Survivor fan favorite Rick Devens came away with the $750,000 grand prize after he won season 28 of Big Brother on Thursday night. In fact, Devens won more than the grand prize — an historic $810,000.
Devens was America’s Favorite Houseguest, which was an extra $50,000 and then he won a $10,000 prize earlier by unleashing Pharaoh’s Curse twist on the house.
He also won over Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves.
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Chen Moonves went from not liking Devens to respecting him
It’s becoming more common to see reality stars go from one reality show to another. That was the case this season on Big Brother. Both Rick Devens and Dee Valladares were Survivor stars and both tried their hands on Big Brother. Obviously, Devens came away as the winner, but Dee played the game well.
She came in fourth place and was Devens’ partner in crime during the season. But for Chen Moonves, she admittedly wasn’t a fan of Survivor players coming in to play Big Brother. As for Devens, she thought his personality was an act, and his Survivor tactics weren’t going to work on Big Brother.
“I feel good. Because I have acknowledged that I was being a jerk,” Chen Moonves told Entertainment Weekly. “And I was letting my own foolish ego get in the way. I was like, “Why are you rooting against this dude?” And it was because… Well, there were a few reasons. Let me dial it back.
“When I found out a former local morning news person was entering, I was rooting for him before I knew him, right? Then load-in night, I’m like, “I like this guy. He’s really friendly.” Then, first live eviction show, he goes into the Diary Room with a suit and tie and a Survivor buff. Pissed me off. I was like, “This here is Big Brother. This is the Big Brother house here, buddy.
“So I was kind of like, “Um, excuse me.” And I thought, “Oh, that feels a little performative.” You know, like you had to like pack your tie and your suit. It’s not going to serve you in Big Brother. And I thought, “Oh, because he’s a morning news anchor. Okay, winking a nod to that.” But I didn’t like it because I felt it was performative.”
Devens’ final act sealed him the win
“I’m going to take Drew to a very nice dinner”: #BB28 winner Rick Devens tells CBS Mornings his plans for the record-breaking @CBSBigBrother prize money. https://t.co/mezhdGO7kd pic.twitter.com/ODkSUgmGTg
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) October 2, 2026
Not only did Chen Moonves change her tone about Devens, but apparently, everyone likes the guy. America voted for him to win the favorite houseguest award, and his final move sealed him the win. While Dee was Devens’ partner in crime, it was Drew Campbell who was Devens’ ‘son’ in the game.
Drew took Devens over Dee to the final three, but Devens cut Drew in favor of Taylor Brown to head to the final two.
Devens made some big moves during Big Brother, which is what made him so famous during his Survivor years, and that move, which was emotional, sealed his fate as the winner.
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