Michael Yerger is a contestant from Survivor: Ghost Island.
An underdog from the start, Michael displayed strategic acumen and tenacity despite facing many odds. He managed to find two Hidden Immunity Idols and saved himself multiple times despite often being on the bottom. This made him a major threat, leading to his elimination.
Profile
Retrieved from CBS.com
Age: 18
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
Current residence: Los Angeles, California
Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Hobbies: Health, fitness, luxury and exotic cars, outdoor activities (camping, hiking, swimming), traveling, concerts/festivals, and architecture/design.
Pet peeves: Incompetent drivers, negativity, and rain/cold.
Three words to describe you: Energetic, slick, and resilient.
What's your personal claim to fame? Earning Eagle Scout, the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Boy Scouting Program of the Boy Scouts of America.
Who or what is your inspiration in life? The strong desire to use my inherent abilities to leave a positive impact on this earth when I am gone.
If you could have three things on the island, what would they be and why? Hot sauce, boomerang, skittles.
Which Survivor contestant are you most like? Malcolm Freberg—I'd be inwardly strategic and aggressive but outwardly friendly and easy-going.
What's your reason for being on Survivor? To become the youngest Sole Survivor ever.
Why do you think you'll "survive" Survivor? Because I'm a people person. I've always preferred to spend my time around others over being alone. I feel as though I can relate to those of all ages from all walks of life in some way in order to form common ground.[2]
Survivor
Michael was placed on the Malolo tribe, where he proved to be a very valuable asset due to his strength. When Malolo lost the first Immunity Challenge on Day 3, the tribe's initial target, Jacob was sent to Ghost Island. But Malolo quickly found a secondary target when Michael joined the rest of the tribe in blindsiding Gonzalez due to her aggressive mannerisms on targeting Donathan and causing tension at that night's Tribal Council. When Malolo lost immunity again on Day 6, Jacob wanted to target Michael for being a physical threat. Thinking that Jacob could have a real Hidden Immunity Idol from Ghost Island, Michael and Libby thought of splitting the vote against James. But Jacob didn't have a real idol and the tribe stuck to the original plan, sending Jacob out of the game.
When a tribe switch occurred on Day 7, Michael stayed on Malolo along with Brendan, Jenna, and Stephanie. But they were relegated to the minority when they were joined by original Naviti's Bradley, Chelsea, Desiree, Kellyn, and Sebastian. Tribal lines put the Malolo alliance in danger, but they had hope when Michael and Brendan found a Hidden Immunity Idol. Malolo won immunity on Day 9, keeping them safe as a Naviti was finally voted out with Morgan being blindsided. However, Malolo lost the next Immunity Challenge on Day 12. At Tribal Council, Michael tried to convince Chelsea and Sebastian to flip, thinking that they were on the bottom of the alliance led by Bradley, and falsely called his idol a double Hidden Immunity Idol to throw the Naviti Alliance off their game. Michael played the idol for Stephanie, but it was misplayed as the Naviti's stayed united and blindsided Brendan. When Malolo lost immunity once again on Day 14, Jenna was initially a safe vote for her weak social game, but the Naviti's saw Michael as the biggest threat. Before Tribal Council, Michael pleaded his case to Bradley that the tribe needed him for challenges. At Tribal Council, Michael was spared and he and Jenna joined the Naviti's in sending Stephanie home unanimously.
Another Tribe Switch occurred the next day and Michael still remained on Malolo along with Desiree and Kellyn. Michael and James were on the bottom for being the only two Malolo's but found a crack in original Naviti Angela after her alliance betrayed her when Morgan was blindsided. When Malolo lost immunity for the fifth time on Day 17, despite Angela feeling betrayed by her tribemates, at Tribal Council, Angela remained loyal and Michael joined the former Naviti's in blindsiding James. When Malolo lost the next Reward Challenge with Kellyn going to Ghost Island for a second time, under Desiree's lead, Michael and Angela burned their flag's banner to reverse the curse of their losing streak. This supposedly payed off, as Malolo finally ended their losing streak when they won the last challenge before the merge.
When the merge happened on Day 20, the Malolos were still in the minority 8-5, but were spared when Chris was blindsided. Following Chris's elimination, Michael talked to Angela about targeting Wendell for being a social threat. However, Angela decided to "stir the pot" by telling lies about Michael, putting the target on him. When Michael lost the second individual Immunity Challenge to Angela, Michael tried to rally the Malolo's together to vote Wendell. At Tribal Council, Michael played his Hidden Immunity Idol, negating 7 votes against him. However, the rest of the tribe had split the vote between himself and his former ally Libby, with the latter being voted out. Following Libby's elimination, Desiree plotted with the Malolo's with the intent of flipping as she believed to be on the bottom. However, when Laurel blew up Desiree's plan and at Tribal Council, Michael joined the rest of the tribe (minus Chelsea) and blindsided Desiree. On Day 29, the castaways were surprised by a Split Tribal Council, where two people would win immunity and two people would be voted out. Michael was placed on the orange team with Domenick, Kellyn, Laurel, and Wendell. But Michael failed to win immunity, being vulnerable once again. Back at camp, Michael asked Donathan if he can borrow his idol that he found before Desiree's elimination, but Donathan refused, so Michael tried to save himself by telling Kellyn he had an idol and was going to play it. When Kellyn told Domenick of Michael's ploy, he didn't believe it and he and Wendell stuck with the plan on voting Michael. At Tribal Council, Michael didn't have an idol, but Kellyn played an Extra Vote advantage she received from Ghost Island, forcing a 2-2-1-1 tie between himself and Laurel. Unfortunately, Michael's luck ran out, as he was voted out unanimously in the revote, becoming the fifth member of the jury.
At the Final Tribal Council, Michael praised Laurel for surviving the Malolo purge, but also criticized her for being Domenick and Wendell's pawn. While he also praised Wendell for his work ethic at camp and laid-back strategy, he questioned Wendell's strategic moves compared to Domenick. Ultimately, Michael put feelings aside and voted for Domenick to be the Sole Survivor. However, Jeff Probst immediately read the votes and it resulted in a tie for the first time in Survivor history between Domenick and Wendell, with Laurel casting the winning vote for the latter to win over Domenick.
| Episode | Tribe Affiliation |
Challenge | Challenge Type | Sit-Out? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malolo | Open | Reward | No | Won |
| Sled Zeppelin | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| Coming Up for Air | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 2 | Along the Watch Tower | Reward/Immunity | No | Won | |
| 3 | Water Slaughter | Reward | No | Lost | |
| Cell Block Sea | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 4 | Rod Screw-It | Reward | No | Lost | |
| Hitch A Ride | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
| 5 | Sir Duke | Immunity | No | Lost | |
| 6 | Discy Business | Reward | No | Lost | |
| Cruel Sea | Immunity | No | 2nd | ||
| Tribes Merged, Day 20 | |||||
| 7 | Lavita | Audio Slave | Immunity | Lost | |
| 8 | Gone Shootin' | Reward | Lost | ||
| Fijian Feast | Immunity | Lost | |||
| 9 | Caged Tigers | Reward | Won | ||
| Take the Reins | Immunity | Lost | |||
| 10 | Crocodile Rock | Immunity | Lost | ||
| Voted Out, Day 29 | |||||
| Episode | Michael's Votes |
Voted Against Michael |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gonzalez | - |
| James | Jacob | |
| 2 | Malolo Tribe Immune | |
| 3 | Bradley | - |
| 4 | Stephanie | - |
| 5 | James | - |
| 6 | Malolo Tribe Immune | |
| 7 | Chris | - |
| 8 | Wendell | Jenna, Libby, Sebastian, Wendell |
| 9 | Desiree | Chelsea, Desiree |
| 10 | Wendell; Ineligible |
Domenick, Wendell; Domenick, Kellyn, Wendell2 |
| Voted Out, Day 29 | ||
| Voted for Sole Survivor |
Domenick | |
^1 In "The Sea Slug Slugger", Michael used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating 7 votes against him.
^2 In "The Finish Line Is in Sight", the vote ended with a 2-2 tie between Michael and Laurel, forcing a revote. Kellyn changed her vote to Michael on the revote, eliminating him from the game.
Post-Survivor
- In August 2024, Michael announced his engagement with content creator and fitness influencer Daisy Keech.[3]
Trivia
- Michael is the youngest contestant to compete on Ghost Island.
- Michael is the youngest contestant to find a Hidden Immunity Idol, being 18 years old at the time of filming.
- Michael is the only original Malolo member to remain on Malolo and make the merge.
- Michael received the most elimination votes on Ghost Island, with 15.
- Michael lost 21 lbs. during his time on Ghost Island.[4]
References
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