The Golden Bachelor winner spoilers: Who does Gerry pick?

After years of watching twentysomethings and thirtysomethings looking for love on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, ABC shook things up this season with the release of The Golden Bachelor which has given one hopeless romantic a second chance at love.

The series kicked off on Sept. 28 with 72-year-old Gerry Turner stepping into the spotlight as the very first Golden Bachelor. Throughout the show’s first season, Gerry has been searching for the second love of his life in what has shaped up to be the most wholesome show to ever come out of the Bachelor franchise.

After finding love with his late wife, Gerry joined the show hoping to find someone to spend his golden years. 22 women arrived at the Bachelor Mansion on Night 1 to vie for Gerry’s affections, but that group has gradually been narrowed down as the weeks pass and Gerry gets to know the women of his season better.

From the moment the women of The Golden Bachelor arrived on Night 1, it’s clear there were some immediate sparks between a handful of the women and Gerry. In the time since, we’ve seen Gerry getting to know the women of his season better and several genuine connections are being formed.

Still, in the end, only one woman will steal Gerry’s heart and walk away as the first winner of The Golden Bachelor. If you’re impatient like me, you probably are already itching to know who Gerry ends up with at the end of the show so you can keep a closer eye on them during the season.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Gerry Turner’s season of The Golden Bachelor. 

Who does The Golden Bachelor pick?

As we saw right out of the gate in the season premiere, there are some truly incredible women competing this season on The Golden Bachelor. Over the course of the show, Gerry gradually thinned out the group until only two remained: Leslie Fhima and Theresa Nist.

Gerry’s final two surprised many fans who thought Faith Martin would make it into the final 2, especially considering she was the recipient of Gerry’s First Impression Rose and one of the two women he said he was falling in love with during hometowns. Instead, Faith was sent home during prior to the finale and if that decision shocked you, you might want to take a seat!

While all signs seemed to point toward Gerry choosing Leslie, which had fans thrilled, Reality Steve reports that Gerry ends the season with Theresa. That’s right, Gerry picks Theresa Nist. But wait, there’s more! Not only does Gerry choose Theresa, but the two get engaged at the end of the season!

Gerry and Theresa are still together after The Golden Bachelor

Filming might have wrapped in September 2023, but Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist are still going strong after the show! The pair left the show engaged and Reality Steve reports they are still together following the end of production.

It will be interesting to see how long of an engagement the pair choose to opt for, but we’re rooting for Gerry and Theresa and hope they make it! The first lead of The Bachelorette is still with her winner and we’re hoping Gerry will find similar success as the first lead of The Golden Bachelor.

Get to know Gerry Turner’s final 3

Here’s a little more about the Final 3 for Gerry’s season as per their official bios from ABC:

Faith Martin

• Age: 60
• Job: High School Teacher
• Hometown: Benton City, Washington
• About Faith: 

"Faith is much more than meets the eye. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s also charismatic, adaptable, and looks for the positive in every situation. Faith has two sons and four grandkids that she loves more than anything in this world. She’s also a woman of many talents, which she continues to do professionally – like radio hosting, teaching and singing. Faith is a fun thrill-seeker and has checked many goals off her bucket list like diving with sharks, riding a motorcycle, and getting a tattoo, but she’s still looking for someone with whom to enjoy the thrills of life. Faith is truly hoping that Gerry is her perfect adventure partner!"

Leslie Fhima

• Age: 64
• Job: Fitness Instructor
• Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• About Leslie:

"Leslie may best be known as a former professional figure skater, but this woman has way more going on than what meets the eye. Outside of her love for figure skating and dancing, Leslie is now a personal trainer and is passionate about helping others live their best lives. She has run 10 marathons and is looking for her running buddy for life. When she isn’t working at the gym, Leslie is an incredible mom to her three kids and “glama” to her three grandkids. She also loves spending time with her mini Aussiedoodle, Billie. Leslie is looking for a real man who will enhance her life, and she’s ready to put it all on the line to pursue love."

Theresa Nist

• Age: 70
• Job: Shrewsbury, New Jersey
• Hometown: Financial Services Professional
• About Theresa:

"Theresa is a gorgeous catch with a huge heart. She is very close with her children and grandchildren, and loves nothing more than seeing them all thrive. Theresa describes herself as optimistic, encouraging, and ready to love again after loss. She hopes to meet a partner who will be her best friend in this next chapter of life and will appreciate all the little moments with her. When she’s not spending time with her family, Theresa enjoys playing board games, gardening, reading romance novels, and hula hooping. Theresa is here for the real deal, and fingers crossed it’s all fireworks when she meets the Golden Bachelor!THE GOLDEN BACHELOR – “The Women Tell All” – Thirteen incredible women reunite with Gerry and each other for the first time during a night of emotional “Bachelor” firsts. Plus, the heart-wrenching conclusion to the hometown rose ceremony is revealed and a look at the shocking season finale. THURSDAY, NOV. 9 (8:00-9:14 p.m. EST), on ABC. (Disney/John Fleenor)PATTY, PAMELA, MARINA, CHRISTINA, NATASHA, JOAN, NANCY, ELLEN, SUSAN, SANDRA, KATHY, APRIL, EDITH"

Golden Bachelor elimination recap

After just a few episodes, Gerry Turner narrowed the field down significantly with eliminations coming fast and hard across the season. By the time we made it to halfway point in the season, Gerry was down to just three women which made for an interesting stretch of final episodes.

For those keeping tabs, the season started with 22 women which means more than 80% of the season’s contestants were eliminated by the end of the fifth episode of the season! With the pace in which the women of The Golden Bachelor were sent home, it can be hard to keep track of who went home when but that’s where we come in! Here’s a recap of the season’s eliminations in order.

Eliminated Week 1

• Anna Zalk (61)
• Maria Trice (60)
• Marina Perera (60)
• Pamela Burns (75)
• Patty James (75)
• Renee Halverson-Wright (67)
• Sylvia Robledo (64)

Eliminated Week 2

• Jeanie Howard (65)
• Natascha Hardee (60)
• Peggy Dercole (69)

Eliminated Week 3

• Christina Kempton (73)
• Edith Aguirre (60)
• Joan Vassos (60)

Eliminated Week 4

• April Kirkwood (65) – Eliminated Week 4
• Kathy Swarts (70) – Eliminated Week 4
• Nancy Hulkower (60) – Eliminated Week 4

Eliminated Week 5

• Ellen Goltzer (71)
• Sandra Mason (75)
• Susan Noles (66)

Final 3

• Eliminated after Hometowns: Faith Martin (60)
• Eliminated in Finale: Leslie Fhima (64)
• Winner: Theresa Nist (70)