The Rocket Scientist Is Grounded: Who Was Voted Out Of Survivor 49 In The Shocking Pre-Finale Blindside?

The most recent castaway voted out of *Survivor 49* is Steven Ramm, the 35-year-old rocket scientist from Denver, Colorado. His elimination occurred during the penultimate episode, "The Die Is Cast," which aired on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, just before the season finale. Steven's exit was a massive blindside that sent shockwaves through the remaining Final Six, especially because he had just successfully played his "Block-a-Vote" advantage, yet was still eliminated in a chaotic, advantage-heavy Tribal Council. The dramatic vote-out of Steven Ramm marks a major power shift, whittling the group down to the Final Five as the season speeds toward its conclusion. This intense episode, dubbed an "Advantage-Geddon" by fans and host Jeff Probst alike, saw an explosive clash between two major factions, ultimately resulting in the elimination of a major strategic threat. The remaining players must now navigate the final days of the game with the knowledge that even the most powerful advantages cannot guarantee safety from a well-executed plan.

Steven Ramm: Biography and *Survivor 49* Game Profile

Steven Ramm, the thirteenth person voted out of *Survivor 49*, brought a unique, analytical perspective to the game, attempting to apply his professional expertise in aerospace engineering to the social dynamics of the island.

• Name: Steven Ramm
• Age: 35
• Hometown: Denver, Colorado
• Occupation: Rocket Scientist (Spacecraft System Program Manager)
• Education: CU Boulder (Aerospace Engineering)
• Original Tribe: Hina
• Merge Tribe: Kele
• Key Alliances: "Bottom's Up Alliance," an initial alliance that gave him footing in the early merge.
• Key Strategic Moves: Coined "Operation: Space Jam" to describe his strategy of minimizing his threat level while quietly gathering information and advantages.
• Advantages Held: "Block-a-Vote" advantage, which he successfully played at his final Tribal Council.
• Elimination: Voted out 13th, Episode 12, "The Die Is Cast."

Steven's game was characterized by a push-and-pull between his desire to play a low-key, strategic game and his natural tendency to overthink and strategize every move, a trait he himself acknowledged. His job as a program manager at Lockheed Martin, leading a team of engineers, gave him the skills to manage complex systems, but the unpredictable nature of *Survivor*'s social game ultimately proved to be his undoing.

Advantage-Geddon: The Chaotic Tribal Council Vote

The Tribal Council in Episode 12 was arguably the most explosive and unpredictable of the entire season, living up to the hype of a pre-finale showdown. With only six players remaining—Steven Ramm, Sophi Balerdi, Savannah Louie, Rizo Velovic, Kristina Mills, and Sage Ahrens-Nichols—the stakes were incredibly high, with the winner of the vote earning a spot in the Final Five. The tension began when Steven Ramm, sensing he was a target, decided to play his Block-a-Vote advantage. This powerful tool allowed him to nullify the vote of one other player. He chose to block Savannah Louie, a key member of the opposing alliance, believing that removing her vote would swing the numbers in his favor. However, Steven’s strategic move was immediately countered by the opposing faction. The core of this group, the newly formed "Tres Leches" alliance—consisting of Sophi, Savannah, and Rizo—had a plan B. Sophi, who had been a target in previous weeks, realized that despite Savannah's vote being blocked, they still had the numbers to target Steven. The final vote count, after the advantage was played, was a narrow margin:

• Votes for Steven Ramm: 3 (from Rizo Velovic, Kristina Mills, and Sage Ahrens-Nichols)
• Votes for Sophi Balerdi: 2 (from Steven Ramm and one other player)
• Blocked Vote: Savannah Louie (her vote was nullified by Steven's advantage)

In a shocking display of strategic unity, Rizo, Kristina, and Sage—players Steven believed he could trust—flipped on him. The rocket scientist was blindsided 3-2, becoming the 13th person voted out and the fifth member of the jury.

Why Steven Ramm Was Blindsided: The Strategic Breakdown

Steven's elimination was not a simple matter of a failed advantage play; it was the culmination of several strategic missteps and the effective power of a tight-knit alliance.

The "Tres Leches" Alliance Takes Control

The formation of the "Tres Leches" alliance (Soph, Savannah, and Rizo) proved to be the decisive factor. This trio solidified their Final Three pact at the reward challenge, agreeing to stick together and eliminate the biggest threats. Steven, despite his attempts to minimize his threat level, was correctly identified as a highly intelligent, strategic player with a powerful advantage. The alliance knew they had to take him out before the finale.

The Threat of the Block-a-Vote

Steven's decision to play the Block-a-Vote ironically sealed his fate. While he correctly identified Savannah as a threat, his move signaled to the entire tribe that he was playing an aggressive, advantage-heavy game. This fear of his strategic mind and his ability to counter-play made him the clear, consensus target for the other players. Even those outside the "Tres Leches" alliance, like Kristina and Sage, saw an opportunity to remove a major threat and improve their own standing with the majority.

Misreading the Final 6 Dynamics

Steven believed he had a solid working relationship with both Kristina Mills and Sage Ahrens-Nichols. His fatal error was miscalculating their loyalty versus their self-interest. For both Kristina and Sage, sticking with the apparent majority of the "Tres Leches" alliance was the safer path to the Final Four. By voting out Steven, they eliminated a direct competitor for the Final Immunity Challenge and positioned themselves as compliant votes for the dominant alliance, hoping to be dragged to the end.

The Road to the Finale: Who Remains in the Final Five?

With Steven Ramm now on the jury, the game shifts dramatically. The remaining five castaways are now preparing for the two-hour *Survivor 49* finale, which will feature the final challenges, the final Tribal Council, and the reading of the jury votes. The Final Five contestants are:

1. Sophi Balerdi: A key strategic player and a core member of the "Tres Leches" alliance.
2. Savannah Louie: A strong social and strategic player whose vote was blocked but survived the Tribal Council.
3. Rizo Velovic: Another core member of the dominant alliance, positioned as a major threat.
4. Kristina Mills: A player who successfully flipped the vote and is now aligned with the majority.
5. Sage Ahrens-Nichols: A player who also flipped to ensure Steven's blindside, now looking for a path to the Final Three.

The Final Immunity Challenge will be the next major hurdle, as the winner will secure their spot in the Final Three and hold the power to choose who faces the fire-making challenge. The dynamics among the "Tres Leches" alliance will be tested, as a Final Three pact must inevitably turn into a Final Two decision. Steven Ramm's blindside has proven that in *Survivor*, even a rocket scientist can't account for all the unpredictable variables. The only certainty is that the finale will be an intense conclusion to a season defined by advantages and blindsides.