Rick Devens Wins Big Brother Season 28, Sweeps $810,000 in Prizes

Key points

• Rick Devens was crowned the winner of Big Brother Season 28 after winning the final Head of Household challenge and evicting Drew Campbell.
• The jury voted 6-1 to award Devens the $750,000 grand prize, with Taylor Brown finishing in second place for $75,000.
• Devens also won the fan-voted America’s Favorite Houseguest award, adding $50,000 to his total winnings.
• This marks the first time a Survivor player has won Big Brother, as Devens previously competed on Survivor’s 38th and 50th seasons.
• The season concluded after 12 weeks, featuring a historic 1,000th episode for the CBS franchise.

Background

Big Brother Season 28 began in July 2026 with 17 houseguests, including three reality TV icons: Rick Devens, Dee Valladares, and Angela Murray. The season was notable for its cross-promotion with other CBS reality shows, particularly Survivor. Devens had previously won the Blockbuster challenge in Week 8, leading to the eviction of LaTrice 'Lala' Verrett. In Week 10, a double eviction saw Yash Patel and Barrett Pfeiffer eliminated, narrowing the field to the final five. Devens and Campbell were seen as strategic rivals throughout the latter half of the season, with Campbell evicting Melody Morris in the final four.

How outlets are covering it

Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the final results, noting Devens' dual victory as a historic moment for the show. The Hollywood Reporter emphasized that Devens was the first Survivor player to win Big Brother, highlighting the crossover between CBS reality franchises. The Bergen Record noted that pre-finale fan polls were split, with some surveys favoring Drew Campbell and others favoring Devens, but the official results showed Devens leading both the jury vote and the fan vote. Deadline’s comments section reflected mixed fan reactions, with some praising Devens' strategic win and others criticizing the season's perceived lack of fresh talent due to the inclusion of returning icons.

Why it matters

Devens' victory marks a significant milestone for Big Brother, as it is the first time a Survivor player has won the show. This crossover success may influence future casting decisions and cross-promotional strategies for CBS reality programming. Additionally, Devens' total winnings of $810,000 set a new benchmark for combined prize money in the show's history.

What to watch

Big Brother has been renewed for Seasons 29 and 30 on CBS. The network is expected to continue its strategy of including returning reality TV icons in future casts to boost ratings and cross-promotion. The next season will likely feature a new cast, though the inclusion of returning players remains a possibility.