Survivor winners: Ranking all 45 Sole Survivors by season

Best Survivor Winners No. 28: Adam Klein (Survivor Millennials vs. Gen X)

There’s no denying that Adam Klein’s performance was uneven. He played fairly cocky in front of other people that would eventually be on the jury, as well as misplayed both of the idols he found (although one was discovered the latest in any season, on Day 37).

He is among the Survivor winners with the most votes against him heading into the Final Tribal Council with six.

He made up for his miscues with an excellent navigation through tribal lines without drawing too much ire late after the merge. Four of his six votes were at the merge, and each time he received a vote, he voted that player out.

He played himself in a space where he was as strategic as David or Zeke while hanging back enough not to be the target.

Not only that, but he pulled off a strong final tribal council performance, regardless of the revelation of his mother’s ailing health to the jury (Jay already knew).

He helped set up a final tribal council that he could win, and he delivered when it was most necessary.