Meet the 'Survivor 46' Cast! Q Burdette Comes in with a Plan to Get His Tribe to the Final Four
Q Burdette
Q Burdette may go by one letter, but his story spans many chapters. Born as one of 17 children, Q excelled in athletics through high school and college. Eventually, he transitioned to real estate, where he found great success, including being the number two agent in the United States at one time. But make no mistake, he's gunning for the number one position in Fiji. Though he has a commanding physical presence, the 29-year-old hopes his charm and people skills will prevail. And the former football star already has some plays drawn up, including how to get his tribe to the Final Four.
Read on for my interview with Q, and check in with Parade.com daily for interviews with this season's contestants and other tidbits. Survivor 46 premieres on February 28 with a two-hour premiere on CBS.
Related: Meet the Full Cast of Survivor 46
Interview with Q from Survivor 46
To start, give me your name, age, and occupation.
So my name is Quintavius Burdette. Everyone calls me "Q," so please call me Q. I'm 29 years old. And I'm a real estate broker in Mississippi and Tennessee.
How long have you been in real estate? And is that something you always wanted to do?
Well, after college–I'm a former athlete–I had an opportunity to try out with the Giants. It didn't work. But I had a Master's in Accounting. So, I used my accounting degree to figure out that I did not want to do accounting. [Laughs.] I was sitting inside of an office in a cubicle, doing accounting work all day. I'm not that type of guy. They showed me the billing report of what we were making hourly for the company, and I was like, "You know what? I'm out of here." I put in a two-week notice. And I kind of searched what profession I can make what I'm worth, and real estate popped up. So I was like, "That's it."
What's your favorite thing about real estate?
It's changing. Like the game of Survivor, it changes every single day. Doesn't matter how much information and knowledge you have something about. That industry will change. And it's going to stop you. And it's one of those things for me. Being my own boss, being selective on who I work with, those type of things. I make my own schedule. And I'm not just an ordinary guy that's selling houses. I was the number two agent in the United States. Sold over 300 properties myself. So I do it because I love it. But it also allows me to have the lifestyle that I want.
That's incredible. What do you credit that passion and drive to?
I think it goes back to when I was nine years old, when I was playing peewee football. And all the other kids for Christmas, they would ask for a bike or a PlayStation or something crazy that kids normally want to have. Me, I wanted to have a weight bench. And I wanted to have a parachute. Not the ones we fly in the sky. I'm talking about the ones who strap around your waist, and you run against the wind and get faster.
I'm one of 17 kids. And when you're one of 17 kids, you better get a scholarship to go to college. And normally, where I come from, it's gonna be an athletic scholarship. So, I was able to play in the SEC football and run track on scholarship. But that drive just came from coming from nothing, man. I'm one of 17 kids. My parents never made more than 40 grand in a year supporting us. So, I wanted to do something different. And knowing where I come from and where I am now, I never go back.
What number kid are you in the 17?
I'm the fourth oldest. So, a lot of them under me.
What was it like growing up in that household?
Oh, man. It was a fight or celebration every single day. And either you got to wake up, and it's somebody's birthday. Or you're gonna wake up and you've ate somebody's brownie, and now they're mad and upset. So every day, man, was a celebration, or it was a fight. But it was one of those things that prepared me for this game. Because I'm used to being around so many people. Now you're telling me I only have 17 other people? When we start to vote folks off, it's gonna get down to the nitty-gritty. So I can live with these folks. I know how to share. I know how to say what's mine. I know how to be kind around others. And I think that's what's gonna propel me in this game.
So, what brought you from selling properties to building shelters? What made you decide to come out and play Survivor?
Man, that is a good question. For me, I have to ask myself, "What is something that's going to challenge me like no other, but I can still compete and also have an opportunity to win a million bucks?" For me, I could have stayed home and worked for two or three months and made a million bucks. But I can come on this show. And you're talking about 26 days of work and grinding and meeting folks. So what brought me on Survivor is just that. I want to challenge my inner self. Am I as connected to myself as I think? Is mine the strongest? Will I break? I don't know those answers. And I'm here to find out.
What's your history with watching Survivor?
So we grew up on The Brady Bunch and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. That's where we grew up. But my Survivor experience began doing COVID when I was sheltered. I had to stay home. The market was slower. My wife, who was in college at the time, they dismissed, and she had to come home. And she watched Survivor. She's the superfan. She's been watching since day one. But she introduced me to the show. And let me tell you, I was hooked. I watched every season in maybe a three-month span, from season one to 40 at that time. And I've caught up and watched them as they come on lately. But I went back, man. I bought the Paramount app. And I've watched and watched and watched and watched. The way this game has evolved, I don't think there is anything that compares. You go back to football when they weren't wearing helmets. This game has changed more than that. So it's crazy.
From your binge-watching, can you give me one Survivor winner and one non-winner you identify with the most?
A winner who I would say from day one, "They got it. They have me in the bag," is Jeremy. He's a winner, man. He's a dad. He's a husband. He's a great, great guy, fireman. He's a winner in life and in this game. Someone who I don't think is the winner is the Russell people. The Hantzes, both of them. I think they come from a world that I don't come from arrogance and evil, evil people. So I don't think they're winners in my book.
So you come from a very community-based background, between being in sports and your large family. How tough will it be, though, to bring that over to a game where you have to vote people out if you want to win?
Correct. That is the name of the game. We play all those games throughout the season. And we have all those practices. But guess what? It's 50-some people on our team. Only 11 of them start. And there's only one trophy at the end of it. In a race, there's only won first place ribbon. So I'm used to having to compete for that top spot. And there's no better place now to conquer. What I've always wanted to conquer is the very, very top. See, I was number two in the country. I wasn't number one. I'm coming into this game, all odds are against me. I'm young; I'm athletic. I would say I'm likable. That's a recipe for disaster. But I'm going to cook this thing up to where it spins, and the recipe tastes how I want it.
I love that. Let's talk about perceptions a bit. Do you expect people to look at you and automatically assume you'll be a meat shield?
Yes, I think that I will be perceived as a shield. But what they don't realize is I'm gonna perceive a lot of them as my shield. And I have to talk. I have to make sure that they understand that that's what I am until it's too late. There is going to be an opportunity that I've already built up in my head. If I can make it to 10, I'm good. And then, if I can get to seven, game's over. Because I plan on winning challenges at seven, six, five. And I'll make [expletive] fire at four.
I actually was wondering about that. Because you come from such a competitive background, would you ever consider throwing a challenge, either tribal or individual, if it bettered your game?
I'm not about that. I'm not going to throw challenges. Because in my life, you only get one opportunity. And momentum is a real thing. A lot of folks don't understand. If you give someone life, momentum, that thing can turn and roll down a hill the opposite direction quicker than you can catch it. So I'm not about that. And if I catch wind of somebody throwing a challenge as part of my team, I'm gonna do everything in my power to see him leave this island. If I have an idol in my pocket and I know where the votes are going, I'll protect somebody outside of my lines to get that person out of the game. Because I don't stand for that. We are not throwing challenges. Child, please.
What's one life experience you feel has prepared you most for the game?
March 8, 1994. That day, I was born to the parents that I was born to, to the situation that I was born into. That has prepared me for anything in life, not just the game of Survivor. But if I have to get more political and give you the correct answer, I was saying just my days playing ball. We have to wake up early. We have to outwork folks. If you want to start, if you want to play, you have to beat the next guy. You cannot be off for your game for one second. And if you are, there's somebody that's looking to take your spot. And now here, that is the same thing. If you're off your game, if you miss a conversation that you're supposed to be in, if you say the wrong thing, you do the wrong thing one time, you're gone. So you have to be cautious of that. But also being able to dissect and come into a game with a game plan, understanding that I'm gonna have to change.
From a preparation perspective, it's clear athletically that you're ready to go. But did you do anything else in anticipation of coming out here?
So one thing that I did before I came [was] I made sure I watched all the seasons, just so I can get a grasp of what Survivor might throw at me. But what I did was I went back and watched certain players. Like Jeremy, I went back, and I watched Jeremy's season from the very first time he played. He played a good game. He got kind of caught up in some things he shouldn't have. And he got voted out. Next time playing, he adjusted. He was the same Jeremy. His thoughts were the same. His reasoning was the same. But he adjusted so much that it allowed him to win that season.
So, I wanted to watch how he played the first time versus the second time. And what I want to play is a combination of both. I don't want to play like Jeremy. I don't want to play like any Survivor player in history. I want to play like Q. I want, when the kids turn the TV on, they say, "I want to go onto Survivor, and I want to play like Q." But I want to say Jeremy inspired me. Because what he stood for in this game is something greater than anything that I've ever seen. A man being vulnerable about his love and his support for his family and why he's here. He was unapologetic, emotional about that. And that really touched me. And to see a Black man that that be able to go through something like that on TV, and it comes out on the back end, he can win and win a million dollars and be the Sole Survivor. Man, that's all I need.
Does that feel like it permits you to do the same? Because you have a lot of passion, you have that sense of competition. But are you ready for the game to rip you wide open and show you parts of yourself you didn't realize?
I am so ready for that. Here's what I tell people all the time. I don't need permission to do nothing. I just need opportunity. If you give me the opportunity, I'm gonna make it happen. So with me, I understand that there are going to be some challenging times out here. I've even thought of what might happen. And I've already come up with the responses within, so there's no doubt I will. And if the challenge presents itself, the challenge that I've thought about, I'm willing to black out before I give out. But that's the mentality that I'm in right now. So when I'm in the game, I've already told myself this. So when that doubt starts to creep in, I already have the answer to it. So I'm excited to get out there, to be able to play. Yes, I might get emotional. I will say now you guys won't see tears from Q on TV. I can't promise that. But I can guarantee it. [Laughs.]
How comparable is playing Survivor to selling a property? The closest thing I can think of is the final Tribal Council.
I would think that that final Tribal Council is going into a listing appointment to get a seller to say, "Hey, choose me to sell your $5 million house." I think that's going to be the same. The recipe for me when I go into houses is to be personable, be honest, open, tell my story. And Tribal is those four things as well. So, if I could connect with the jury. And I don't go to a listing unprepared. I'm not going to show up to this game of Survivor unprepared.
What does that mean? I understand that the folks that we vote out now have the power to vote me the money. So I'm not going to treat anybody like crap. If you treat them like crap. I'm gonna be their shoulder to lean. And I'll make sure to remember it. That's my job. But I also want folks to understand that my sales job is what's going to make the difference for me out here, because I can sell you any idea. Just give me the product. And out here, the product is not snuffing my torch.
Are you going to tell anybody you're a real estate agent?
Ah…debatable. A lot of folks look at salesmen as this sneaky, grimy guy. I think I can get away with telling folks that I'm a former athlete, now I'm a coach. I'm a volunteer coach at my high school. I've got a lawn business. So I can probably get away with that. But it's gonna show that I'm much more than just the dumb athlete and a coach that just shows up. I think they eventually see. What I'm hoping is, by the time they see it, it's too late.
Well, speaking of your competition, what are you seeking in an alliance partner?
What I'm looking for is like-minded people, someone who is going to be headstrong. But I understand to be a shield, I need a shield. So I don't want my alliance to be full of folks who using me as shields; I want two or three people with me that are also challenge bests. I need somebody that can do a puzzle, because there's going to come a time where someone in your alliance is going to have to win in order for things to go the way you want. I want to make sure I build that the right way. But I want to build it with the people that want to see me in the game.
And if you feel like I'm too big of a threat because I can potentially win a challenge, and you don't see yourself ever winning a challenge, then you're probably not going to be in the Q alliance. But I want somebody who's loyal, that I can look them in the eye and I can tell them, "Hey, this is what's going on." They can tell me, "Q, this is what's going on." But also somebody who understands I'm gonna protect you, period. You have to protect me. And if I can find two or three people like that, on top of being able to connect with other folks, I think we got a shot.
Speaking to your competition, are you picking up on any vibes from any particular people?
I'm getting a couple smiles, a couple of winks. I don't know if it's from the ladies or the guys; I won't say. But what I will say is I'm picking up on cues within this group. I know who eats first every time a meal is served. I know who sleeps in their spare time. I know who has to snack. I know all those sorts of things. I woke up yesterday, and I saw two young ladies that had flowers in their hair. I haven't seen these flowers anywhere else. All of a sudden, they got flowers. And I told myself, "If I wake up today, and someone else has a flower outside of these two girls, I might be in trouble." Well, a new girl had a flower this morning. So I think they're sharing flowers. So there's some talking going on.
I think–I'm not 100% sure. But I think we have another guy here from Mississippi. Because on his hat, it says FC. On his pants, it says FC with a cougar-type thing in Mississippi. That's Farewell Christian. So, he might be from Mississippi. And if that's true…[Laughs.] that's all I need, baby.
So, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
That's a good thing. Us Mississippi folks, we stick together now. We're gonna stick together. And as long as he understands that we're in it together, I'll lose to him. But I need him to understand that he has to lose to me, too. And he's a physical threat. So we might clique up, and we might run the game from start to finish. What I will say is this, the tribe that I start on, there will be at least two from that tribe in the Final Four.
Related: Everything to Know About Survivor 46
Interesting. Is that from challenge wins or you just pushing tribe unity?
Unity. We're gonna win; we're gonna work together. And I'm gonna make sure I condition the mind to understand that we're all in it together. It's your job to get as close to these five or six or whatever on this tribe because we're gonna win.
I mean, there's value in that. We've seen recently that groups from original tribes can slip under the radar while everyone else takes each other out and makes it to the endgame together.
That is the best thing. But people get greedy. They start to get insecure. And I'm gonna make sure I check those insecurities. I'm gonna make sure I have people feeling like a million bucks. And if you can control them, if you can get people all on one accord that are saying, "You know what? This guy is right." If we stick together to five, all I have to do is beat out one more person within my five with relationships and connections within the other four to make it to the Final Four to be able to make fire, I got a pretty good chance. And that's the story I want to sell to those people. And from the jump, I want to make sure that we win the first challenge. I don't know how they're gonna break this thing up. I just want to make sure that for the first two, at least, we get a dub. If we can do that, we'll put ourselves in a position to have two from my tribe in the finals.
In your bio, you said you were a crazy risk-taker. You also said you were the luckiest person you knew. You are about to enter a game that is more risky and–arguably–luck-based than ever. How much is that going to play into your approach?
I think that's going to play heavily. I understand that I'm here to lose. I understand that, all the time, odds are stacked against me to lose. And I also understand I don't need the money. So, I can take the risk right now in order to get further in this game. And I will take those risks understanding that, at some point, it's gonna catch me. And I might get lucky, and it might not catch me.
And when I say I'm the luckiest person in the world, I go back to stories from when I first started in real estate. I sold 106 houses my very first year in the business. A lot of people say, "Man, that's good luck." I say, "That's good luck and a whole lot of hard work." But I give it to luck. And then me being able to come on this game of Survivor. I submitted one video one time. And I got on. That's luck. A lot of people have been sending in videos five, ten years. So I'm meant to be here for a reason. I'm here to find out why.
Let's say a boat shows up at your camp on Day 2, asking one person to go on a journey. How would you approach the situation?
I'm definitely not volunteering. I'm going to suggest we draw rocks or sticks or something. It's always random. But if somebody volunteers, let me tell you, you're going home. So whatever you go out there, and you do, and you get, or you don't get, I don't care. I will make sure you go home. You're here to play the game extremely too hard and too fast for me. And you need to slow it down. Child, please!
Well, how are you approaching advantages in general? Are you going to be looking for them?
Listen, I'm from Mississippi, small town. I'm here to work. I'm looking. I'm looking right now; you don't even know it. Hopefully, we come back to this place. But I'm looking. And here's the difference. When I find it, you won't even know. I won't even know it when I find it.
[Laughs.] Well, that's the thing! You don't know now whether the idol you're given can be real or fake.
Well, you're right. It'd better have the parchment it says it's real. But I'm not telling anybody about it. I'm gonna bury it somewhere, and it's gonna come with me everywhere I go. But it doesn't matter how close you are in an alliance with someone. When you go to sharing that information, things change. Because they think you can eventually use it against them. But also, we have Knowledge is Power and the idol nullifier that we don't know if it's going to be on our season or not. So you're gonna blabber your mouth about advantages, and somebody takes what you have, your game changes on a dime. And I don't want to risk that. So if I find something, I can almost guarantee you right now today. I can promise you that a soul won't know about it.
What's your hottest Survivor take?
I'll say Yam Yam winning. I guess I didn't see it. I thought Yam Yam had a better final Tribal Council than the two ladies. But gameplay-wise, I thought Carolyn played the best game. I get why the jury did what they did. Carolyn choked at the final. Heidi choked at the final. She was kind of weird with her, "Thank you for the question." That was kind of quirky. And I think she made a ballsy move to put herself in position to make fire. But she had to do that. If we date back to that time Natalie did not do that. I thought she did enough in that game to beat Tony. But the jury decided she did not. But if she would have done that, she would have won. In Heidi's situation, she had to do it. I think she got one vote, maybe because of it, which is nice. But I just didn't see the Yam Yam deal.
What was it about Carolyn you felt made her game better than Yam Yam's?
I just thought Carolyn was so wacky. Carolyn had idols. She didn't share information when she could have. I think she was in control of her emotions. Although it might seem like she wasn't, she knew exactly what she was doing. And her game was just, to me, just overall better than Yam Yam's game and Heidi's combined, if you had to combine those two. She was a core part of the alliance. She just wasn't someone they was coattailing alone. She was making real decisions. But she can keep her mouth shut. She can dip into the other side and make them think that she's about to flip and switch, and then she don't.
What celebrity or fictional character would you want to come out for a Loved Ones visit?
I'm almost certain that I will probably bring Black Panther. I need some of that juice. Because that juice there is gonna help me. But, outside of everything, I want to bring my wife, man. This is her dream. She can't come because she's in P.A. school right now. She's been watching since season one. I just started watching during COVID. So the person that deserves to be here is her. And I'll make sure that's one of my things. I want to make sure I get to that visit if they're having that this season. I'm not sure. But if they are, I want to make sure Emily gets an opportunity to see this wonderful place.
Next, check out our interview with Survivor 46 contestant Kenzie Petty.
