Quintessential summertime reality favorite Big Brother is known for bringing new twists to the game each season. One that has stuck around since its inception in season seven was America's favorite houseguest. Viewers were given the power to vote for their favorite contestants to earn an extra cash prize. With only one winner per season, not every beloved houseguest has been able to take home the honor.
Plenty of players held in high regard has been shut out from the award. Mentioning contestants from seasons one through six or season eight, the seasons that did not feature this twist would be obvious. Plenty of players who had an actual shot at it was defeated by their housemates who had even more of a hold on the heart of viewers.
Kaysar Ridha (Season 6, 7, and 22)
Kaysar is one of the best players to never make jury, and a player being asked back twice despite not even making it particularly far in their first two appearances speaks volumes to just how hard fans vouched for him. His first season did not feature an America's favorite houseguest vote, while his next two appearances were on all-star seasons, featuring casts loaded with fan favorites.
America did help him out twice though, by voting him back into the house twice. They gave him a second chance after he was evicted on season 6, while also voting him back into the house on season 7. He had a pair of early exits on the difficult all-star seasons, so it is possible he could've had a better chance to win by going further in the game.
Will Kirby (Season 2 and 7)
Will Kirby, more affectionately known as Dr. Will by fans, is not only one of the greatest players to enter the BB house, but also one of the most beloved. His original appearance was on season 2 and did not feature America's favorite houseguest, but he made a comeback on season 7, coming in second place for voting.
Will revolutionized the game, being a true pioneer for how to pull off a flawless victory. Fans love him for that, while also loving his sense of humor. His "I hate all of you" speech remains one of the funniest and most memorable speeches in Big Brother history, while his diary room sessions with his partner in crime, Mike "Boogie" Malin, were also top-notch. It's easy to see how he lost America's favorite houseguest though, as he appeared on the same season as Janelle Pierzina, one of the only players in show history even more beloved than the doctor.
Daniele Donato (Season 8, 13, and 22,
Daniele stole the hearts of viewers on season 8 by making it to the final two while trying to repair the relationship she had with her father and eventual winner, Dick Donato. Season 8 unfortunately did not feature an America's favorite houseguest vote, which is a shame for her as she had a real shot at winning. In season 13 she came in second behind the only two-time winner of the award, Jeff Schroeder, before coming back for an all-star season.
While season 8 featured her competitive domination and feel-good story with her father, season 13 she was beloved for different reasons. She was cutthroat and strategic, making for exciting TV when she targeted and eliminated Brendon Villegas.
Dan Gheesling (Season 10 and 14)
Regarded by many as the greatest player to ever appear on the show, Dan Gheesling is the perfect player for fans who like cutthroat strategy. He ran laps around his adversaries on both of his seasons, always thinking two steps ahead and stabbing allies in the back before it was too late.
It is impossible to discuss all-time favorite BB players without bringing up Dan. His mastery and love of the game are extremely admirable, and he appeals to different fans of the show. Not only does his manipulation and strategy appeal to fans who want to see intense gameplay, but his gameplay also led to ensuing chaos and drama for fans who want a more traditional, drama-filled, reality show experience.
Jordan Lloyd (Season 11 and 13)
The second half of the iconic JeJo duo alongside her husband Jeff Schroeder, Jordan came in second for America's favorite houseguest on season 11 behind Jeff, before losing again in season 13 to none other than...Jeff. A big part of the appeal of Jeff, however, was his relationship with Jordan. He most likely wouldn't have won the vote without her.
Her sweetness and silly quotes, along with her showmance with Jeff, led to America's infatuation with the pair. While Jeff may have taken the glory from America as their favorite houseguest, Jordan is probably content that she instead won season 11, taking home the much larger and more prestigious title as a winner of Big Brother.
Enzo Palumbo (Season 12 and 22)
The lovable New Jersyian Enzo Palumbo was always a great source of comedic relief on an oftentimes tense show, having a seemingly endless supply of funny quotes in his arsenal. This, combined with him being a member of one of the most successful alliances of all time and a pair of top-three finishes, have him held in quite a high regard among fans of the show.
Enzo finished in second for the award on his initial season, losing the one of the very few contestants who can reasonably say they're as funny as Enzo, with Brittney Haynes taking the win. Still, he was one of the most memorable parts of both of his seasons.
Ian Terry (Season 14 and 22)
Continuing the trend of contestants who finished second in voting for America's favorite houseguest, season 14 winner, and eventual all-star Ian Terry is still affectionately discussed by fans. He lost only to the dominant Frank Eudy on season 14, while his second shot at the award came on an all-star season dominated by fan favorites, making it the hardest season to win the honor.
Ian's sweet and innocent demeanor combined with his extreme intelligence and strategic chops made him an ideal houseguest in the eyes of fans. His honesty and realness he exuded in diary room sessions was a breath of fresh air compared to most of these sessions, which seem staged and pandering.
Nicole Franzel (Season 16, 18, and 22)
Three-time player and one-time champion Nicole Franzel is an easy choice to put on this list. Her being asked back not only once, but two times to play the game is enough to show her popularity in the shows community. Her Instagram following, which sits at over 700 thousand, also places her as one of the most popular contestants on social media.
Nicole placed in the top three for the award in her first go-around on the show during season 16, ultimately losing to Donny Thompson. Thompson dominated the voting, earning over fifty percent of all votes. She is beloved by a large portion of the show's fanbase, making it a bit surprising she went zero for three for this award.
Paul Abrahamian (Season 18 and 19)
Paul Abrahamian was so popular on season 18 that they were immediately asked back for a redux on season 19. While they did slightly damage their legacy to some during their comeback, perhaps undeservedly giving themselves a bad reputation, Paul remains among the most popular houseguests in show history.
Their wit and charisma on season 18 were so well received that season 19 turned into the Paul show. The first few weeks were heavily centered on them and their decisions, as production knew they were an absolute fan favorite. Their bromance with Victor, who would end up winning America's favorite houseguest, also endeared them to fans.
Derek Xiao (Season 23)
Season 23 of BB truly featured an unforgettable cast that was arguably the best cast entirely of newbies in quite some time. Of all the beloved houseguests who were cast on the season, Derek Xiao stands out above the rest as one that fans will never forget.
Derek was able to earn the top prize both weeks he was eligible for the seasons big twist, BB bucks. Fans were able to vote on who was to receive the biggest prize each week, and Derek got the top one both weeks before his eviction. He was pure entertainment on the live feeds, while also being highly competitive and intelligent when matters got serious. He came in second place for America's favorite houseguest, which is hard to argue considering Tiffany Mitchell was also on his season.