Christoval Native Colby Donaldson to Compete on Survivor's 50th Season

CHRISTOVAL, TX — Colby Donaldson, a Christoval native and former runner-up on Survivor: The Australian Outback, is set to return to the hit reality competition for its milestone 50th season in 2026.

Host Jeff Probst revealed the Season 50 cast Wednesday on CBS Mornings, announcing a 24-player lineup made entirely of returning fan favorites. The upcoming season, titled Survivor: In the Hands of the Fans, will feature interactive online voting that gives viewers more control over the game. Season 49 is still slated to air this fall.

Donaldson, who graduated from Christoval High School in 1992, made his Survivor debut in 2001 and finished second, winning $100,000. He later appeared in Survivor: All-Stars (2004) and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (2010), placing 12th and fifth, respectively.

Before his rise to national fame, Donaldson studied business marketing at Texas Tech University and worked as a medical sales representative. He launched a car tuning business in San Angelo before moving to Dallas in 2000.

Now living in Austin with his wife, Britt Bailey, Donaldson has also hosted reality shows including Top Shot, The Butcher, and Mountain Men: Ultimate Marksman. His return to Survivor comes after a 16-year break from the franchise.