All castaways
Courtney Yates

Castaway

Courtney Yates

Courtney Yates

China's acid-tongued waitress — all sarcasm and zero filter — who rode a surprising challenge run to the final three.

Seasons
2
Occupation
Waitress
Hometown
New York, NY
The story

Courtney Yates was the driest voice China ever produced — a rail-thin New York waitress who met the whole experience with withering sarcasm and somehow charmed everyone doing it. She rode Todd Herzog's alliance, won a clutch immunity, and made the final three, needling Jean-Robert Bellande the entire way ('I won an immunity. Did you win an immunity, Jean-Robert?').

She lost the title to Todd but won the fandom outright, and came back for Heroes vs. Villains, where she rebranded Russell Hantz 'the bandy-legged little troll' from the Villains bench. No big move ever defined Courtney — her confessionals did.

By the torchlight

Career record

Runner-up
best finish
1
immunity necklace
63
days on the island
1
Final Tribal
2
jury votes

Where they finished

the bigger the blaze, the deeper the run

  1. 2ndS15
  2. 11thS20
  1. 15

    China

    Runner-up

    2007 · China · Fei Long

    39 days1 immunity2 jury votes

  2. 20

    Heroes vs. Villains

    11th

    2010 · Samoa · Villains

    24 days

Read the votes

At Tribal Council

Pulled from the urn — every vote ever cast against Courtney, and how often Courtney read the night right.

9
votes against
14
Tribals sat at
9 / 13
read right
69% of the time
The tribe weighs in

Rate Courtney's game

Tribe rating

Rate Courtney

Your scores

7
7
7
The wider tribe

Played alongside Courtney

Castaways Courtney shared the island with — tap any face to cross over to their game.

15China2007+3 more from China
20Heroes vs. Villains2010+7 more from Heroes vs. Villains
Around the fire

Common questions

Did Courtney Yates win Survivor?
No. Courtney Yates competed on Survivor but did not win. China's acid-tongued waitress — all sarcasm and zero filter — who rode a surprising challenge run to the final three.
How many times has Courtney Yates played Survivor?
Courtney Yates has played 2 seasons of Survivor: Season 15 (China), Season 20 (Heroes vs. Villains).
What is Courtney Yates's best finish on Survivor?
Courtney Yates's best finish is Runner-up on Survivor: China (Season 15).
How many days has Courtney Yates played Survivor?
Courtney Yates has spent 63 days on the island across 2 seasons.
How many immunity challenges has Courtney Yates won?
Courtney Yates has won 1 individual immunity challenge across 2 seasons.
How many times has Courtney Yates made the Final Tribal Council?
Courtney Yates has reached the Final Tribal Council 1 time.
How many times was Courtney Yates voted against at Tribal Council?
Across 14 Tribal Councils, 9 votes were cast against Courtney Yates.
How good was Courtney Yates at reading the vote?
Courtney Yates voted for the eliminated castaway at 9 of 13 vote-decided Tribal Councils — 69% of the time.
What is Courtney Yates known for?
China's acid-tongued waitress — all sarcasm and zero filter — who rode a surprising challenge run to the final three.

Around the fire

The tribe's debating Courtney's game right now

“Cirie never needed an idol. She WAS the idol — read every vote a round early and bent the whole jungle to her will without a single immunity win. That's the cei…”
— MergeBeast · 64 🔥 and climbing

Cast your vote, drop a hot take, and climb your torch — every contribution is tied to your profile at Tribal Council.

Join the debate at Tribal