The Big Brother Hall of Fame honors the most memorable and influential houseguests from the hit reality TV show Big Brother. Since the show’s debut in 2000, hundreds of houseguests have competed for the $500,000 grand prize, but only the very best have earned a place in the Big Brother Hall of Fame.
What are the criteria for induction?
There are no official criteria for being inducted into the Big Brother Hall of Fame, but there are several factors that tend to distinguish Hall of Famers from average houseguests:
- Winning the game, especially in dominant fashion
- Controlling strategic gameplay and masterminding impressive moves
- Creating exciting drama, conflict, and storylines in the house
- Achieving competition wins, especially multiple Head of Household and Power of Veto wins
- Making an unforgettable impression and having a lasting legacy
While some Hall of Famers have won the grand prize, others earned their place purely through memorable personalities, bold gameplay, and creating buzzworthy moments in the Big Brother house.
Who selects the inductees?
There is no official selection committee or process for the Big Brother Hall of Fame. Inductees are chosen based on fame, impact, and legacy within the Big Brother fandom.
In general, the most respected voices in the Big Brother community, including feed watchers, live feed correspondents, superfans, and former houseguests, lead the conversation around which players are Hall of Fame-worthy. The case for each inductee develops over years of debate until a consensus emerges.
How many houseguests are in the Hall of Fame?
As of October 2023, there are 9 inductees in the Big Brother Hall of Fame:
| Inductee | Big Brother Season |
|---|---|
| Dr. Will Kirby | Season 2 |
| Danielle Reyes | Season 3 |
| Janelle Pierzina | Seasons 6, 7 & 14 |
| Mike “Boogie” Malin | Seasons 2, 7 & 14 |
| Dan Gheesling | Seasons 10 & 14 |
| Britney Haynes | Seasons 12 & 14 |
| Derrick Levasseur | Season 16 |
| Vanessa Rousso | Season 17 |
| Tyler Crispen | Seasons 20 & 22 |
Who is Dr. Will Kirby?
Dr. Will Kirby is widely regarded as the greatest player in Big Brother history. He won Big Brother 2 in dominant fashion by pioneering cunning manipulation and strategic deception in the game. His outrageous antics, flashy personality, and merciless tactics made him an icon.
Despite entering the house as a relative outsider, Dr. Will managed to control votes week after week, all while convincing his victims that they were making their own decisions. In the end, he won by a unanimous 7-0 jury vote without ever being nominated for eviction.
Dr. Will proved that Big Brother is a social game where mind games matter more than competition wins. His revolutionary style set the blueprint for cutthroat gameplay in future seasons.
Key stats and moments from Big Brother 2:
- 0 times nominated for eviction
- 4 Head of Household wins
- Unanimous 7-0 jury vote victory
- Legendary “I hate you all” speech
- Fake fights with fellow Chilltown member Mike Boogie
- Flirted shamelessly for strategic advantage
Nearly 20 years later, Dr. Will remains the face of Big Brother excellence and his cunning tactics still influence players today. His combination of strategic brilliance and showmanship makes him the greatest to ever play the game.
Who is Danielle Reyes?
Danielle Reyes dominated Big Brother 3 with her sharp strategy, competitive ferocity, and ability to manipulate unwitting houseguests into doing her bidding. She pioneered the “secret alliance” strategy by playing both sides of the house masterfully.
Danielle won multiple crucial Head of Household and Power of Veto competitions when she needed them most. She controlled the nominations for a large portion of the season, convincing others to target her enemies while hiding her own alliance.
Her brilliant strategic game play earned her a spot in the final two, but she ultimately lost to Lisa Donahue by a jury vote of 9-1 due to the bitter jury feeling betrayed by her duplicitous tactics.
Key stats and moments from Big Brother 3:
- 4 Head of Household wins
- 5 Power of Veto wins
- Never nominated for eviction
- Masterminded the “Operation Double Date” alliance
- Manipulated houseguests with fake tears and sympathy
- Memorable diary room rants and nicknames for her rivals
Danielle’s pioneering strategy laid the groundwork for future power players. Her ability to control the game while commanding unwavering loyalty makes her one of the most impressive players in Big Brother history.
Who is Janelle Pierzina?
Janelle Pierzina is one of the most iconic and beloved houseguests to ever play Big Brother. She competed in Seasons 6, 7, and 14, reaching the final three each time thanks to competition domination and bold gameplay.
Janelle won a record-breaking 9 competitions in Big Brother All Stars (Season 7), making her one of the most decorated competitors. She was a comp beast who could win crucial challenges precisely when she needed power the most.
In addition to her competition abilities, Janelle played an aggressive strategic game and was always an active force influencing gameplay and creating entertaining drama in the house.
Key stats and moments across her Big Brother career:
- Most combined competition wins ever with 22
- Reached final three in all three of her seasons
- Showmance with fellow competitor Kaysar Ridha
- Legendary diary room rants and clashes with rivals
- America’s Choice winner twice for fan favorite
With her trademark boldness, competitive grit, and show-stopping diary rooms, Janelle became an undisputed fan favorite whose Big Brother legacy endures today.
Who is Mike “Boogie” Malin?
Mike “Boogie” Malin played in Big Brother 2, All-Stars (Season 7) and 14, teaming up with his infamous buddy Dr. Will twice to dominate the strategic landscape of both seasons.
Boogie used his charm, charisma and manipulative powers to control votes and navigate shifting alliances. Across his three seasons, he never touched the nomination block, proving his ability to deflect danger and target others.
His most dominant performance came in All-Stars where he won multiple crucial competitions en route to a 6-1 jury vote victory, securing his reputation as an all-time great player.
Key stats and moments from Boogie’s Big Brother career:
- Winner of Big Brother All-Stars with $500,000 prize
- Member of legendary Chilltown alliance
- Never nominated for eviction across 3 seasons
- Won 5 competitions total in his Big Brother career
- Known for flashy charm, deal-making, and manipulation
As one-half of Dr. Will’s dangerous dynamic duo, Boogie used deception and strategic maneuvering to outplay his opponents time and time again. His impressive performances cement his status as a Big Brother legend.
Who is Dan Gheesling?
Dan Gheesling is the only player in Big Brother history to win the game twice, achieving victory in Seasons 10 and 14. His cunning tactics and masterful manipulation make him one of the sharpest strategic players ever.
In Big Brother 10, Dan relied on the “renegade” alliance with Memphis to control votes and orchestrate blindsides, while positioning himself as the nice guy in the house. His gentlemanly charm helped him win jury votes in a unanimous 7-0 landslide.
In Season 14, his funeral speech ranks as one of the most iconic maneuverings ever. After being cornered, Dan’s tearful speech pretending to quit flipped the house upside down and saved his own game in brilliant fashion.
Key stats and moments from Dan’s Big Brother career:
- Only houseguest to win the game twice
- Never nominated for eviction during his original season
- Masterminded legendary funeral speech to save himself
- Threw competitions strategically to control his threat level
- Formed secret Final 2 deals and alliances to control votes
With unparalleled cunning, strategic mastery, and manipulation, Dan proved himself as the one of the most skillful strategists ever to enter the Big Brother house.
Who is Britney Haynes?
Britney Haynes established herself as one of the most beloved and entertaining houseguests across her two seasons on Big Brother. She placed fourth on Big Brother 12 and won America’s Favorite Player, then returned to place eighth on Big Brother 14.
Britney was a master of the diary room, cracking scathing jokes and delivering iconic monologues shading her fellow houseguests. Her sharp-tongued confessional quips and hilarious zingers made her a fan favorite.
In addition to her sense of humor, Britney was a savvy game player who formed alliances and positioned herself well socially. However, her competition abilities were lacking, preventing higher finishes.
Key stats and moments from Britney’s Big Brother career:
- Won America’s Favorite Player on Big Brother 12
- Legendary diary room sessions mocking fellow houseguests
- Formed a secret alliance with The Brigade on BB12
- Returned for Big Brother 14 and won a coach’s competition
- Created funny nicknames and impressions of other players
With her scorching wit, perfectly-timed comedy, and unfiltered commentary, Britney delivered some of the most hilarious and entertaining moments in the show’s history.
Who is Derrick Levasseur?
Derrick Levasseur is one of the most dominant strategic players ever, winning Big Brother 16 through stealthy manipulation and masterful deceit. He controlled the game from start to finish without ever being nominated.
Derrick was an undercover police officer, which inspired his strategy of forming an underground alliance and subtly influencing his housemates’ decisions. His covert tactics allowed him to plant ideas while deflecting all suspicion.
He also leveraged competition wins and well-timed deals to advance himself. In the end, Derrick’s calculated maneuvers culminated in a decisive 7-2 jury vote victory.
Key stats and moments from Big Brother 16:
- Never nominated for eviction the entire season
- Won 3 crucial Head of Household competitions
- Formed the covert Hitmen alliance to control votes
- Used police interrogation tactics to manipulate houseguests
- Convinced others to target each other while avoiding the block
With his silky smooth influence tactics and ability to convince others to unwittingly do his bidding, Derrick executed one of the most dominant wins in Big Brother history.
Who is Vanessa Rousso?
Vanessa Rousso was a force to be reckoned with in Big Brother 17 using her intellect, strategic aggression, and masterful power of persuasion to control every eviction vote. Despite being a huge target, she managed to power her way to third place.
As a professional poker player, Vanessa leveraged her ability to analyze odds and take calculated risks. She formed multiple alliances for protection and turned the house against itself to deflect danger from herself time and again.
Vanessa’s intimidating persuasion skills allowed her to dictate many eviction decisions. In the end, her overbearing and emotional approach cost her jury votes.
Key stats and moments from Big Brother 17:
- Won 4 Head of Household competitions
- Won 3 Power of Veto competitions
- Not nominated until Day 72 out of 97 days
- Formed “The Sixth Sense” secret alliance early on
- Cried frequently to guilt trip houseguests
- Renowned for aggressive deal-making and persuasion tactics
With her intellect, strategic domination, and powers of persuasion, Vanessa is undoubtedly one of the most formidable tacticians ever to enter the Big Brother house.
Who is Tyler Crispen?
Tyler Crispen has earned his place among the Big Brother elite after reaching the final two in both Season 20 and All-Stars (Season 22). His smooth social game, competition wins, and strategic finesse make him a force to be reckoned with.
During Big Brother 20, Tyler crafted elaborate lies about his life and career outside the house to gain his housemates’ trust and sympathy. He also formed the influential Level 6 alliance early on to control votes.
In All-Stars, Tyler again ranked as one of the most dominant players despite ultimately losing, thanks to competition wins, calculated strategy, and leveraging relationships.
Key stats and moments from Tyler’s Big Brother career:
- Won 6 Head of Household competitions total
- Won 7 Power of Veto competitions total
- Made final 2 in both of his Big Brother seasons
- Created the Level 6 alliance that dominated Big Brother 20
- Known for his smooth talking and subtle strategic influence
With two second place finishes under his belt, Tyler proved himself extremely capable of navigating alliances, winning competitions, and employing strategic manipulation to advance himself in the game.
Conclusion
The Big Brother Hall of Fame honors the elite players who have made the greatest impact, displayed the most masterful strategy, and created the most unforgettable moments in the show’s history. Inductees like Dr. Will, Dan Gheesling, Janelle Pierzina, and other legends raised the level of strategic gameplay and transformed Big Brother into the cutthroat competition it is today.
Earning a spot alongside these icons of Big Brother history is a momentous achievement. The Hall of Fame memorializes those select houseguests that stand above the rest in fame, influence, and legacy within the Big Brother universe.