Ben Driebergen

Benjamin Russell "Ben" Driebergen is the Sole Survivor of . He later competed on .
Starting off as a key member of the original Levu tribe, Ben found himself in the minority following a Tribe Switch. However, thanks to a string of challenge victories, Ben was able to make the merge where he found himself as the swing vote for the first Tribal Council, and took a leading role in the majority Round Table alliance. This time was short-lived as Ben became perceived as a jury threat. Despite blowing up his own social standing within his alliance, thereby placing himself at the bottom of the tribe's social hierarchy, Ben managed to survive and reach the Final Tribal Council by finding and playing three Hidden Immunity Idols in a row and beating Devon Pinto in an unprecedented final four fire-making challenge. His idol plays and status as an underdog, combined with the jury's general dismissal of Chrissy Hofbeck's and Ryan Ulrich's social gameplay, rewarded Ben the title of Sole Survivor in a 5-2-1 vote.
In Winners at War, despite getting off to a rough start and earning the distrust of many of his tribemates, Ben's position improved as the days went by as other targets emerged. He became rivals with several of his castmates, including Adam Klein, Rob Mariano, and Jeremy Collins. At a crucial vote at the final ten, Ben sided with Denise Stapley, Sarah Lacina, and Tony Vlachos, allowing him to make it to the final five. However after Tony won immunity, Ben gave Sarah his blessing to vote him out to improve her own resume, which led to his elimination in fifth place.
==Profile==
Retrieved from CBS.com
<tabber>Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers=
Age: 34
Hometown: Boise, Id.
Current Residence: Boise, Id.
Occupation: Marine
Hobbies: Circle track car racing, building and shooting guns, and camping with my family.
Pet peeves: Whining.
Three words to describe you: Hilarious, strong-willed, and motivated.
What's your personal claim to fame? Being a good dad and husband.
Who or what is your inspiration in life? Michael Blake Wafford because he gave his life for our country. We were together in Iraq and we were a team.
If you could have three things on the island, what would they be and why? My cowboy hat, my boots, and my running shoes.
Which Survivor contestant are you most like? I'm a mix of Russell Hantz, Boston Rob, and Joe Anglim. I'm a little conniving and manipulative like Russell, have the determination and confidence of Boston Rob, and the athletic ability of Joe.
What's your reason for being on Survivor? Winning a million dollars and being on an island and living with nothing.
Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor? Because I have survived and overcome so many situations and met so many different people with different personalities. My social game is on point and my leadership and survival skills have been tried, tested, and proven.http://web.archive.org/web/20230601190539/https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/cast/215712/
==Survivor==
===Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers===
Due to his past as a marine, Ben was initially placed on the Levu tribe consisting of "Heroes". Ashley Nolan and JP Hilsabeck immediately wanted to work with Ben due to his strength and perceived trustworthiness. Ben initially was close to Alan Ball, but that relationship worsened after Alan went off on JP and Ashley. When Levu lost the first Immunity Challenge, Ben joined the rest of the tribe in voting out Katrina Radke. Following her elimination, Ben became closer to Chrissy Hofbeck after the latter identified Ben as the best possible ally in this tribe. However, any further action with his fellow Levus was put on hold as a tribe switch occurred that put him on the Yawa with three original Sokos (Mike Zahalsky, Cole Medders, and Jessica Johnston) and one original Yawa, Lauren Rimmer. Ben and Lauren became close as the only non-Healers on the new Yawa tribe. Cole rubbed Ben the wrong way with his eating habits, and both Ben and Lauren tried to turn Mike against Cole. However, Yawa won the next three Immunity Challenges.
At the merge, Ben was a swing vote between the Soko Alliance and the remaining Heroes and Hustlers, the latter two groups which banded together. Lauren initially wanted to work with the Healers, but Ben's relationship with Chrissy and his rivalry with Cole caused him to prefer the Heroes and Hustlers. This led to the Pagonging of the original Sokos until the final nine. During that process, Lauren told Ben about her Extra Vote advantage, Ryan Ulrich told Ben about his Hidden Immunity Idol, and Joe Mena tried to use Ben's marine status against him. Ben started to gain a target on his back as the leader of the majority alliance, referred to as "King Arthur" which would dub his alliance The Round Table. On Day 25, Lauren won a reward and included Ben, Ashley, and Devon Pinto to discuss making a move against JP, Chrissy, or Ryan Ulrich. This plan was also fueled by Devon's lack of trust in Ryan after he told both Devon and Ben about his Hidden Immunity Idol. During the reward, Ben found a second merged idol (the first being in Ryan's possession). Back at camp, Devon nominated Ben to act as a spy by voting for Mike in order to gain information from the new minority after the vote. The plan worked as his alliance and Joe and Mike blindsided JP, and Ryan and Chrissy had no idea Ben was involved.
For the next few days, Ben pretended to be betrayed by Ashley, Lauren, and Devon, much to Joe's amusement. After Chrissy won the next Immunity Challenge, Ben suggested to his alliance that they take out Joe because he was no longer needed. However, Ben's status as a strong player began to worry his allies. Ashley and Lauren considered voting Ben out before Joe, but Devon was unsure. Ultimately, they blindsided Joe and flushed Ryan's idol, relegating Mike to the minority along with Ryan and Chrissy. Returning from Tribal Council, Chrissy found out that Ben was playing double agent and called him out on it which caused the two to argue. On Day 31, Ben met his wife Kelly at the Loved Ones Challenge. Things continued to heat up on Day 33 as Lauren, Devon, and Ashley were caught by Ben planning to vote him out. Ben tried to target Lauren, who had found the rehidden idol as well as her Extra Vote advantage. Panicking for numbers, Lauren gave Mike half of her idol as a sign of trust. At Tribal Council, Mike threw Lauren's idol in the fire which allowed Ben to successfully eliminate his target in Lauren, despite needing his own idol to negate everyone else's votes against him.
At that point, Ben became the undisputed target. All the other contestants made it explicitly clear, though Ben continued to try to find other avenues. Unable to convince the tribe or win immunity, Ben resorted to finding idols and then taking out his chosen targets. On Day 36, Ben found his second idol moments before going to Tribal Council and played it before the votes were cast, and Ashley was sent home. On Day 37, Ben played his third idol (which he found hours after the previous Tribal Council) normally and forced a tie between Devon (his target) and Mike (who received Devon's vote). Mike was voted out in the revote. With no more idols in the game, Ben thought he needed to win immunity to ensure he made it to the end. He came close on multiple occasions in what was a back-and-forth Final Immunity Challenge, but was unable to capitalize and Chrissy won the challenge. However, a twist changed the Tribal Council from a standard vote to a forced fire-making challenge. Chrissy saved Ryan and forced Devon and Ben to participate in the challenge, in which Ben succeeded.
At the Final Tribal Council, Ben's argument to the jury was that he was constantly playing hard in all facets of the game, especially in finding Hidden Immunity Idols. He was applauded for finding idols, but panned (particularly by Joe) for his weak social game, which Ben explained was the most difficult part of the game for him due to his PTSD from his marine tenure. In spite of this, Ben's astounding idol-finding run and his ability to beat the odds and make it to the end were preferred over Chrissy's dominance in Immunity Challenges and Ryan's subtle gameplay, and he was awarded the title of Sole Survivor in a 5-2-1 vote.
<tabber>Challenge History=
Episode 	TribeAffiliation 	Challenge 	Challenge Type 	Sit-Out? 	Result
1 	rowspan=4 	Race to Shore 	Reward 	No 	
1 	Tracks of My Tears 	Immunity 	No 	 	
2 	Crossroads 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
3 	Block in a Hard Place 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
4 	rowspan=6 	Tangled Up 	Reward 	No 	
4 	The Color and the Shape 	Immunity 	No 	 	
5 	Head Long Flight 	Reward 	No 	 	
5 	Rice Race 	Immunity 	No 	 	
6 	A-Tension Span 	Reward 	No 	 	
6 	Discy Business 	Immunity 	No 	 	
colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
7 	rowspan=15 	Will It Go Round 	Immunity 	 	
8 	Air Raid 	Reward 	No 	 	
8 	Ten-Foot Pole 	Immunity 	 	 	
9 	Hear About It Ladder 	Reward 	 	 	
9 	Squatty Probst 	Immunity 	 	 	
10 	The Game is Afoot 	Reward 	 	 	
10 	Bermuda Triangles 	Immunity 	Yes 	 	
10 	Kenny Log-Ins 	Reward 	 	 	
10 	Driving Wheel 	Immunity 	 	 	
11 	Love on the Rocks 	Reward 	 	 	
11 	This Much 	Immunity 	 	 	
12 	The Bottom Line 	Reward 	 	 	
12 	Franklin's Tower 	Immunity 	 	 	
13 	Might as Well Jump 	Reward/Immunity 	 	 	
13 	You Shook Me 	Immunity 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Notes: Ben elected to sit out of the challenge to eat peanut butter and chocolate.	Notes: Ben elected to sit out of the challenge to eat peanut butter and chocolate.	Notes: Ben elected to sit out of the challenge to eat peanut butter and chocolate.	Notes: Ben elected to sit out of the challenge to eat peanut butter and chocolate.	Notes: Ben elected to sit out of the challenge to eat peanut butter and chocolate.	Notes: Ben elected to sit out of the challenge to eat peanut butter and chocolate.
|-|Voting History=
Episode	Ben'sVotes 	Voted AgainstBen
1 	 	
2 	 	
3 	 	
4 	 	
5 	 	
6 	 	
7 	 	
8 	 	
9 	 	
10 	 	
10 	 	
11 	 	
12 	 	
13 	 	
 	colspan="2"	
 	 	
 In , the vote ended with a 4-4 tie between Desi and Joe, forcing a revote. Ben did not change his vote on the revote. In , Ben used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating 6 votes against him. In , Ben used a Hidden Immunity Idol before the vote, making him ineligible to receive votes. In , Ben used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating 3 votes against him. Also, the vote ended with a 1-1-0 tie between Devon and Mike, forcing a revote. Ben did not change his vote on the revote.</tabber>
===Winners at War===
Ben began on the Sele tribe. Despite earning the distrust of many tribemates during the early days by unintentionally revealing secrets and plans, Ben managed to stay in the game. He contributed to Natalie , Danni and Ethan's eliminations at his tribe's first three Tribal Councils.
Following the Tribe Switch, Ben was moved to the Yara tribe along with Sele's Adam and Rob. While the three had their differences and trust issues on the original Sele tribe, they decided to settle their differences and use their numerical advantage over original Dakal's Sarah and Sophie. However, after Yara lost immunity on Day 15, Ben and Adam joined the women in blindsiding Rob. Yara won the next two challenges, keeping Ben from Tribal Council.
After reaching the merge, Ben became apart of the coalition consisting of big targets, which controlled the first couple of votes. After that coalition splintered, Ben remained with allies Sarah and Tony  and developed a rivalry with former ally Jeremy, whom he then repeatedly targeted. On Day 31 when he told Jeremy to ask his ally Michele for her 50/50 coin and told his ally Michele not to give him her coin in order to create distrust between them, but when Jeremy and Michele compared notes, they realized Ben was playing them, which made Ben a target. Fortunately he escaped elimination that night, and he was finally able to vote out Jeremy.
On Day 34, Nick used his disadvantage he got from Extinction Island to give Ben a setback in the Immunity Challenge. Ben's setback was he would have to set up a 30% longer line of blocks. Despite the setback, Ben recovered and came close to possibly winning the challenge, but Michele ultimately won.
On Day 36, Tony attempted to convince him and Sarah to split their votes between Natalie, who had returned from Extinction Island, and Denise in case Natalie had an idol. Ben however did not think Natalie had anything and did not want to vote out Densie because she was his close ally. At Tribal Council, Natalie played her idol, which prompted Tony to play his, and then Ben to play his idol (found on Day 29). The vote ended in a 0-0 tie after Ben's and Natalie's votes were negated. In the revote, Ben joined Tony, Natalie and Michele in voting out Denise.
On Day 37, Ben came close to winning individual immunity, but Tony ultimately edged him out. At camp, Ben gave Sarah permission to vote him out, as he felt that his Survivor journey was complete, making the latter emotional. At Tribal Council Ben and Tony voted for Michele, but Sarah joined the women in voting out Ben. He finished in 5th place and became the 15th member of the jury.
At the Final Tribal Council, Ben attested to Tony's loyalty by saying Tony knew he had the idol but did not tell anyone. He also credited Michele's win and performance this season by telling her he understood why she won as a fellow controversial winner, and asked Tony and Michele about their drive to pull off their Immunity Challenge wins. At the voting booth, he cast his vote for Tony to win and said he was proud of him. Tony went on to win over Natalie and Michele in a 12-4-0 vote.
<tabber>Challenge History= 
Episode 	TribeAffiliation 	Challenge 	Challenge Type 	Sit-Out? 	Result
1 	rowspan=5 	Marooning 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	
1 	Blue Lagoon Bustle 	Immunity 	No 	 	
2 	Draggin' the Dragon 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
3 	Along the Watch Tower 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
4 	Beyond the Wheel 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
colspan=6 	 	 	 	 	
5 	rowspan=4 	Block in a Hard Place 	Immunity 	No 	
6 	Rice Race 	Reward/Immunity 	No 	 	
7 	Ball-istic Missiles 	Reward 	No 	 	
7 	Dishwalla 	Immunity 	No 	 	
colspan="6" 	 	 	 	 	
8 	rowspan=11 	Get a Grip 	Immunity 	 	
9 	New School 	Reward 	No 	 	
9 	Bermuda Triangle 	Immunity 	 	 	
10 	A Bit Tipsy 	Immunity 	 	 	
11 	Chain Reaction 	Reward 	 	 	
11 	10-Foot Pole 	Immunity 	 	 	
12 	When It Rains 	Immunity 	 	 	
13 	Running Down a Dream 	Immunity 	 	 	
13 	High Step Back 	Immunity 	 	 	
14 	Slide On 	Reward/Immunity 	 	 	
14 	5 on 5 	Immunity 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	
Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.	Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.	Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.	Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.	Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.	Notes: An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 17. An unaired Reward Challenge was held on Day 26.
|-|Voting History=
Episode 	Ben'sVotes 	Voted AgainstBen
1 	 	
1 	 	
2 	 	
3 	 	
4 	 	
5 	 	
6 	 	
7 	 	
8 	 	
9 	 	
10 	 	
11 	 	
12 	 	
13 	 	
13 	 	
14 	 	
14 	 	
 	 	
Voted forSole Survivor	colspan="2"	
 In , Ben used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating 2 votes against him. Also, Natalie used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Ben's vote against her. Because Ben and Natalie both used Hidden Immunity Idols and negated all the votes cast at Tribal Council, a vote restart was held between the two non-immune players, Denise and Sarah. Ben changed his vote to Denise on the restart.</tabber>
==Post-Survivor==
* In the spring of 2022, Ben competed on CBS's The Challenge: USA.https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/the-challenge-usa-cast-revealed-photos/ He was medically disqualified from the show in the final episode after sustaining a shoulder injury, finishing in 10th place (5th out of the 14 male Challengers).
* In the fall of 2022, Ben competed on Paramount+'s The Challenge: World Championship.https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/the-challenge-world-championship-cast-revealed-details/ He was once again medically disqualified in the eighth episode due to severe illness, finishing in 10th place again as well (9th out of the 15 male Challengers).
==Trivia==
* Ben is the third castaway from Idaho, the first two being Sherri Biethman and Taylor Stocker.
* Ben is the first person to negate every single vote but his own with a Hidden Immunity Idol. He would be followed by Denise Stapley on and Julie Alley on .
** Ben and Julie holds the record for the highest percentage of votes negated with the Hidden Immunity Idol, at roughly 85.71%.
* Ben is the first person to play an idol before the votes were cast under the current rules.
* Ben is the first castaway to play an idol at three consecutive Tribal Councils.
* Ben has the shortest time between playing an idol and finding another one, finding his third idol the same night he played the second idol.
* Ben holds the record for the most votes cast against a Sole Survivor, receiving 11 votes in .
** Of all Sole Survivors, Ben played the most "imperfect" game, receiving 11 votes against him and losing 3 jury votes, totaling up to 14 votes lost.
* Ben is the first castaway to win a fire-making challenge as a result of the format change at the final four.
** Ben is the second winner of a fire-making challenge to become the Sole Survivor of a season, following Bob Crowley. They would be followed by Wendell Holland, Chris Underwood, Tony Vlachos, and Mike Gabler.
* Ben is the first Sole Survivor to share a birthday with a previous Sole Survivor. Both he and Denise Stapley were born on January 1.
* Ben lost 10.6 lbs. during his time on Winners at War.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLuS6D9DNXs
* Ben is the third contestant to be the 18th person eliminated from season, after Ian Rosenberger in and Cirie Fields in , and the first contestant to be the 18th person voted out of a season. He is the only person to hold the former distinction in a season with a Final Three.
==References==
Category:Contestants
Category:Male Contestants
Category:Contestants Appearing in Multiple Seasons
Category:Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers Contestants
Category:Winners at War Contestants
Category:Finalists
Category:Winners at War Jury Members
Category:Levu Tribe
Category:Solewa Tribe
Category:Sele Tribe
Category:Yara Tribe
Category:Koru Tribe
Category:Winners
Category:5th Place
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Survivor (U.S.) Contestants
Category:Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers
Category:Survivor: Winners at War
Category:1983 births
Category:Living people