Boston Rob reveals his 'Survivor 50' winner pick ahead of season finale

Before "Survivor" crowns the victor of its milestone 50th season, the godfather of the game himself has some thoughts on who he hopes joins him in the winners' league.

Rob Mariano, better known as the reality TV persona Boston Rob, has followed every episode of Season 50, which introduced its largest cast of 24 returning players, including legends from Texan cowboy Colby Donaldson to dragon slayer Benjamin "Coach" Wade.

Ahead of the finale on May 20, there are only five contestants left vying for the title of sole survivor and the now-$2 million prize that comes with it. Following Cirie Fields' elimination at the final six, Mariano says it's now a coin toss to know who will sit in the final three chairs.

"These next couple of challenges mean so much," Mariano tells USA TODAY. "But it's still anybody's game."

Mariano says it's anyone who puts themself in the best position in front of the jury. He's hoping that's Season 42 returnee Jonathan Young, whom he helped coach before filming began in June 2025. The two played tennis together when Mariano saw a bit of himself in the challenge beast.

"I watched his gameplay, and I told him like, things that I think he could improve upon, how he could play better, things I would avoid. And I kind of gave him a little bit of my playbook. I told him, "You're not me, you can't play like me, but you can play like you. And if I were you, this is how I would play."

And Marino said that he has faith that Jonathan can win the whole thing, now that Fields is out of the game.

Boston Rob says he was rooting for Ozzy Lusth, but his kids weren't

Before his exit in the May 6 episode, Ozzy Lusth was on track to at least tie Boston Rob's record for total individual immunity challenge wins on "Survivor" at 9. Yet, that possibility vanished when he was blindsided in a 4-1 vote after he failed to play his hidden immunity idol, as he previously did in 2008's Season 16.

"I do feel bad about the way he went out; it was kind of tough to see him meet the same fate," Mariano says, adding that he was actually hoping Lusth would tie his challenge win record of nine. But the father of four young girls said his children did not feel the same way.

"My kids were happy when he was voted out. I was sad, but they were happy 'Like, daddy, you get to keep your record," he quipped.

The five-time player said he is grateful for everything the show has offered him. His first time playing in Season 4 introduced him to the world; his second time in Season 8 introduced him to his wife, Amber Mariano; and his fourth time playing in Season 22 earned him $1 million.

What is Boston Rob up to?

Boston Rob is staying booked and busy in 2026.

He recently partnered with motion sickness brand Dramamine for its latest campaign, which included hosting a high-speed New York City boat ride west of Midtown Manhattan on May 12.

"I just saw the video of this thing, this boat ride, and it looks kind of crazy. I didn't know it was going to be like so fast. It looks like an adventure ride," he said hours before he boarded the boat, which is called The Beast. "Because of stuff like 'Survivor' and 'Traitors' and 'The Amazing Race,' that's how I live my life."

Mariano, who has suffered with nausea and emotional sickness most of his life, quipped that he wishes he could have taken the product while playing "Survivor."

He recently traveled to Maui, Hawaii, and Queenstown, New Zealand, and looks forward to going to Yosemite National Park in California in the future.

But on May 20, he'll be in Los Angeles for the Season 50 finale of "Survivor," where a winner will be revealed live in the United States for the first time since Season 39 in 2019.