Australian Survivor 2025 champion wins $500,000 in nail-biting finale: 'So happy'

After 47 days of strategic gameplay, brutal blindsides and gruelling challenges, the winner of Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn II was decided in Monday night’s grand finale. AJ Antonios, Kaelan Lockhart and Myles Kuah, who were each originally on the ‘Brain’ tribe, went head to head following Zara Callianiotis' elimination at the final four.

Each of the remaining contestants had played a dominant game, with some fans calling it the "best final three" they’ve ever seen. They'd been part of an alliance called the 'Post-Graduates' since the beginning of the season and managed to take out their opponents to make it to the end.

The episode began with Kaelan winning the final immunity challenge and taking Myles to the final tribal council, leaving AJ devastated. The duo then delivered their compelling speeches to the jury about why they should each win the game, with a majority of the eliminated contestants voting for Myles.

Myles received seven votes out of a possible eight and won the title of Sole Survivor alongside the $500,000 prize money.

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The ‘Jungle Rat’ had broken the record for the most Hidden Immunity Idols found in a single season with four, received the most elimination votes of any person this season, and is the first person in the franchise to correctly play the Knowledge is Power advantage.

"I will never give up," Myles said of what he learned from his time in the game. "I will always find a way."

Fans react to Myles Kuah's Australian Survivor win

Social media was quick to erupt over Myles' win, with fans sharing their happiness over his victory.

"Let's go Myles! So happy to see my fave win #SurvivorAU," one viewer wrote. "Also thought Kaelan played an amazing game, I knew he'd go far."

"Hell yeah @mylesmkuah! You were my winner pick from the moment I saw you on the stripper pole. So unapologetically yourself," raved another.

"Whelp we all know @mylesmkuah," another fan said. "First time you meet them they annoy the hell outta you & over time they become your all time favourite that you’d lay down and die for. Biggest annoying to adorable arc since BB SarahMaree congratulations mate!"

"Loved every minute of your game Myles! Congratulations and hope they get you back again! You were awesome to watch!" someone else commented.

Secret to Australian Survivor grand finale

While the Australian Survivor finale was filmed last year, the winner typically only learns about the result when watching the episode on TV. Australian Survivor: Heroes V Villains champion Liz Parnov revealed to Yahoo Lifestyle following her win in 2023 that the reality show had filmed multiple different results.

“We filmed alternate endings for everyone, so I only actually found out that I'd won yesterday,” she explained. “So it’s all very, very fresh.”

When asked about how they filmed alternate finales, Liz said the show’s host Jonathan LaPaglia read “fake votes” from the voting urn.

“They can bring in fake votes and read them out, and then they don't show the real votes,” she detailed. “It’s wild.”

Survivor: Australia v The World

Channel 10 announced on Sunday that Survivor fans won’t have to wait another year for another season to air on TV, thanks to Survivor: Australia v The World. The all-star series will see the best of the best Aussie contestants going up against players from the US, South Africa, Finland and New Zealand franchises.

The season was filmed in Samoa last year over just 16 days, making it a much shorter series than fans are used to, as the Australian version typically films for 47 days and the American edition takes place over 26. Despite its short length, a production insider tells Yahoo Lifestyle that it was the “most thrilling season” that has ever been filmed.

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Alongside the cast announcement, Channel 10 has revealed that Jonathan LaPaglia will return as host, and the winner will receive $250,000. The series is tipped to premiere following MasterChef Australia, which historically ends in mid-July.

You can check out the 14 contestants set to compete on Survivor: Australia v The World here.

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