Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers interview: Winner Ben Driebergen

Ben Driebergen is one of the most unlikely of Survivor winners, mostly just in terms of where he was in the game a number of weeks ago. He was thought of as the kingpin, King Arthur, and the head of the snake. He was the sort of player who rarely makes it to the end.

Yet, he did, and all because of his own ability to guarantee his own fate. He was able to find multiple hidden immunity idols, which he played correctly in order to ensure his safety. Then, he was the beneficiary of the fire-making twist at the final four. He defeated Devon and following that, was able to secure most of the votes from the jury.

In our exit interview with Ben this morning we had a chance to speak with him about his game, some of the moves that he made to get there, how he found idols, and also if he has any interest in going back and doing this again. Be sure to check back tomorrow to learn where Ben stands within our longtime Survivor winner rankings!

CarterMatt – Is it still settling into your head that you are a Survivor winner?

Ben Driebergen – Yes. That and that I saw my [fellow veterans] last night. It’s all been really surreal.

There’s so many different things to talk about here, but let’s start with this — what are you the most proud of yourself for in this game? Is it winning, is it being able to provide for your family, is it for representing veterans, or is it all of the above?

Everything. Going into the show I wanted to go and play Survivor and win a million dollars for my family. That was it. Getting the opportunity to go in there and represent vets, especially vets with PTSD, was never something I imagined. I didn’t want the Marine Corps to be involved in the game, but with it being Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers and with me being on the Hero tribe, I knew I had to change my game.

Was there ever a point that you felt secure about winning the game?

It literally was when Jeff [was reading the votes]. Watching Chrissy’s finale performance, her edit was really good. She had won four immunities and she’s a mom. After seeing her name wrote twice back to back, I thought I had lost at that point.

I think the point was made at the final Tribal Council, but why weren’t these people following you around during your immunity idol search? I would’ve orchestrated some sort of buddy system to make sure you were never alone out there!

I said it on the show — ‘I can’t believe these people are not following me!’ I was blown away by it. I would wake up in the mornings before everyone else — I’m an early riser kind of guy, so I would go out and look every single morning.

Did you think you had any chance at all before the final four fire-making challenge? Did you think you were done entering that Tribal Council?

I knew I was done. I was still looking for idols at final four, just in case. When she started to read out this twist it gave me life again in this game.

How nervous were you during that fire-making challenge against Devon? He had the knowledge that it was coming, but you were blindsided by it. Was it just adrenaline carrying you forward?

It’s funny, because when she started to read the secret advantage my adrenaline — and just the rush of being able to save myself — I started to shake. You know how a football player gets all amped up before [the game]? It was like that for me.

I did not like making fires. At nighttime me and Lauren would make sure the fire was kept going, but I hated making them. That’s why it was kind of ironic it came down to a fire-making competition.

You had a little stretch of the game were you were operating as a Double Agent around the JP vote. Was it challenging to be able to keep your story straight? Was there a part of it you just found fun?

It was just fun. At the end of the day Survivor is a game. We all know that, but you do forget about that because you build personal relationships with people. You have to be able to differentiate the personal relationship and the gameplay.

I was just out there having fun. I wasn’t trying to play up to the cameras. I was living my dream.

After the tribe swap when you were on Yawa and you never went to Tribal Council, but how secure did you really feel within that group?

That tribe was a disaster. You had Cole and Jess, and then you had the whole food issue. Cole and Jess, individually they were amazing and I could’ve worked with either one of them, but they were so tight together! Mike was just so flip-floppy. We had to win challenges for Lauren and I to stay in the game. Being able to encourage the three Healers to do well in some of those challenges says a lot about Lauren and I’s social game. They could’ve easily thrown a challenge and voted us out before the merge.

You bring up something very good! I’ve talked to a number of Healers who have said that they wish there was a challenge thrown at that point so you or Lauren could’ve been voted out. Did you ever get a sense there were serious conversations about that?

I was really concerned about it, but I think the disarray and the mayhem that was caused by that secret advantage kind of solidified that urge to win because nobody really knew where each other stood after that point.

After the merge the game gets shaken up again. When did you start to get nervous that your name was going to be written down?

I started hearing rumors at [final 9] about JP and Chrissy and Ryan wanting to get me out, but we were so focused on getting the [alliance of seven] to the [final seven] I was perceived as the dictator. After Cole [was voted out] I had to slow my game down and not be a target. Lauren and Devon came at me with this plan [to work together], which played out perfectly for me. I could sit back and not be a target.

Whose vote were you the most surprised to get in the end?

Honestly, Lauren. She was my best friend out there, she was my ride-or-die. We talked a lot. We were cut from the same cloth and I love Lauren. I think her vote was probably the most meaningful and the most surprising. It’s a game and she was able to separate [personal life] from that. I love her for that.

How different has your life been since coming back?

I didn’t have social media at all before I went on. Having that and the attention, it’s crazy. I wanted to go play Survivor and I wanted to win a million dollars for my family. I totally underestimated what happens after that. It’s been awesome and humbling and I’m grateful.

Is there any chance you would go back and play the game again?

Oh, 100%. [My wife] is already on board. I would definitely go and play.

But right now you’re like Ultra King Ben. You won the game, so there’s that big target on your back! How are you going to convince these people that you’re not going to just go and find twenty idols in the middle of the night?

That’s the kicker. If they would have me back, realistically I would go back. I know I would have huge target on my back. That being said, I think I could do a lot better in an all-winners season because everything would be equal.

But, regardless, I would go back and play again.

Want to get more Survivor finale coverage?

Then be sure to head over here to read our early take on next season! (We’ll have interviews with the remaining final five over the next few days.) You can also like CarterMatt on Facebook right now if you’re interested in getting some more news regarding the CBS show. (Photo: CBS.)