Jordyn Taylor, Temi Adebowale

Over the years, fans of the series have had lots of questions about how the show really works, including if the contestants secretly get to use real toilets ( <a href="http://www.geekycamel.com/really-goes-behind-scenes-survivor/" id="27ccd0ba-8a24-3423-acb5-c8f96946166f"> no </a> ), if the producers control what they wear ( <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/hygiene-issues-survivor-can-get-hairy-2D80555154" id="b6cec930-527b-338f-ac4a-79bb6e9caab4"> yes </a> ), and if the contestants are ever alone ( <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/last-secrets-survivor-revealed-2D80554451" id="0ed7d71f-1129-3114-ad69-a71c63ac20bc"> not a chance. </a> ).

<h1> One of the more persistent questions is about how long the contestants actually spend on the island. </h1>

In the American version of the show, contestants are on the show for a maximum of 39 days (with the exception of the Australian Outback season, which ran for 42 days).

On the international versions of the show, things can get a little hardcore. The most recent season of Survivor Australia lasted for <a href="https://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/australian-survivor/about" id="9637b7f8-269a-3719-a6ae-cf35d4ead187"> 50 days </a> , while last year's season of Survivor Greece went on for a whopping <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_Greece_(2018)#Contestants" id="1ac08fc4-d081-331b-a1f5-3a2f5932b8af"> SIX MONTHS </a> . However, the format of the show tends to change from country to country, with Greece's version involving a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/survivor/comments/62ctqz/survivor_greece/" id="286f6839-6e1c-398e-a005-065e0acfbde3"> public vote by viewers </a> , which explains the longer run time.

But even just 39 days as a castaway takes a massive toll on the body. With limited access to food, contestants lose quite a bit of weight over the course of a season. Tina Wesson, a three-time player and winner of Survivor: Australian Outback, lost 18 pounds during her time on Survivor: Blood vs. Water. Wesson spent 38 days in the game before she was voted out, finishing 4th:

Holly Hoffman, who finished 4th on Survivor: Nicaragua, told <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-reality-tv-affects-your-career-2017-3#i-would-have-never-in-a-million-years-thought-a-reality-show-would-take-me-to-where-at-i-am-at-this-point-in-my-career-4" id="56c67584-7970-3d8d-a772-65ca98cb011e"> Business Insider </a> she lost 22 pounds over the course of the season. She also said she was sick for a week when she got home. Hannah Shapiro, a runner-up on the 33rd season of Survivor and contributor to <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/author/221661/Hannah-Shapiro/" id="0f8e6ccf-a61e-3760-aa00-e20a9d577064"> Men's Health </a> , told <a href="https://mic.com/articles/178050/9-things-that-happen-when-a-survivor-contestant-returns-to-the-real-world#.2OXV0CCgQ" id="1dde4a25-36bb-3055-a2d4-82a12d3d1f92"> Mic </a> that her 39 days in Fiji left her over 20 pounds lighter with a new habit of brushing her teeth with bamboo.

Survivor first graced our screens in 2000, and the CBS show has been going strong ever since. The competition series is actually a spinoff of a similar Swedish show called Expedition Robinson, in which contestants also fight to survive in an isolated location, all while trying to outsmart each other until one winner remains.

How Long Do Survivor Contestants Actually Spend on the Island?

After a season of <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a26976169/jeff-probst-reveals-survivor-players-reaction-edge-of-extinction-twist/" id="eb35066b-52f3-3c49-aa96-6116202bf18c"> twists </a> , turns, and a guy named <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a27284257/jeff-probst-wardog-almost-not-cast-survivor/" id="a75b8e75-7fce-3a1c-a26f-6ed63148409e"> Wardog </a> , we finally have our Sole Survivor-Chris Underwood was named the winner of Survivor: Edge of Extinction on Wednesday night's finale.

In front of a live audience, Chris Underwood won the season over Gavin Whitson and Julie Rosenberg, taking home the million-dollar prize.

The finale began with the Extinction Island castaways competing for one last spot in the game. Chris won-narrowly beating out Joe-and joined Devens, Gavin, Victoria, Lauren, and Julie. As Devens and Chris acquired one idol after another, Victoria and Lauren went home in the first and second tribal councils of the finale, respectively.

<h1> Chris' huge move at tribal council </h1>

After winning the final immunity challenge, Chris made a shocking decision at tribal council: He gave his necklace to Julie and volunteered to go up against massive threat Devens in a fire-making challenge. Even though Chris had a guaranteed spot in the final three, he wanted one last chance to build up his Survivor resume.

And it worked. In a triumphant or gut-wrenching turn of events, depending on how you feel about Devens, Chris won the fire-making challenge, sending Devens home.

And after their breakfast feast, the three headed out to the final Tribal Council, where they pled their cases to the jury.

Chris is a 25-year-old sales manager who currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina, according to <a href="https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/cast/216069/" id="7d595863-f3aa-39d4-a3f6-60fb49058dd3"> his bio on CBS.com </a> . He was voted out in a blindside early in the game, and spent the rest of the time on Extinction Island.

When asked by CBS why he thought he'd "survive" Survivor, Chris said: "I can make fire, fish, build shelter, and I will most likely be cooking a lot of meals (I'm big into cooking). Also, I'd work hard and won't lay around camp. I'm a team player in terms of getting a group to work together, I am extremely competitive, and I will do whatever it takes to help my team win!"

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Survivor: Edge of Extinction. If you don't want to know what happens up to and including the finale, turn back!

And the Winner of Survivor: Edge of Extinction Is... Chris Underwood!

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Jordyn Taylor, Temi Adebowale

Articles written by the author

How Long Do Survivor Contestants Actually Spend on the Island?

And the Winner of Survivor: Edge of Extinction Is... Chris Underwood!