Survivor is an American reality television show, based on the Swedish program Expedition Robinson. Contestants are referred to as "castaways", and they compete against one another to become the "Sole Survivor" and win one million U.S. dollars. First airing in 2000, there currently have been a total of 50 seasons aired and a 51st upcoming. The program itself has been filmed on five continents.

Contestants usually apply to be on the show, but the series has been known to recruit contestants for various seasons. For Survivor: Fiji, the producers had hoped to have a more racially diverse cast, and hoped that a more diverse group would apply after the success of the racially segregated Survivor: Cook Islands. When this did not happen, the producers turned to recruiting and in the end, only one contestant had actually submitted an application to be on the show. For the most part, contestants are virtually unknown prior to their Survivor appearance, but occasionally some well-known people are cast.

A total of 772 participants (castaways) have competed so far (as of Survivor 51). 120 of those participants have competed in multiple seasons: 89 of them have competed in two seasons, 20 have competed in three seasons, eight have competed in four seasons, and three have competed in five seasons of the show. Fifteen seasons have featured or will feature returning players: six with all-returnees (Survivor: All-Stars in 2004, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains in 2010, Survivor: Cambodia in 2015, Survivor: Game Changers in 2017, Survivor: Winners at War in 2020 and Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans in 2026), six with one to four returning players on tribes with new players (Survivor: Guatemala in 2005, Survivor: Redemption Island and Survivor: South Pacific in 2011, Survivor: Philippines in 2012, Survivor: Edge of Extinction in 2019 and Survivor 45 in 2023), two with a tribe of ten returning "Favorites" facing off against a tribe of ten "Fans" (Survivor: Micronesia in 2008 and Survivor: Caramoan in 2013), and one featuring a tribe of ten returning players playing against a tribe of their family members (Survivor: Blood vs. Water in 2013). Additionally, five contestants (Russell Hantz, Sandra Diaz-Twine, Cirie Fields, Parvati Shallow, Tony Vlachos) have competed on international editions of the series (namely, Australian Survivor, with Fields, Shallow and Vlachos competing on the international cross-over season, Australian Survivor: Australia V The World.

On two occasions, contestants have been cast but ultimately withdrew before the game began without being replaced: a 20th contestant, model agency owner Mellisa McNulty from West Hollywood, California, was originally cast in Survivor: Fiji, but dropped out and returned home the night before the show began because of panic attacks, while in Survivor: San Juan del Sur, the 19th and 20th contestants, sisters So and Doo Kim, were removed just before filming due to a medical emergency. So would later appear on the following season Survivor: Worlds Apart. Fiji, San Juan del Sur and Survivor 51 proceeded with an uneven gender balance.

Key legend Table key

Seasons 1–10 (2000–2005)

All information is accurate as of the time the season was filmed, and thus may vary from season to season for returning players.

Name Age Hometown Profession Season Finish 63 Musician 64 Real Estate Developer 27 Attorney 14th 29 Biochemist 13th 23 Dairy Farmer 12th 27 Health Club Consultant 11th 38 Teacher 24 Ivy League Graduate 22 Student 30 YMCA Basketball Coach 23 Student 30 Neurologist 38 Truck Driver 72 Retired NAVY Seal 22 River Rafting Guide 39 Corporate Trainer 45 Corrections Officer 32 Army Intelligence Officer 51 Retired Police Officer 14th 23 Singer/Songwriter 13th 28 Bartender 12th 38 Software Publisher 11th 34 Internet Projects Manager 10th 32 Personal Trainer 30 Aspiring Actress 23 Law Student 22 Administrative Assistant 53 Teacher/Farmer 23 Footwear Designer 40 Chef 26 Auto Customizer 39 Personal Nurse 42 Lincoln, NE Mail Carrier 27 Orlando, FL Sheriff 46 Winter Springs, FL Dentist 14th 44 Boston, MA Career Counselor 13th 23 Los Angeles, CA Bartender 12th 27 Portland, OR Advertising Executive 11th 24 Detroit, MI Basketball Coach 10th 22 San Diego, CA Behavior Analyst 25 Dallas, TX Bartender 43 Odessa, NY Telephone Technician 29 Conshohocken, PA Freelance Marketer 42 Jackson, GA Flight Attendant 46 Rich Valley, VA Goat Farmer 38 Santa Cruz, CA Marketing Manager 57 Oyster Bay, NY Retired Teacher 27 New York, NY Professional Soccer Player 45 Millis, MA Bowling Alley Owner 49 Lugoff, SC Truck Assembler 33 La Jolla, CA Ex-Navy Fighter Pilot 14th 24 Newport Beach, CA Account Manager 13th 23 Hollywood, CA Bartender 12th 28 Gainesville, FL Nature Guide 11th 26 Canton, MA Construction Worker 10th 36 Omaha, NE Nurse 35 Monhegan Island, ME Fishing Boat Captain 29 Mesa, AZ Crime Reporter 38 College Point, NY Limousine Driver 30 Los Angeles, CA Teacher 57 Thomaston, GA Judge 47 Burlington, VT Real Estate Agent 21 Layton, UT Student 36 Hayward, CA Office Manager 40 Slidell, LA Pastor 27 Kingsport, TN Social Worker 25 Dallas, TX Dental Student 14th 33 Denver, CO Legal Secretary 13th 29 Fayetteville, AR Firefighter 12th 23 Scottsdale, AZ Bartender 11th 28 New York, NY Executive Recruiter 10th 26 Austin, TX Real Estate Agent 30 Brooklyn, NY Police Officer 27 Plano, TX Pharmaceutical Saleswoman 61 McKinney, TX Land Broker 37 Durham, NC Software Developer 47 Middletown, RI Navy Swim Instructor 53 Tampa, FL Teacher 46 Monroe, LA Restaurant Owner 34 Quartz Hill, CA Used Car Salesman 23 Ellicott City, MD Model 47 Manchester, MO Homemaker 27 Houston, TX Tax Accountant 14th 31 Orangeburg, SC Guidance Counselor 13th 41 North Attleborough, MA Marketing Director 12th 23 Redwood City, CA Retail Saleswoman 11th 56 Valencia, CA Construction Company Vice President 10th 24 Pasadena, CA Rocket Scientist 35 Riverside, CA Deputy District Attorney 32 Los Angeles, CA Triathlon Coach 24 Basalt, CO Children's Adventure Guide 24 Jefferson City, MO Gym Teacher 50 Olney, IL School Principal 24 Wantagh, NY Computer Projects Coordinator 33 Washington, D.C. Restaurant Designer 21 Pittsburgh, PA Swimsuit Model 24 Hermosa Beach, CA Massage Therapist 23 Clarksville, TN Produce Clerk 22 Pittstown, NJ Student 14th 42 Annapolis, MD Sales Executive 13th 28 New York, NY Advertising Salesman 12th 27 Boston, MA Equity Trade Manager 11th 40 Chicago, IL Attorney 10th 31 Los Gatos, CA Electrician 39 Indianapolis, IN Troubled Teens Mentor 27 St. Louis, MO Pharmaceutical Saleswoman 24 Los Angeles, CA Computer Programmer 31 San Francisco, CA Marketing Executive 22 Liberty, MS Mortician 29 Danville, VA Art Consultant 51 Cincinnati, OH Scoutmaster 29 Fort Lewis, WA Office Assistant ^ 42Knoxville, TNMotivational Speaker ^ 75 Virginia Beach, VA Retired Navy Seal ^ 22 Pittsburgh, PA Swimsuit Model ^ 25 Wantagh, NY Computer Projects Coordinator ^ 42 Newport, RI Corporate Trainer 14th ^ 42 Palmyra, WI Waitress/Bartender 13th ^ 29 Dallas, TX Actor 12th ^ 30 Lexington, MA Motivational Speaker 11th ^ 33 Los Angeles, CA Actress 10th ^ 40 Santa Cruz, CA Freelance Writer ^ 49 Burlington, VT Real Estate Agent ^ 35 New York, NY Health and Fitness Reporter ^ 30 New York, NY Executive Recruiter ^ 48 Rich Valley, VA Goat Farmer ^ 40 Indianapolis, IN Troubled Teens Mentor ^ 26 Franklin, NH Actress ^ 28 Canton, MA Construction Worker ^ 25 Beaver, PA Administrative Assistant 27 Winthrop, MA Document Manager 25 Mercer, PA Sheep Farmer 31 Los Angeles, CA Sales Manager 30 Toms River, NJ Bookkeeper 33 Huntington Beach, CA FBI Agent 14th 33 Blountville, TN Security Officer 13th 44 New Orleans, LA Real State Agent 12th 22 Los Angeles, CA Mechanical Bull Operator/Model 11th 35 Des Moines, IA Housing Case Manager 10th 40 Columbia, SC Drill Sergeant 35 Oakland, CA Teacher 35 Kansasville, WI Equity Research Assistant 31 Lakewood, CO Coffee Barista 23 Gorham, ME Youth Mentor 21 Syracuse, NY Pre-Law Student 59 Stillwater, OK Rancher 41 Marshall, MO Highway Repair Worker 33 South Vienna, OH Highway Construction Worker 23 Dallas, TX Sales & Marketing Associate 55 Ulysses, PA English Teacher 39 Houston, TX Attorney 22 Easley, SC Student 21 Ventura, CA Personal Trainer 25 Huber Heights, OH Graduate Student 57 Bellevue, WA Attorney 14th 24 New Orleans, LA Bartender 13th 33 Mobile, AL Steelworker 12th 27 Birmingham, AL Model 11th 27 Troy, AL Waiter 10th 32 Dallas, TX Hairdresser 39 Las Vegas, NV Vegas Showgirl 25 Glenolden, PA Pharmaceutical Sales Representative 27 Chicago, IL Business Consultant 46 Solon, OH Civil Rights Attorney 32 Encino, CA Nanny 23 Key Largo, FL Dolphin Trainer 29 Merced, CA Advertising Executive 41 Sayville, NY Firefighter

Seasons 11–20 (2005–2010)

All information is accurate as of the time the season was filmed, and thus may vary from season to season for returning players.