This post contains spoilers from the May 22 finale episode of Survivor.
An unpredictable finale for Survivor’s record-breaking 46th season ended with social strategist Kenzie Petty winning against the avid Taylor Swift fan Charlie and musician Ben.
Season 46 will go down in Survivor history for breaking the series record for most players voted out with idols in a single season. Survivor introduced hidden immunity idols into gameplay during season 11 in 2005, and since then, only 27 players have been voted out with idols — with season 46 seeing Jem, Hunter, Tiffany, Venus and Q all eliminated in this manner.
The season’s 13th episode, “Friends Going to War,” saw the final five castaways battle to secure the three spots in the final tribal council.
How’s how Kenzie, Charlie and Ben made it to the final three.
Who Was Voted Out During the Season 46 Finale?
The final five: Kenzie, Maria, Liz, Ben and Charlie.
CBS
During the final five immunity challenge, all eyes were on challenge beast Maria, who had won three immunity challenges earlier in the season.
As a clear physical threat, Maria needed to win the immunity necklace here to avoid being targeted at the next tribal council.
In a Survivor first, two players teamed up to ensure Maria didn’t win her fourth immunity challenge, which would have put Maria in a tie for the most won by a female since Survivor premiered in May 2000.
Kenzie and Liz’s tag-team strategy paid off, with Kenzie securing immunity, eventually leading to Maria being voted out and sent to the jury.
Who Lost the Final 4 Fire-Making Challenge?
Liz lost the final four fire-making challenge.
Robert Voets/CBS
With a surprise victory from Ben in the top four immunity challenge, Charlie, Kenzie and Liz were in danger of not making it to the final tribal council.
Ben was tasked with choosing which of those three players he would take to the final three. He chose Charlie, leaving Kenzie and Liz to earn the final spot in a fire-making challenge.
Liz lost the long-than-usual fire-making challenge to Kenzie.
Who Was in the Final 3?
From left: Charlie, Ben and Kenzie made it to the final three.
CBS
Law student Charlie, musician Ben and salon owner Kenzie survived their way to day 26 of season 46, giving them the chance to plead their case to the jury, which consisted of players they voted out earlier in the season.
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Who Won Survivor Season 46?
Kenzie won season 46, earning five jury votes in the finale.
Robert Voets/CBS
Kenzie won Survivor season 46, earning five jury votes to secure the title of Sole Survivor. Kenzie beat Charlie, who finished second with three jury votes, and Ben, who received zero jury votes, during the May 22 finale.
Kenzie delayed her June 2023 wedding (when season 46 was filmed) to compete, a storyline highlighted in the penultimate episode.
Upon returning home from Fiji, Kenzie married her husband Jackson Petty in September 2023. They announced in May 2024a week before the May 22 finale, that they’re expecting their first baby in September.
“I’ve gotten really good at keeping secrets and going on adventures this year, but it’s finally the perfect day to tell y’all WE’RE HAVING A BABY!! Sweet lil Petty popping up in September,” Kenzie wrote on Instagram.
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