Rick Devens Reveals His Jury Support at Ponderosa (Exclusive)

Rick Devens, with the assistance of YouTube sensation Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson, is to thank for the Survivor 50 prize cash enhance to $2 million. Unfortunately, he gained’t be profitable it. The Edge of Extinction alum was voted out in Episode 12 on May 13, however he had fairly the run as one of many season’s most entertaining gamers.

From his pretend idol hidden at tribal council to accepting the problem to flip a coin with MrBeast for the possibility to win $2 million, Devens was instrumental in protecting this season full of life. He had a powerful alliance with Christian Hubicki and Emily Flippen, plus another key relationships, that saved him protected for many of the sport as nicely. With his allies gone, his flashy strikes made him an enormous goal in Episode 12. He performed his Shot within the Dark for one final probability at survival, to no avail.

Here, Devens breaks down his huge strikes of the season, revealing which jury members at Ponderosa have been gunning for him to win all of it.

Congrats on making it so far as you probably did on Survivor 50. It was so enjoyable to look at you this season. You saved issues so full of life, so thanks for that in the beginning.

Thank you. I admire that.

What did that second of reference to Ozzy that you just had in final week’s episode imply to you?

Oh man, I used to be so glad that they confirmed that. He actually ambushed me on that. I’m sitting on the hammock, and he comes up, and it’s like, “Hey, Oz, what’s up, buddy?” And he simply launched that emotional story, and it meant a complete lot that he stated it to me. I believe that he had heard me speak rather a lot about my youngsters, understood my perspective of being a dad at that time, as a result of we’d spent a lot time collectively within the sport on the unique Cila, after which for the reason that merge. And so the truth that he opened as much as me like that meant rather a lot, caught me completely off guard, which is why I’m tearing up like I used to be not prepared for it. And I simply felt his ache, and I’ve not misplaced a dad or mum, thank goodness. I don’t know what it’s prefer to have that remorse of like, “Oh, I wish I had been able to say this one last thing to someone that now I don’t have the chance to say it to their face.” And so I actually simply wished to take heed to him, let him get it out, after which simply let him know that as a dad, there’s nothing our youngsters can do to us that we’re not going to forgive and perceive to an extent.

It was actually one among my favourite moments within the sport. He’s such a particular man, and I’m actually glad we bought to share that. And it meant rather a lot to me that he selected me to speak about that with.

Yeah, it was a very nice second to see. It was good to see males be tender with one another.

Yeah. And I bought to let you know, there have been a number of moments like that. I believe most of those males could possibly be tender. Joe, who I do know we had our moments, is essentially the most wonderful man by way of being such a masculine, sturdy presence, a lot charisma, however he can simply speak in confidence to you emotionally, and it actually makes you are feeling like you’ve gotten permission to do the identical factor. And there have been some early days in Cila the place that occurred, and I used to be identical to, “This guy is so magnetic. It’s really amazing.” And so I give Joe a number of credit score for having the ability to do the identical factor that Ozzy can do and simply be completely weak with folks.

Of course, you and Joe had your variations this season. Where do you guys stand now?

Love Joe. He’s an awesome dude. If any fan ever meets him, they’re going to see what I simply talked about: his magnetism, his charisma, and real kindness to be with you. The sport is the sport, and he’s a soccer participant. I’m positive he tackled the heck out of individuals when he was at UCLA and shook their fingers afterwards. We’ve despatched a number of messages forwards and backwards through the season. Hopefully, our youngsters get to swim within the pool collectively at the finale subsequent week. Love Joe. He’s an awesome dude.

How did your youngsters react to your MrBeast second?

Loved it. Their particular favourite second of the season. They couldn’t imagine that I’m there hugging Mr. Beast, that I went for it. They’re nonetheless ready to satisfy Jimmy. They’re like, “When are we going to meet him?” Now that you just guys are pals. And it’s like, “Well, friends might be overselling it. I want to be his friend.” But they have been so amped. And then the truth that our dude Rizo stated their names on TV, Jack and Juju, Rizo’s beloved in our home perpetually and at all times now as a result of he did that. So it was actually cool. They jumped up after the coin hit. They have been hugging me. It was superior.

It’s apparent why you have been all the way down to play the coin toss, since you management your elimination in that regard, however clarify to me your thought course of behind saying sure.

So I truthfully had thought that I had performed sufficient to flip the vote from me onto Steph by laying every part else that had occurred at camp that afternoon. I actually felt in my coronary heart in that second that I had performed that. But then I additionally knew I’m simply going to be the goal tomorrow. So when MrBeast, when it got here with an immunity idol, which I used to be dying to get my fingers on an actual immunity idol for the primary time of the season, it simply appeared prefer it was a second actually made for me. I simply knew in my coronary heart, that is me. I stated it on the present. I’m born for this. There was little doubt in my thoughts that I wished it. It was only a matter of if anybody else was going to step up and attempt to take it from me. But I even shocked Jeff.

Jeff couldn’t imagine that somebody immediately was going, “Give it to me. Give it to me. ” And let me be sincere with you, Kelli, I wished that second too. It’s MrBeast. My youngsters love him. It’s an enormous splash at tribal. I can’t let another person are available right here and take that from me. This is Rick Devens. If I’m Cirie and I’m in an awesome place within the sport, possibly I’m not pondering that fairly a lot, however oh, I wished it so unhealthy. And my confidence was simply by the roof, silly, made no sense. I used to be positive I used to be going to hit it.

Even in the event you didn’t, although, what a strategy to exit.

Exactly. I used to be completely at peace with that. The incontrovertible fact that once I had hidden the pretend idol at Tribal after which gotten it, I’m like, I’d performed issues that haven’t been performed in 50 seasons of Survivor. So right here was one other alternative, win, lose, or draw, that nobody’s ever performed it. I might say nobody voted me out. I used to be like, I’m at peace with that, but additionally I do know I’m going to hit it as a result of I’m Rick Devens. I used to be actually insane at that time. And Jeff was even wanting at me. He might see the manic in my eyes, and he was going, “You have a lot of endorphins going through your body right now. You might want to take a second.” And I’m like, “No, Jeff, I’m born for this.”

Adrenaline rush. And it’s so good for the plot. How might you not do it?

Exactly. One individual’s going to win Survivor 50, and I wished it to be me, and that was at all times my focus: profitable. But yeah, I need these moments alongside the way in which, not simply because they’re nice moments, but additionally that’s enjoyable. Hiding and being underneath the radar to me shouldn’t be enjoyable. Some folks actually get pleasure from pulling the little strings. I must be out entrance. I must be entertaining the jury. This was my second.

Robert Voets / CBS

Jeff has stated up to now that they’d by no means conceal an actual idol at tribal council. Were you stunned that no one remembered that?

I had that in my thoughts, and different folks in all probability did too, however Jeff says stuff that Jeff says, after which it adjustments alongside the way in which. I simply thought in my thoughts it wasn’t with Adam’s factor, it could possibly be anyplace at tribal. And I assumed that that was what Jeff was talking to is we don’t want folks coming and tearing up tribal, wanting in every single place. But for me, on Season 38, when I discovered my idol above the shelter, what I had discovered was a clue with actually a portray of the shelter and an arrow pointing proper to the place the idol was. So that’s what, in my thoughts, my pretend idol was. I had discovered a clue with an image exhibiting precisely the place it’s in tribal. So I’m not going to be tearing up tribal. I’m going precisely to the place an idol is. So all of it made sense to me.

And then additionally a number of Monday morning quarterbacks, “Oh, he walked right to it. He should have done it differently, even though it worked. I should have done it differently.” And it’s like, no, in my thoughts, I do know precisely the place it’s. And additionally, I’m scared one among these folks’s going to leap off the bench and attempt to beat me to it, which might be a nightmare as a result of there’s not even a pretend idol in there. It’s only a nut and shells and all these things. So that’s what I used to be excited about.

You clearly considered each layer of this lie that you just have been constructing. Did you observe what you’ll say after you “found” it in entrance of all people, or did you simply fully improvise your responses?

No, I had thought of it ever since we had planted it there. What am I going to say once I get it? And so I wanted to make it clear, I discovered a clue that instructed me the place this factor was, and now I must go get it. And I believe the trick is much less is extra. Go get it, come again. And then I understand how I’m when I’ve an idol. I’m very assured. I bought to behave like I do know I’m completely protected, though inside I’m going, oh God, if I get despatched dwelling, I’m going to look actually silly. So I’m like, yeah, da, da, da. And then when Joe and Jonathan are speaking, it’s like I’m declaring that they’re speaking as a result of I bought to have that. I can’t even consider the phrase, however I’ve bought to simply act like I’m completely assured and out of my pores and skin that I’ve this idol.

But additionally attempting to be slightly quiet and never reply questions, present it to us. It’s like, no, I don’t have to indicate it to you. Less is extra. I need this to maneuver on.

When Stephenie was like, “Show me the idol,” that’s the place I’d have failed if I have been you in that situation. Are you simply actually good at pondering in your ft, or was that additionally a factor that you just had rehearsed?

I’m good at pondering on my ft, however I additionally knew that in the event that they requested me to indicate it to them, I’m simply going to say no. Why would I present it to you? I don’t have to indicate it to you. Go forward and once more, it’s a must to have that confidence that it’s an actual idol, the place it’s like take an opportunity. I’d love so that you can vote for me, after which I can decide who goes dwelling. I don’t care. And additionally, it helped that it’s not even a pretend idol in there. Like I stated, what can I present them? Nothing.

Christian was really humorous as a result of he was like, after we had planted it, he’s like, “What if we make a fake idol? And when you go and get it, you can have it come out of your sleeve.” And I’m like, I can’t do road magic, dude. Again, let’s preserve it easy and simply say no and dare them to vote for me. And I believe individuals are so scared that it’s going to price them their sport that it’s like, nicely, we might press Devens on this, or we might simply change the vote to our second subsequent individual that we need to go. And that’s what occurred.

Robert Voets / CBS

After Christian and Emily bought voted out, your prime allies, what was your superb last three, and the way would you’ve gotten pitched your sport in the long run?

Ooh, that’s a great query. My sport, I believe, would’ve spoken for itself as a result of a lot of it was in entrance of the jury. I’d’ve simply stated, “Underdog, I did this. I never bashed any of you. ” The folks I used to be loyal to, I used to be so loyal to, by no means voted towards Christian, by no means voted towards Emily, by no means voted towards anybody who would’ve been shocked by it. I performed an extremely loyal sport, and I’d be wanting at the jury with a number of honor and integrity people up there, Chrissy and Steph and Coach, and I believe they will respect that form of factor.

In phrases of who I wished to be subsequent to, I’m not a “I want to be next to the best player” individual. I’d’ve completely gone to the tip with Christian and Emily as a result of I’m silly loyal. Never would’ve gone towards Cirie, which is why I believe she picked when she determined to go away from Emily and Christian and I and was compelled to select sides, I believe she picked the best aspect as a result of we love Cirie and we’d’ve been loyal to her extra, however I don’t assume any of us would’ve ever taken her to the tip if we had that alternative.

I don’t actually even need to say who I’d’ve wished to go subsequent to as a result of I don’t need to put something on the market about vibes, however I’d’ve wished to take a seat subsequent to the individuals who I assumed would get no votes.

Would you’ve gotten been joyful to lose to Christian or Emily?

I’d not be joyful to lose, but when I’m going to lose to any individual, these have been the 2 I’d need to lose to. And I believe it could’ve been an enormous battle at the tip, and I’d’ve cherished to have been capable of vote for both of them to win, too. And once I went out, the jury was like, “We were rooting for you. We wanted you to win.” And once more, there’s nonetheless a number of time left, and other people performed way more under-the-radar video games that they’d’ve been capable of discuss, however I used to be shocked. I knew I had Emily and I knew I had Christian, however Dee, who I like by the way in which, Ponderosa, attending to know Dee and Coach was such a present. But yeah, Coach and Chrissy and Steph have been rooting for me. I’m like, “Oh man, I should have done more to stay in. This could have been great.”

But yeah, if I might have misplaced to any individual, if Cirie had gotten there and I misplaced to her, it’s like that simply is what it’s. It’d be unbelievable for her to get to the tip as a result of all of us knew what a risk she was coming into the sport, a lot much less the masterclass she placed on this season. And then I like Tiff a lot, however yeah, I’d’ve been most joyful to lose to Christian or Emily.

Robert Voets / CBS

Do you assume you’ve gotten one other season in you?

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Can’t presumably go in addition to the primary two did. I imply, I might win. That’d be good. I can’t think about developing with extra huge moments, however I’ll strive. I can’t say no to Jeff. I like that man.

Well, hope to see you once more on Survivor. You made this season a lot enjoyable. And I believe that reward of you wanting at Jeff and menacingly smiling goes to be my most used GIF for a very long time. It’s so good.

Well, that’s my reward to you. And I actually admire the suggestions. Thank you a lot.

Survivor 50, Three-Hour Season Finale, Wednesday, May 20, 8/7c, CBS

For extra inside scoop on Survivor 50 from the set, decide up a duplicate of TV Guide Magazine’s Survivor at 50 Special Collector’s Issue, out there at Survivor.TVGM2026.com and on newsstands now.