5 best Big Brother players to never win the game

Who are the best Big Brother players to never win?

Every summer, we gear up to watch 16 new houseguests walk into the Big Brother house and duke it out for the half-million-dollar grand prize. Because of the ebbs and flows of power (or, most recently, the steady flow of a majority alliance), our favorite players and the best players aren’t always primed to position themselves for the win. Whether they’re a returning legend living up to their reputation or a smart gamer swimming upstream, some of the strongest never won.

Dating back to the revered old-school days of Big Brother, game-changing players like Danielle Reyes and Janelle Pierzina walked away without winning the coveted title and, not to mention, all of that money. But they, and many other players over the years, have maintained their place in BB history with comp wins, strategy, and/or likability.

Who are just some of the best players to never win? Let’s honor five iconic women who have proven you don’t need to finish first to win Big Brother.

Danielle Reyes

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The godmother of Big Brother and the reason a sequestered jury was created, Danielle Reyes should be regarded as a hallowed legend of the game to the same degree as Dr. Will and Dan Gheesling. Known for her cutthroat Diary Room confessionals on BB3 and the sly inventor of the gameplay as we know it (hello, Secret Alliance!), the robbed runner-up returned as an all-star for BB7 with a changed game plan.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t best Chill Town and Janelle, leaving her the hands-down best player to never win the game, full stop.

Britney Haynes

Who doesn’t love Britney Haynes? In BB12, she offered comic relief amid the Brendon and Rachel drama, donning hair extensions in the name of playful mockery and basically delivering stand-up routines in the DR. Britney had great game sense and an unbeatable sense of humor; a formidable combination.

After falling victim to The Brigade and getting cut at final four, Britney returned as a coach (and later, a player) in BB14, but wound up the true casualty of Dan’s Funeral. She may have been outsmarted by some of the most legendary players of the game, but she’s definitely a legendary player — and a beloved one at that — in her own right.

Dani Briones

How, how, how has Dani Briones not won Big Brother? Formerly known as Daniele Donato, she first appeared on BB8 with her father, the infamous Evel Dick, then returned for the dynamic duos twist in BB13 (where she met her husband, Dominic Briones). Personally, I would have voted for and bet on Dani to win over her father in the final two of BB8.

During her early BB career, Dani was both a mental and physical powerhouse, winning competitions and scheming behind the scenes. She relied on scheming for her comeback in the current all-stars season, and her work was near-flawless until it wasn’t. Like Janelle, Dani’s reputation precedes her. Nevertheless, she’s by far an all-time great who’s a winner in my book.

Janelle Pierzina

We didn’t know what hit us when the self-proclaimed buxom mixed with brains blonde bombshell entered the Big Brother house in Season 6. Janelle Pierzina placed third two seasons in a row, quickly cementing herself as a legend and the queen of BB. Because of her standing as a strong all-around threat, Janelle placed much lower on BB14 and BB22, but I won’t allow that kind of negativity.

The fact that Janelle can merely walk into the house and get the others shaking in their boots without winning even anything says a lot about her power. She probably should have won, but she doesn’t need the title. No one can steal her crown.

Da’Vonne Rogers

She’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment. When Da’Vonne isn’t outplaying herself or being outplayed by others, she’s one of the sharpest minds in the Big Brother house. As we’ve seen in her past three seasons, competitions aren’t her strong suit, but she more than makes up for her comp beast pitfalls with a shining social game and keen eye for strategizing.

It’s a criminal shame that the cards have been stacked against Da’Vonne in all three of her seasons because under the right circumstances, she has everything it takes to go all the way. Her time will still come!

Of course, these are only a few picks for the best players who never won Big Brother in a long list of legends and great gamers. Who would make your top 5 of best players to never win? Share your picks and personal favorites in the comments!

Big Brother 22 All-Stars airs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS.