Who won 'Survivor' 44? Here's what to know about Yam Yam Arocho, the $1 million winner

Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho, a 31-year-old owner from Puerto Rico, received the most jury votes of the final three and was voted the sole survivor, winning "Survivor" Season 44.
Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho, a 31-year-old owner from Puerto Rico, received the most jury votes of the final three and was voted the sole survivor, winning "Survivor" Season 44.

In a stunning conclusion Wednesday night, one player on "Survivor" Season 44 received the title of Sole Survivor and the $1 million prize that goes with it.

That player was Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho, a 31-year-old salon owner from Puerto Rico. Arocho beat the other final three contestants, Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt and Carolyn Wiger, in the final jury vote, receiving the majority of votes from players he had a hand in voting out all season.

Here's what to know about the Season 44 winner.

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Who won "Survivor" Season 44?

In a 7-1-0 final jury vote, Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho beat Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt and Carolyn Wiger to claim the $1 million prize.

Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho, a 31-year-old owner from Puerto Rico, received the most jury votes of the final three and was voted the sole survivor, winning "Survivor" Season 44.
Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho, a 31-year-old owner from Puerto Rico, received the most jury votes of the final three and was voted the sole survivor, winning "Survivor" Season 44.

Who is Yam Yam from "Survivor" 44?

Better known as Yam Yam, Yamil Arocho is a 31-year-old salon owner from Puerto Rico. He was one of 18 contestants on the 44th season of "Survivor" and was placed in the Tika tribe.

As that tribe quickly dismantled through injuries and vote-outs during the season, Arocho was an instrumental member in the Tika Three, an alliance he formed with Carolyn Wiger and Carson Garrett. the Tika Three pitted other tribes against each other until they were left in the final four.

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Did Yam Yam ever win immunity in "Survivor" 44?

Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho, a 31-year-old owner from Puerto Rico, received the most jury votes of the final three and was voted the sole survivor, winning "Survivor" Season 44.
Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho, a 31-year-old owner from Puerto Rico, received the most jury votes of the final three and was voted the sole survivor, winning "Survivor" Season 44.

Arocho's tribe won tribal immunity, but after the merge, he won individual immunity once: in the "Last Gasp" challenge, where players are in the ocean under a grate and must remain breathing as the tide and water level rise.

With a time of 1 hour and 25 minutes, he outlasted Lagares-Greenblatt to win the challenge.

When was "Survivor" 44 filmed?

The 44th season of the long-running reality show was filmed in June 2022 in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji. It premiered on CBS on March 1.

Will there be a "Survivor" 45?

Host Jeff Probst has confirmed that there will be a 45th season of "Survivor," again filmed in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji.

No premiere date has been announced for the season, although CBS confirmed through its fall 2023 schedule that each episode will be 90 minutes instead of the usual 60 minutes.

Although the cast has not yet been released, there are rumored members, including Bruce Perreault. An original contestant on "Survivor" 44, he is rumored to return for the newest season after he was medically evacuated early in the game for a head injury.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who won 'Survivor' 44? What to know about Yam Yam Arocho