Survivor Contestant Jonathan Young Trained by 'Boston' Rob Mariano for 4 Years Ahead of Season 50

Young reveals Mariano's mentorship helped him change his game strategy for his return to the show

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Survivor contestant Jonathan Young, who finished in fourth place on season 42, reveals he worked closely with five-time Survivor contestant "Boston" Rob Mariano for four years to enhance his strategic gameplay ahead of his return on Survivor season 50. Young says Mariano provided him with three key rules to follow and helped him completely change his game approach.

Why it matters

This story provides insight into how Survivor contestants prepare and strategize for their return to the show, highlighting the importance of mentorship and the evolution of gameplay over multiple seasons. It also underscores the influence that veteran players like "Boston" Rob can have on newer contestants.

The details

Young says he went to Mariano's house for four years, "sat at his feet, and learned everything I could" to improve his strategic game. Mariano gave Young three rules to follow: smile, focus on what you can control, and remember that no one else wants you to win. Young says this mentorship helped him change his gameplay approach compared to his previous season, where he was known more for his physical abilities than his strategy.

  • Young finished in fourth place on Survivor season 42.
  • For four years, Young worked with "Boston" Rob Mariano to prepare for his return on Survivor season 50.
  • Survivor 50 is set to air in the upcoming season.

The players

Jonathan Young

A Survivor contestant who finished in fourth place on season 42 and is returning for season 50.

"Boston" Rob Mariano

A five-time Survivor contestant who mentored Young for four years to help him enhance his strategic gameplay ahead of season 50.

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What they’re saying

“I did a lot of psychological training with Boston Rob. For four years, I went to his house, trained, sat at his feet, and learned everything I could because my strategic game needed some work. Boston Rob helped me with that a lot. I completely changed my game. It was years of going to his house and talking to him about what I could do differently.”

— Jonathan Young (PEOPLE)

“One rule was to smile. Everybody wants to play with somebody who smiles. Number two, you want to win; nobody else wants you to win. Number three: control what you can control, and don't worry about anything else. You can have a tribe swap and completely mess you up. Don't worry about that. You can't control it. Just worry about what you can control.”

— Jonathan Young (PEOPLE)

What’s next

Survivor 50 is set to air in the upcoming season, where fans can expect to see a different gameplay strategy from Jonathan Young based on his extensive mentorship with "Boston" Rob Mariano.

The takeaway

This story highlights the value of veteran player mentorship in Survivor, as well as the importance of adaptability and strategic evolution for contestants looking to succeed on the show over multiple seasons. It underscores how even strong physical players like Young can benefit from honing their social and psychological game through the guidance of experienced players like "Boston" Rob.