Rick Devens Wins Big Brother Season 28, Making History as First Survivor Player to Claim Top Prize

Rick Devens won Big Brother season 28 with a 6-1 jury vote, defeating runner-up Taylor Brown and earning a total of $810,000 including the America's Favorite Houseguest prize. Devens became the first player from the Survivor franchise to win Big Brother, having previously competed on Survivor's 50th season and Edge of Extinction. The season featured several reality television veterans, including fellow Survivor winners Dee Valladares and Cirie Fields, along with former RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Jason De Puy.

Rick Devens secured victory through strategic gameplay in the competition's final stages, winning consecutive Head of Household competitions that determined the season's outcome. His decision to eliminate Drew Campbell in the final eviction proved decisive, as it positioned Taylor Brown as his opponent in the finale while simultaneously adding Campbell to the jury—a jury that ultimately voted overwhelmingly in Devens' favor. The substantial prize package reflected his dual achievements, combining the standard $750,000 winner's purse with an additional $50,000 from viewer voting.

The season distinguished itself by assembling an unusually experienced cast of reality television personalities. Beyond Devens and fellow Survivor competitor Dee Valladares, the show integrated contestants from other franchises, creating a dynamic where players' prior competitive experience potentially influenced strategic approaches and social dynamics throughout the competition.