Big Brother
Big Brother is a popular reality competition TV franchise devised by John de Mol Jr. It originated in the Netherlands in 1999 and has since been adapted and broadcast in numerous countries. In this format, participants known as “housemates” or “HouseGuests” reside together in a secluded house, cut off from the outside world, and continuously monitored by live cameras and audio devices.
They compete against each other and face elimination through voting until only one contestant remains to claim the cash prize. With over 62 franchise countries and regions, Big Brother has amassed an impressive 504 seasons as of August 15, 2021. English-language editions are often referred to as “BB,” while Spanish versions are known as “Gran Hermano” (GH).
Big Brother’ Winners: Where Are They Now?
Eddie McGee
Eddie McGee emerged as the triumphant winner of the inaugural season of Big Brother US in September 2000. He captured the hearts of viewers with his captivating personality and the fact that he has one leg. Following his victory, Eddie ventured into acting, making appearances in movies and TV shows such as Hunters, See, 9-1-1, and The Equalizer.
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Will Kirby
Dr. Will Kirby’s charm and charisma propelled him to victory in season 2 of Big Brother. He continued his Big Brother journey by competing in season 7’s All Stars edition, securing a fourth-place finish. Besides making random guest appearances on the show, Will is currently the Chief Medical Officer at Laser Away and a beauty reporter for Life & Style Weekly, and he’s happily married with two children.
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Lisa Donahue
Lisa Donahue made history as the first female winner of Big Brother in season 3. After her triumph, she briefly explored an acting career but eventually established her own photography company in Los Angeles. In 2021, Lisa revealed her battle with cervical and ovarian cancer, bravely sharing her journey with her fans.
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Jun Song
Jun Song’s strategic “floater” approach secured her victory in Big Brother 4, making her the first Asian winner in the franchise. Currently working as a content strategist, Jun resides in Belgium with her son Noah after her split from her husband Davy Goethals in 2017.
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Drew Daniel
Drew Daniel clinched the title in Big Brother 5, which featured the iconic Twist Twist and Project DNA. Post-show, Drew pursued acting in movies but faced legal trouble in 2012 after an alleged domestic violence incident. Since then, he has stayed out of the public eye.
Maggie Ausburn
Maggie Ausburn narrowly defeated Ivette Corredero to secure victory in Big Brother 6. The season gained notoriety due to the fierce rivalry between Maggie’s alliance, The Friendship, and Janelle Pierzina’s alliance, The Sovereign Six. After her win, Maggie chose to retreat from the public eye.
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Mike “Boogie” Malin
Mike “Boogie” Malin triumphed in the first All-Star edition of Big Brother US. With appearances in season 2, 7, and 14, he formed a dominant alliance, Chilltown, alongside Dr. Will Kirby. However, his later years were marred by legal troubles, including arrests for threatening Dr. Will and a subsequent guilty verdict for felony stalking.
“Evel Dick” Donato
“Evel Dick” Donato emerged as the victor in Big Brother 8, repairing his relationship with his estranged daughter Daniele Donato during the game. Both returned for Big Brother 13, but Dick had to leave the competition early after testing positive for HIV. Presently residing in Florida, he hosts his own podcast dedicated to discussing all things Big Brother.
Adam Jasinski
Adam Jasinski clinched victory in Big Brother 9, the sole winter season of the regular show. However, his life took a dark turn post-show, as he was arrested for drug possession and tax evasion, leading to a four-year jail sentence. Currently, Adam has turned his life around, being sober and authoring a book titled “My Kids On Drugs, Now What,” offering resources for parents dealing with children struggling with addiction.
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Dan Gheesling
Dan Gheesling is regarded as one of the best Big Brother players ever, securing a unanimous jury vote to win Big Brother 10. He returned for Big Brother 14, reaching the runner-up position. Dan now runs game content on Twitch and YouTube while enjoying family life with his wife Chelsea and their three children.
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Jordan Lloyd’
Jordan Lloyd’s victory in Big Brother 11 led her to meet her now-husband Jeff Schroeder. The couple participated in Big Brother 13, with Jordan finishing in 4th place and Jeff in 7th. Together, they also appeared on The Amazing Race 16 and Marriage Boot Camp. As they gear up for Big Brother 25, they launched their podcast, the Togethermess Podcast.
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Hayden Moss
Hayden Moss’s all-male Brigade alliance propelled him to win Big Brother 12 over Lane Elenburg. Hayden made history as the first Big Brother player to compete on Survivor, finishing in 7th place on Survivor: Blood vs. Water. Presently, he is romantically involved with a music artist.
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Rachel Reilly
Rachel Reilly secured victory in Big Brother 13 on her second attempt, where she met her now-husband Brendon Villegas. The couple competed together on The Amazing Race and Fear Factor, and Rachel also appeared on Snake in the Grass and The Traitors. Rachel and Brendon are parents to two children, Adora and Adler.
Ian Terry
Ian Terry’s strategic gameplay earned him victory in Big Brother 14 over Dan Gheesling. After returning for Big Brother 22 and finishing in 11th place, Ian pursued a career as a consultant and resides in Houston after graduating with a chemical engineering degree from Tulane University.
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Andy Herren
Andy Herren’s victory in Big Brother 15 marked a significant moment as the first openly gay winner. Presently living in Chicago, he remains active on social media and continues to keep up with the show.
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Derrick Levasseur
Derrick Levasseur dominated Big Brother 16 and emerged as the winner over Cody Calafiore. After the show, Derrick transitioned to investigative work on Investigation Discovery’s Breaking Homicide and authored a book titled “The Undercover Edge.” He co-hosts The Winner’s Circle podcast with Cody and shares two daughters with his wife Jana, whom he married before the show.
Steve Moses
Steve Moses evicted professional poker player Vanessa Rousso to emerge victorious in Big Brother 17. Post the show, Steve pursued an MFA in sound design and now resides in Orlando, Florida, where he operates Oasis Senior Advisors.
Nicole Franzel
Nicole Franzel won Big Brother 18 after a close 5-4 jury vote against Paul Abrahamian. Returning for Big Brother 22, she finished in third place. Nicole met her now-husband Victor Arroyo on BB18, and they participated together in The Amazing Race 31, securing the fourth position. They now reside in the Midwest with their son Arrow, born in July 2021.
Morgan Willett
Morgan Willett achieved success in the Big Brother spinoff, Big Brother: Over The Top. Following her win, she appeared on Ex On The Beach and The Challenge. Morgan previously dated The Challenge star Johnny Bananas for two years before parting ways in 2021. An influencer, she hosts her podcast titled “Your Internet Bestfriend.”
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Josh Martinez
Josh Martinez secured victory in the Big Brother 19 finale, defeating Paul Abrahamian with a 5-4 jury vote. Since then, he has become a staple on The Challenge, appearing in multiple seasons of the MTV show. Josh now resides in Miami, Florida.
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Kaycee Clark
Kaycee Clark’s victory in Big Brother 20 was sealed by one jury vote over her ally Tyler Crispen. Like Josh, she also participated in various seasons of The Challenge, winning The Challenge: Spies, Lies, and Allies in 2021. Kaycee is currently dating The Challenge star Nany Gonzalez.
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Jackson Michie
Jackson Michie emerged victorious in Big Brother 21 alongside his showmance partner Holly Allen. Although their romance ended after the show, Jackson found love again and got married to his girlfriend Caitlin on July 7, 2023. The couple now resides in Nashville.
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Cody Calafiore
Cody Calafiore returned for Big Brother 22 and dominated the competition, securing a unanimous jury vote to win over Enzo Palumbo. After the show, Cody participated in The Traitors on Peacock and co-hosts The Winner’s Circle podcast with Derrick. He proposed to his girlfriend Cristie LaRatta in October 2022.
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Xavier Prather
Xavier Prather’s groundbreaking victory in Big Brother 23 was made possible by the unbreakable Cookout Alliance, where all six Black contestants worked together to dominate the game. After the show, the attorney and model showcased his competitive spirit once again on The Challenge: USA. In May 2023, Xavier took the next step in his personal life by getting engaged to his girlfriend, Kenzie Hansen.
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Taylor Hale
Taylor Hale emerged as the winner of Big Brother 24, making history as the first Black woman to claim the title. Not only did she secure victory, but she also earned the fans’ favor by winning America’s Favorite Houseguest. Taylor briefly dated fellow houseguest Joseph Abdin post-show and has been actively pursuing opportunities in the entertainment industry.
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TRENDING
Big Brother Premise
In regular intervals, the housemates conduct private nominations, selecting fellow housemates they wish to see evicted from the house. Those with the most nominations are announced, and viewers have the chance to vote via telephone, social media, and smartphone apps to either save or evict the nominees. The last remaining person becomes the winner.
Recent editions have introduced additional voting methods, like social media and smartphone apps. Sometimes, non-standard votes occur, resulting in double evictions or no eliminations. Earlier series had 10 contestants with biweekly evictions, while the UK version increased the number of contestants with weekly evictions.
Housemates are responsible for housework and assigned tasks by the producers, testing their teamwork and community spirit. The outcome of these tasks often influences their shopping budget or weekly allowance for essentials.
Big Brother Reception
From a sociological and demographic perspective, Big Brother provides insight into how individuals respond when placed in close confinement with people from different backgrounds, opinions, or socioeconomic groups.
Viewers can observe both external reactions through constant recording and internal emotions expressed in the Diary or Confession Room. This results in a range of interactions, from heated confrontations to genuine connections, sometimes even leading to romantic relationships.
The show’s uniqueness lies in its integration with the Internet. While daily updates are broadcasted (sometimes subject to criticism for editing), viewers can access a continuous feed from multiple cameras online.
In some cases, national series charge for this access. Internet broadcasting is supplemented with email, WAP, and SMS updates in some countries. Satellite television shows the house live, but there may be a delay to remove inappropriate content or references to non-participants.
Contestants in Big Brother are strictly isolated within the house without access to external communication or media. Although earlier series strictly prohibited contact with the outside world, recent versions allow limited views of televised events as rewards for winning tasks. Writing materials are usually forbidden, except for certain religious texts. Contestants may occasionally leave the house for specific tasks or emergencies.
As a reward or in significant situations, news from the outside world may be conveyed to the contestants. Eviction nights involve interactions with the show’s host, and the producer, acting as “Big Brother,” issues directives and commands throughout the day. Some versions of the show allow private counselling sessions with a psychologist via telephone from the Diary Room.
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