“Big Brother” is officially returning to the screens of the United States! The #1 reality show makes its comeback with its 26th season, featuring a packed schedule with two premieres and all the elements we love, from Head of Household competitions to live evictions.
It will be available on its usual streaming platforms and channels, and will have an Artificial Intelligence theme that promises to shake things up. Once again, Julie Chen will host, having helmed the production since its inception in July 2000.
As we await the arrival of contestants in the iconic house, let’s take a look at our favorite winners and see what they’ve been up to since winning their seasons, and where they are now.
Where are your favorite Big Brother Winners in 2024?
- Dan Gheesling
For many, Dan Gheesling is considered the best player in “Big Brother” U.S. history. A contestant from Seasons 10 and 14, he devised an incredibly intricate plan to win the game while managing to appear non-threatening to his fellow competitors. He never received a single eviction vote and won unanimously with a 7-0 vote. In his second season, he finished as a runner-up, making him the first contestant to reach the final in “Big Brother” twice.
Since 2012, the star has been creating gaming content on Twitch and YouTube. He also appeared in the 2017 TV movie “The Revengers” and competed in the second season of “The Traitors.” He and his wife, Chelsea, have two sons and a daughter.
- Will Kirby
Reaching the end without being Head of Household any week? Will Kirby pioneered this strategy, winning Season 2 and setting a standard for what “Big Brother” fans would admire in later seasons: an underdog who uses their perceived vulnerability to manipulate the house to their advantage.
In 2024, Will is the Chief Medical Officer at LaserAway, an aesthetic dermatology group. He frequently lectures at national medical conventions and has published numerous dermatology articles, particularly on lasers and their implications. Fun fact: In 2022, he played “Karales the Bounty Hunter” on the “Star Wars” television series “The Book of Boba Fett!” He has two children with Erin Brodie, from whom he divorced in 2022.
- Derrick Levasseur
No secret strategies or underdog games here. For many fans, Derrick Levasseur stands out as the best “Big Brother” player for his polished game without any tricks up his sleeve. He excelled with an amazing social strategy, becoming part of six different alliances and never seeing the block once. In other words, he played the cleanest.
Remember how he kept his true occupation as an undercover cop from the houseguests in Season 16? These days, he co-hosts two podcasts: “Crime Weekly”, focusing on true crime, and “The Winner’s Circle” with fellow “Big Brother” winner Cody Calafiore, where they analyze current seasons of the show. Additionally, Derrick hosts his own podcast called “Detective Perspective“. He married Jana Blythe Donlin on April 30, 2011. Together, they have two daughters.
- Jun Song
Some love the so-called floater players, while others absolutely hate them. However, it is undeniable that Jun Song mastered this strategy, using it to her advantage rather than just coasting through the game. The winner of Season 4 avoided conflict while building strategic alliances that propelled her to the end.
Today, Jun Song runs a content strategy company and has a son named Noah. She was the owner and chef of a Korean restaurant, Rice House, in Evergem, but closed it in 2017. The first Asian-American to win “Big Brother” continues to comment on the show on her social media and has frequently been invited to appear in different seasons as a guest.
- Hayden Moss
While not the most entertaining to watch, The Brigade from Season 12 ranks as one of the most strategic alliances in “Big Brother” history. Its leader, Hayden Moss, not only ensured its success throughout the season but also used it to catapult himself to the winning prize. A straightforward game, sure, but a very well-planned one.
Hayden Moss’s current profession isn’t known. However, his social media suggests he’s living a laid-back life: visiting paradisiacal places, hanging out with friends for a beer, and enjoying time with his girlfriend, singer Vanessa Jamison.
- Cody Calafiore
Although Cody Calafiore is the winner of Season 22, often considered the most boring installment, he deserves applause for playing one of the cleanest games. Dominating the show and finishing with a unanimous 9-0 vote is no small feat! Neither is earning Head of Household four times and winning four vetos.
You may have seen Calafiore in the 2023 “Reindeer Games,” where he was eliminated in the second episode. He also competed on the first season of Peacock‘s “The Traitors.” As stated earlier, he co-hosts “The Winner’s Circle” podcast with fellow winner Derrick Levasseur. Since his first appearance on the show in 2014, Cody has also been working as a model. In 2024, he married his longtime love, Cristie Laratta.
- Taylor Hale
For those who enjoy fierce gameplay and clashes between contestants, Taylor Hale might be considered one of the less exciting winners. However, for those who value human qualities, she is the absolute best. The Season 24 winner stood out for being kind, balanced, and graceful, no matter what challenges she faced, surviving the block six times without ever being evicted.
Like Calafiore, Taylor also returned to compete in “Reindeer Games,” finishing as the runner-up. It’s a bit unclear whether she has a specific job now, but judging from her Instagram, she clearly works as an influencer, promoting various brands like Embody Pilates and GLAAD.
- Xavier Prather
Season 23 proved that alliances are one of the most important elements of “Big Brother,” if not the most essential. The famous Cookout brought all six of its members to the final six, ultimately crowning Xavier Prather as the winner for his intelligent strategies and positive relationships in the house. These solidified his status and protected him from eviction week after week.
Xavier returned to the franchise in 2023 to compete in the “Reindeer Games,” finishing in third place. He continues to practice law, now specializing in entertainment law. His company, “LawyerLike,” aims to help those in the entertainment industry understand the laws they encounter to best position them for success, as stated on the company’s website. In May 2023, he proposed to Kenzie Hansen.
