'Survivor 50' Runner-Up Jonathan Young Suggests Aubry Bracco Won Because of a Bitter Jury (Exclusive)
Jonathan Young went into the Survivor 50 finale believing he had done everything he needed to change his reputation from challenge beast to more of a strategist. The Season 42 alum still won immunity challenges, but also managed to play a more flexible social game than he had in his original season. But despite all that, he lost out on the $2 million to Aubry Bracco in a 8-3-0 vote.
In fact, the Alabama native, 33, says he had a feeling the game was already slipping away before the votes were even read. He credits Aubry's underdog story over four seasons of playing to helping her secure the votes.
In his exit interview with Men's Journal, he opens up about why he believes Aubry's history on the show influenced the jury, the votes that surprised him most, and why he felt that some of the jury members were "bitter." He also reveals whether he would return to play again.
Scroll down to read the full interview with Jonathan.
Men's Journal: How are you feeling this morning? Did you get any sleep?
Jonathan Young: Oh, a couple hours, not much. That was a hard night.
Men's Journal: You went against two people who had been in the Final Tribal Council before and had some experience talking to the jury. Do you think that gave them a leg up at all?
Jonathan Young: I think it definitely helped that they had been in Final Tribal before, but I've seen it, and I kind of knew what to expect. But yeah, it's difficult, no matter what, regardless if you've done it before, haven't it's just...it's a hard spot to be in.
Men's Journal: You and Joe worked with a lot of the same people. Did you consider that you may end up splitting some votes?
Jonathan Young: I thought about that. I thought about splitting votes with Joe, but at the end of the day, I had a feeling that they would think that I played a better game than Joe. I knew Aubry would probably win as soon as the ball dropped in Simmotion. If I'm being honest, knew that it was pretty much over, because in today's Survivor game, you can't compete with an underdog story that's five seasons long. I genuinely believe that this wasn't based solely on this game, but what had happened in the past game, is that fair? That's something for you or the fans to decide, you know? I think even the questions, if you go back and listen to them, are partially honed into not just this game, but what had happened in the past games.
Men's Journal: Did people talk about your game at all and how you evolved from Season 42 in Final Tribal? Did that come up?
Jonathan Young: Yeah, it came up how I had changed, but as far as moves or things that didn't happen to me in Season 42 was not, but however, I think that people think that Miss Aubrey was cheated. This is a fun fact: she said that I played like she did, and she played like Michele in their season, which is, I think, pretty accurate.
Men's Journal: You really changed your game from being just a challenge beast to maneuvering a little bit more strategically. That must have been a conscious effort going into the season?
Jonathan Young: I thought about Survivor literally every day for four years, and having Boston Rob as my friend who could kind of help guide me really did help, and I don't. I thought being less rigid would help me with my jury management, but I started to think that Season 50, I did think that Season 50 would like moves instead of more of staying in the middle, that's what I thought, but it turns out, as he said so himself, being in the middle is what most of the jury wanted to see, not necessarily having your hand on every single vote, like I did, and that's that's what happened. Out of their mouth, like they would rather see somebody that was in the middle kind of floating to the top, and that's what happened.
Men's Journal: A lot of it differs from season to season, and depends on the cast.
Jonathan Young: That's right, it's just harder when it's $2 million. I mean, good Lord, at least give me the car.
Men's Journal: Whose votes did you feel like you had going into Tribal, or felt like you definitely had to convince?
Jonathan Young: I thought Dee would appreciate my game, and Ozzy would appreciate my game more, because Dee is known for being kind of a stabber in the backer. I mean, I did what Dee did on her season, I even made her say something she didn't want to say. I played her just like she played people, and she didn't even play with Aubry for one day. She played with me the entire time, and she didn't give me her vote, and if that's not a better jury, I don't know what it is. I'm not trying to be rude, but it's just things like that that I catch, like Cirie, for example, if you can have four people that come to you and ask you, well, how do we vote, what do we do next? You don't think that that's happening on Ponderosa?
Men's Journal: So you think people were swayed by some other people?
Jonathan Young: I mean, you tell me, do you think they were swayed in the game? Well, is the game over in Ponderosa? I think it was just who was in my corner and who wasn't, is what it comes down to.
Men's Journal: Do you think there were blocks in the jury that were always going to vote together?
Jonathan Young: I thought they might. That's why I thought there was a chance for me, because I didn't think it was a big chance, but I was like, I think Devens respects my game. It turns out he didn't quite respect it as much as I had thought.
Men's Journal: You did win a crucial immunity challenge where we saw you throwing up and you still won. Talk to me about what was going through your body and mind at that moment.
Jonathan Young: I think God made me to when I watch myself playing Survivor, I can see myself, and I know how I'm feeling in that moment, and it's just like a time to surrender to the game. I feel I can see it in my eyes, and I move real slow if you watch me play, because I'm like giving up everything except for what's in front of me. So when you see me like this in jury and I move real slow, it's like this is all this is it, this is what I'm doing, and that's kind of what I do, and the challenge is I give everything that I have, and so I don't care if I got to throw up, if I cut my finger off, I just, I have to do it all, or I'll regret it, and I hate regret.
Men's Journal: At the fire-making, you redeemed yourself there, although it was spoiled for us a little bit at the finale. What was your reaction to that?
Jonathan Young: I just think that it's going to be another historical moment for Season 50, so I think Mr. Jeff is so good at his job, he joked it off, and yeah, just they'll probably tune in to Season 51 even more so now.
Men's Journal: In the fire-making challenge, did you feel very confident going in, even though we saw Rizo was doing a little bit better?
Jonathan Young: I don't necessarily feel confident in Survivor a lot, because I think that confidence can turn into comfort, and then comfort comes into death in Survivor. One of the things Mr. Matt Van Wagenen, he said before Season 42, "Don't get comfortable," and it stuck with me for two seasons, five years, because, like, Ozzy got comfortable, that's the only reason he left, is he got confident and comfortable. That's why he told Aubry all that stuff, and it's the comfort is what kills. So think about making a T-shirt that says "comfort kills."
Men's Journal: Had Rizo beaten you and you were on the jury, who would you have voted for between those three?
Jonathan Young: I couldn't vote for Rizo. I don't think that Joe got as much credit as he should have, because he's been in the Final Three twice, but at the same time it'd be a hard vote between Aubry and Mr. Joe.
Men's Journal: How do you think you would have done against Rizzo and Joe instead of Aubrey in the final three? Jonathan Young: People had told me that I would have won if it was between Rizzo and Joe, and I believe that I knew as soon as the ball dropped. I said it's, it's the two millions going to Aubrey, and I kind of swallowed that pill back then, but reliving it has been terribly difficult.
Men's Journal: Aubry said she bought Simmotion on Etsy and practiced, which was interesting.
Jonathan Young: Yeah, I think I think Aubry had a great finale. Think Aubry started really playing the last two episodes. She turned it on. That's the kind of thing that you got to wonder, would that work with other juries? I got a lot of studying and praying to do about how I'm supposed to take this in and be humble, because this whole thing is a gift. I don't deserve $2 million. Yes, I did my best, and the whole opportunity that CBS has given me is just a gift, that's what I got to remember. Nobody out here deserves to be on Survivor. It's not like I should be here. It's like, no, they decided. I's their show. We're a part of this because they chose us, right? .
Men's Journal: Is this Survivor journey over for you, or did this one make you want to play again?
Jonathan Young: I'll play as many times Mr. Jeff calls. I just have to figure out the path for me to win, and what that even looks like, because I changed my game so much, and I don't know, I don't know how to...I just don't know how to win the game, and that one's that one's that where I'm where I'm at right now. But yes, I would play again as soon as Mr. Jeff calls.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 7:30 PM.