Metro Detroit 'Big Brother' champion named Best Winner in show history Dan Gheesling, a contestant from Dearborn, was named the Best Winner in the history of Big Brother during the show’s 1,000th episode, which aired on August 27. The honor was awarded to Gheesling, who won the show’s 10th season in 2008, making him the first contestant from Metro Detroit to achieve this distinction. The recognition came as part of a special episode that featured a mix of former cast members and results from online fan votes across multiple categories. Other top contenders in the Best Winner category included Jun Song, Will Kirby, Rachel Reilly, Derrick Levasseur, and Taylor Hale, a fellow Detroit native. However, Gheesling’s victory over these competitors solidified his place as the show’s most celebrated winner. In addition to the Best Winner title, Gheesling’s iconic moment from Season 14, titled “Funeral,” was named the show’s Favorite Moment. During the episode, Gheesling reflected on his journey, stating, “I wasn’t the fastest, I was never the strongest, but I love this game so much. I never gave up.” He credited his resilience as the key to his success, emphasizing that while the game is designed to challenge contestants, maintaining composure allowed him to endure longer. “The chips could be stacked against me, and I was just always going to fight, because I love this game,” he told host Julie Chen. When asked about his favorite winners, Gheesling highlighted Dr. Will Kirby, the Season 2 champion, and Janelle Pierzina, a player who competed four times without winning. “When I saw Dr. Will, how we won, and he just outthought people, I’m like, ‘I could do that,’” he said. “But my personal G.O.A.T. is someone that hasn’t won, and that’s Janelle.#big_brother #dan_gheesling #julie_chen #tiffany_mitchell #destination_x
