Big Brother has long remained a staple of reality television, beginning its life as a Dutch show in 1999 before it was adapted for American television the next year. Big Brother was an instant hit, helping to kickstart the reality TV boom that dominated the early 2000s and also saw the success of shows like Survivor, The Amazing Race, American Idol, and The Bachelor.
Because the early seasons are now 20 years old (or at least approaching it), it's incredibly interesting to see what the winners have been up to in recent years. Lives change a lot in 20 years, and those of reality TV winners are no different.
Eddie McGee
Eddie McGee is the only amputee to have ever played the American version of Big Brother, having lost his leg at 11 years old to cancer.
Eddie held (or holds) numerous Big Brother records, including the youngest winner (a record he held until 2012), the only amputee player, and the only winner to be nominated for eviction three times. McGee is now a television actor, having recently appeared in episodes of 9-1-1, FBI: Most Wanted, and Chicago Med.
Will Kirby
Known widely as Dr. Will, Will Kirby is a professional dermatologist who received his medical degree in 2000. The next year, he was crowned the winner of Big Brother 2, winning over Nicole Schaffrich. Kirby is a leading expert on tattoo removal and currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer at LaserAway.
He is also a Big Brother legend, having competed on Big Brother: All-Stars and making a cameo appearance in the recently-concluded Big Brother 22.
Lisa Donahue
Serving as the first female winner, Lisa Donahue was a bartender from Los Angeles who received nine out of ten votes to be crowned the victor of Big Brother 3.
This set the record for the most jury votes in a season, and only three other Big Brother winners have matched her feat (Kevin Martin from Big Brother Canada 5, Tamar Braxton from Celebrity Big Brother 2, and Cody Calafiore on Big Brother 22). Unfortunately, Donahue was recently diagnosed with stage two cervical and ovarian cancer.
Jun Song
An investment manager from New York, Jun Song is largely remembered for perfecting the now-famous floater strategy. It's a controversial strategy, and some Big Brother viewers (and players) don't believe that a floater should win. But win Jun Song did, earning six of seven jury votes.
Jun Song is also notable for being the first Big Brother winner of Asian descent - including all its international iterations. She was invited to return to Big Brother 22, but she declined on the basis of not wanting to leave her son during the pandemic.
Drew Daniel
Drew Daniel played a great game throughout Big Brother 4, his biggest move coming when he cut showmance Diane Henry in favor of Michael Ellis. It worked, and the college grad from Ohio was crowned the winner following a 4-3 jury vote. Daniel was also a comp beast, winning a then-record four Head of Household competitions.
Not much has been heard from Drew Daniel in recent years. He attempted an acting career following Big Brother 5 but hasn't appeared in much. In 2012, he was arrested on domestic violence charges.
Maggie Ausburn
An ER nurse from Las Vegas, Maggie Ausburn is often referred to as a "cult leader" owing to her command of the dominant Friendship Alliance and strong persuasion skills. Two members of the alliance made up the final two of the season, with Ausburn winning and Ivette Corredero placing runner-up.
She also holds the American record for being the winner with the most eviction votes cast against her (4). Like Drew Daniel, Maggie Ausburn has been living a relatively quiet life in recent years and remains out of the public spotlight.
Mike Malin
More affectionally known as Boogie, Mike Malin is a three-time Big Brother player. He placed eighth in Big Brother 2 and tenth in Big Brother 14, where he served as a coach. But his most dominant and popular season is easily Big Brother 7, which saw him and long-time game partner Will Kirby orchestrating many evictions and generally controlling the house through sheer manipulation.
Unfortunately, the friendship he shared with Will has utterly collapsed, and in June of 2021, he was found guilty of stalking Kirby and sentenced to three days in jail and two years probation.
Dick Donato
Dick Donato is a two-time player, but everyone remembers him from Big Brother 8. Arguably the most notorious villain in Big Brother history (certainly up there with Boogie), Dick Donato is known for many things.
This includes his unique physical appearance, the partnership he shared with his estranged daughter Daniele, the personal attacks he made against other players, and for nearly being evicted in week 6 (only saved by the America's Player twist). Donato currently hosts a reality show recap podcast called Dick at Nite.
Adam Jasinski
Known for being both friendly and controversial, Adam Jasinski won Big Brother 9 over Ryan Quicksall with a 6-1 jury vote. Unfortunately, Jasinski used the $500,000 he received from the show to fund his own personal drug ring, accumulating thousands of oxycodone pills with the internet to redistribute at a higher price.
He also failed to file a tax return, and he was sentenced to four years in prison. He was facing 20, but he worked with the DEA in return for a lighter sentence. In 2017, Jasinski published a book called My Kid's on Drugs. Now What?: The Only Complete Resource for Dealing With the Devastating Disease of Addiction.
Dan Gheesling
Often regarded as one of the best players in Big Brother history, with enthusiasts often comparing him favorably to the likes of Dr. Will and Cody Calafiore, was Dan Gheesling. He placed first on Big Brother 10 and second on Big Brother 14, making him the first player in Big Brother history to make it to the final two twice.
He is also tied with Calafiore for the best outcomes in two appearances, as he has also finished first and second. Gheesling is now a YouTube gamer, and fans can find his content over at his eponymous channel.