the real world, people who say they’re going to do something, then don’t. As a fan of Survivor, people who make emotional or illogical decisions.
What is something we would never know from looking at you? I know the entire soundtrack to all the High School Musical and Camp Rock Movies; I’ll gladly go toe-to-toe with anyone who wants to have a karaoke-off.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why? Aside from my parents, has to be John Cena. Growing up, the three constants were Survivor, sports, and wrestling. He is the definition of “never give up.” No matter how hard life got, no matter the obstacles, those 3 words got me through it all. He taught me grit, determination, and optimism. As a kid, seeing him defy the odds motivated me to do the same. He helped instill hustle, loyalty, and respect in me. The man taught me things I still hold onto and will in this game.
Why will you be the Sole Survivor? Survivor takes emotional intelligence, patience, social skills and a ton of luck. Lucky for me, I think I have all of those qualities. Especially, the lucky part. I am adaptable but most importantly I am fun to be around. If the new era has shown me anything, it’s that social game prevails over all. As a student of this game, I am taking that with me as Jeff crowns me the next Sole Survivor."
Official CBS Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans cast bio excerpts, as published by Mike Bloom at Parade.com (January 28, 2026):
"Why do you want to come back for Survivor 50 and how does it feel to be chosen for this milestone season? Being a superfan of Survivor, how could I turn down 50? I love this game and want to prove that I am one of the greatest to ever play. While I came short on 49 I had the time of my life. Now I get to play 50 with the greats?!! I am honored to be in elite company.
What one life experience since the last time you played do you feel has prepared you for 50? My turnaround from 49 to 50 was such a quick turnaround that playing 49 is the life experience that prepared me for 50. I was able to play the game I love as myself, now I get to do it all over again with people I idolized growing up!
Coming into this season, what is the Survivor accomplishment you are most proud of? And what are you eager to have another shot at? Genuinely, I am proud of the game I played period. I was loyal to my alliance to the end, I played cutthroat, flashy, and most importantly I lived out my dream. I played a strategically strong game and brought power back to the immunity idol, holding it for 8 tribal councils in which everyone knew about. Also having Jeff call me RizGod was electric.
What would you say is your Survivor reputation and how will you manage that perception in the game? Being fresh off 49, I have not had the luxury of watching myself, so I don’t know my perception and neither do the other players. But my perception of myself on 49, is that I was a strategic superfan that was flashy and lied a lot to advance my trio. Also I am the worst ever at puzzles.
What is your strategy going into 50? And how will it differ from previous time(s) you’ve played? 50 for me is all about ego management, which is funny coming from me, but I went from playing a game of newbies, to a cast of players, winners, and legends. Stroke all their egos, nobody has seen me play, so act like a fan and a number until I can attack. I have to be okay not being the main character for a bit!
Survivor fans have had the opportunity to help shape the game this season by voting on various elements – what are you hoping makes the cut and why? Selfishly, I hope final 4 firemaking doesn’t make the cut because that silly fire probably cost me the million. I also hope we are given rice because I am not sure I can afford to lose another 20 pounds this season.
At this point in your life who is your biggest inspiration and why? Aside from my family, my biggest inspiration is John Cena. I spent my entire life living by his slogan never give up, no matter what I was going through. Those words pushed me through it. He was my superhero as a child and he carries himself with honor and integrity which I will always respect.
Why will you be the Sole Survivor? I will be the Sole Survivor because I have the heart, grit, and drive to finish what I started on 49. I want to be remembered as one of the greatest to ever play and that starts with winning the biggest and most anticipated season of Survivor ever, which is season 50."