"Survivor 50" finalists discuss strategy, how they planned to win

CBS Mornings "Survivor 50" finalists discuss how they planned to win the record prize .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-cbs-mornings.jpg'); } By Mark Osborne May 21, 2026 / 12:26 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google If you thought Aubry Bracco came out of nowhere to win the historic "Survivor 50" title on Wednesday night, you're not alone. That was exactly the point, she said."When you have 23 incredible players, you have to know when to put your foot on the gas, when to slow down, and there are a lot of times when I go, 'Oh, this is happening over here, let the attention go there.' ... You remain in the pocket and wait to strike when it is your moment," Bracco told "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King on Thursday.The New Hampshire native, who initially starred in season 32, took home the record $2 million prize on Wednesday night's finale. Bracco made it to the final three in "Survivor: Kaôh Rōng," but came up short in the final vote."I'm always having an out-of-body experience on 'Survivor,'" Bracco told "CBS Mornings." "[Host] Jeff [Probst] can attest, it has been 10 years and I came up just short, and you always taste it when you get that close." Winner Aubry Bracco, front right, attends the "Survivor 50" Live Finale with her fellow contestants at the Paramount Studios lot in Los Angeles, on May 20, 2026. Robert Voets/CBS via Getty Images On Thursday's episode of "CBS Mornings," the five finalists and Probst, who has hosted all 50 seasons of the show, discussed in-depth their strategy of how to win the show, which featured contestants from previous seasons, on Thursday."It is ultimately a game of social politics, and the big twist of 'Survivor' is you are getting rid of people that then in the end you have to persuade to give you $2 million," Probst said. "That's a tough thing do."Tiffany Nicole Ervin, who orginially appeared on season 46, said she thought she was voted out because she had "too many frie...