Like many other reality shows, Survivor often casts young 20-somethings who are attractive and fit enough to compete in the many physical challenges. But Survivor, arguably more than other reality competition series, has also never shied away from casting older 30 and even 40-plus players.

RELATED: The 10 Youngest Winners On Big Brother 

Not only has Survivor cast older players season after season to compete alongside the younger ones (one season even pitted Generation-Xers against Millennials), but many of these players proved themselves formidable both in strategic gameplay and physical prowess. And while the youngest Survivor winners include one who was only 21, some of the oldest ones have also gone on to win.

Chris Daugherty (Season 9) – 33

Chris Daugherty from Survivor standing with a backwards hat and a tree behind him.

Winning in a 5-2 vote against Twila Tanner in Vanuata – Islands of Fire in 2004, Chris overcame plenty of challenges, including being the last man standing to compete against an all-female alliance.

The jury mainly voted for Chris because of the fact that he managed to stay alive in the game despite being on his own and having no one in his corner.

Brian Heidik (Season 5) – 34

Brian Heidik from Survivor smiling and wearing a suit.

Brian was notable for the way he treated the game, constantly calling it a "business trip" and refusing to create any true relationships with tribe members. He was a natural leader and a good salesman.

At the time of his win in Thailand in 2002, which is considered to be one of the worst seasons of Survivor, Brian was 34 years old. His win came mainly from the fact that the jury really disliked Clay Jordan, leading to victory in a 4-3 vote.

Rob "Boston Rob" Mariano (Season 22) – 34

Boston Rob sitting on the beach

When "Boston Rob" first played on Marquesas in 2002, he was only 27. He returned for All-Stars in 2003, where he made it to the final two but his eventual wife Amber Brkich beat him in a 4-3 vote. When he returned for Redemption Island in 2011, Rob was in his mid-30s. This is the season when Rob finally took home a win, beating Philips Sheppard and Natalie Tenerelli in an 8-1-0 vote.

Boston Rob actually came back to play several more times: in Heroes vs. Villains in 2009 and Winners at War in 2020. Rob from Survivor made some big moves in the game through his run. He also returned as a mentor in Island of the Idols.

Earl Cole (Season 14) – 35

Earl Cole sitting down with his bandana from Survivor.

Winning Survivor: Fiji in 2007, Earl rose from the underdog Ravu tribe thanks to a solid alliance with Yau-Man Chan. He was likable and demonstrated natural leadership skills, which meant other players wanted to follow him.

RELATED: 10 Third-Place Finishers From Survivor Who Deserve Another Chance 

Along with being the first Black male to win the show and the second-only Black person, Earl was also the first person to win by a unanimous vote. He fell short of playing a perfect game, having one elimination vote against him at a Tribal that prevented him from receiving this distinction.

Sandra Diaz-Twine (Season 20) – 35

Sandra Diaz-Twine from Survivor wearing red and smiling with her buff on her head.

Sandra is one of the most memorable Survivor players thanks to her blunt nature and clever gameplay that allowed her to run the show while never winning competitions. But mostly, she is notable because Sandra used this strategy not once but twice, making her the first person to ever win the game twice. Tony Vlachos is the only other player to have achieved this to date.

Sandra was in her late 20s when she first played in Pearl Islands 2003, where she celebrated her 29th birthday on one of the final days there. But when she returned for Heroes vs. Villains and won again six years later in 2009, she was 35. Sandra won the first time in a 6-1 vote and the second time 6-3, beating Parvati Shallow (the third finalist, Russell Hantz, did not receive any votes.) She returned twice more to play in Game Changers and Winners at War as well as a mentor in Island of the Idols.

Vecepia Towery (Season 4) – 36

Vecepia Towery looking confused in Survivor, looking on.

Along with being the first Black winner of Survivor, Vecepia is also among the oldest winners of the game. Now 55, she was 36 when she won Survivor: Marquesas in 2002. She won in a very close vote, with 4-3 against the runner-up, Neleh.

Vecepia wasn't afraid to switch alliances as it suited her, particularly after she found herself on the bottom with a tribe switch twist. Her offer to throw a challenge if Neleh would take her to the final two worked flawlessly and was Vecepia's most iconic scene on Survivor.

Richard Hatch (Season 1) – 39

Richard Hatch frowning in Survivor Borneo

The original Survivor winner in 2000, Hatch rubbed some people the wrong way on his season with his arrogance and made some feel uncomfortable when he walked around camp naked. But he also forged an important and unlikely friend with Rudy Boesch, which helped fuel him to the end.

RELATED: 10 Old School Survivor Winners & Their MCU Counterparts 

Credited with creating the show's first-ever alliance called Tagi and introducing the idea of voting blocks, he won only by a single vote as the jury voted 4-3 in favor of him over Kelly. He returned to play in Survivor: All Stars.

Tina Wesson (Season 2) – 39

Tina Wesson wears her game face at a challenge for Survivor: Blood vs. Water

Now 60, back in season 2 in 2001, Tina was 39 years old, making her one of the oldest Survivor players to have won the game. She returned twice more, in Survivor: All Stars and Survivor: Blood vs. Water.

Tina played perfectly into the motherly role at camp given that she was older than many other players. She successfully convinced Colby Donaldson to take her to the final two where she beat him in a 4-3 vote. In addition to being among the oldest Survivor winners, she also holds the distinction of being the first female winner of the game.

Tom Westman (Season 10) – 41

Tom Westman holding onto a pole in a competition on Survivor.

Just over 40 when he won season 10 of Survivor in 2005, Tom quickly emerged as a leader of his tribe, which led to them winning challenge after challenge. He won plenty on his own, too, even tying the record for the most individual immunity challenge wins in a season.

Tom won in a 6-1 vote against Katie, but most importantly, he also goes down as one of the most likable Survivor players ever to win the game and ranks best among the first 10 Survivor winners. Usually, the winner made a lot of enemies along the way, but Tom managed to play a great physical and social game. He returned to play in Heroes vs. Villains.

Robert "Bob" Crowley (Season 17) – 57

A close-up of Bob Crowley from Survivor, looking serious.

Bob made history when he won the title of Sole Survivor in 2008's season 17, making himself not only the oldest competitor ever to win, a record he continues to hold to this day, but also the only winner in their 50s and one of only two above 40.

He used clever strategies to push himself towards the finals, including creating not one but two fake Immunity Idols. He won by a 4-3 vote, but the man who likened himself to a modern-day Indiana Jones and Robinson Crusoe proved that he had the goods.

NEXT: The First 10 Seasons Of Survivor & Their Winners