The Best Seasons Of 'The Bachelor', Ranked

The 17th season of The Bachelor, which premiered on January 7, 2013, featured 28-year-old Sean Lowe, a former Kansas State football player from McKinney, Texas. Throughout the season, Lowe went on several dates in various locations, including Montana, the Canadian province of Alberta, St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands, and Thailand. Lowe ultimately proposed to Catherine Giudici. The season saw 25 new contestants, plus one from Bachelor Pad, and one surprising mystery woman. Sean and Catherine married in 2014, and have three children together.

The 21st season of The Bachelor featured Nick Viall, a software sales executive. This was Nick's fourth appearance in the Bachelor franchise, after having been rejected twice on The Bachelorette, and having appeared on Bachelor in Paradise. Over the course of the season, Nick dated 30 women, and traveled to several locations, including his home state of Wisconsin, New Orleans, the US Virgin Islands, Bimini, and Finnish Lapland. He eventually proposed to Vanessa Grimaldi, a special education teacher from Montreal, Quebec. The pair announced their breakup on August 25, 2017.

The 20th season of The Bachelor featured 26-year-old software salesman Ben Higgins from Warsaw, Indiana. This season's locations ranged from Las Vegas, Indiana, and even Mexico City, to the Bahamas and Jamaica. After several dates and rose ceremonies, Ben ended up proposing to flight attendant Lauren Bushnell from West Linn, Oregon. They briefly had their own reality show, Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After? However, they announced their breakup on May 15, 2017.

The first season of The Bachelor, which premiered on March 25, 2002, featured 31-year-old Alex Michel, a management consultant, as the show's bachelor. Among the 25 initial contestants, he chose Amanda Marsh, who worked as an event planner. Michel, however, did not propose to Marsh at the end, and the two decided to enter into a relationship, which ultimately didn't last. Trista Rehn, one of the contestants from this season, was later chosen as the lead for the first season of The Bachelorette.

The 14th season of The Bachelor featured Jake Pavelka, a pilot from Dallas, Texas, who had been a contestant in the fifth season of The Bachelorette. Pavelka eliminated numerous contestants over the course of the season, ultimately proposing to Vienna Girardi. Their engagement ended in June 2010. Pavelka went on to participate in many other reality TV shows, including Dancing with the Stars, Bachelor Pad, Famous Food, and Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.

The 24th season of The Bachelor featured Peter Weber, a 28-year-old pilot who was previously rejected by Hannah Brown on the 15th season of The Bachelorette. Brown returned in a few episodes of Peter's season, though they did not end up pursuing a relationship. The season began with 30 contestants, including Hannah Sluss, Madison Prewett, Victoria Fuller, and many others, from various professions and states. Peter and his potential matches traveled to various locations, including Cleveland, Ohio; Costa Rica; Chile; and Lima, Peru. In the end, Peter chose to propose to Hannah Sluss, but it was revealed on the After the Final Rose special that they had ended their engagement in January 2020. On May 2, 2020, Weber revealed he was dating Kelley Flanagan, who had finished in 5th place on his season. They announced their breakup on December 31, 2020. They reconciled in August 2022, but went on to break up again in April 2023.

The 13th season of The Bachelor, which premiered on January 5, 2009, featured 32-year-old Jason Mesnick, a single parent from Kirkland, Washington. Jason, who was the runner-up of the 4th season of The Bachelorette, was the second former The Bachelorette suitor to become the Bachelor. He eventually proposed to Melissa Rycroft in the final episode. However, during the After the Final Rose special, Jason broke off the engagement with Melissa, and resumed a relationship with Molly Malaney, the runner-up, to whom he subsequently proposed. They tied the knot in a televised wedding ceremony on February 27, 2010.

The 2nd season of The Bachelor followed 28-year-old Aaron Buerge, a vice president of a chain of family-owned banks. There were 25 women competing for Aaron's heart, including Helene Eksterowicz, who became the eventual winner. Throughout the season, the contestants went on group dates, individual dates, and hometown visits, before Helene was proposed to. However, the couple broke up after several weeks. Buerge later married Angye McIntosh in 2009, while Eksterowicz married senior technology consultant Andrew Goodman in 2013.

The 11th season of The Bachelor premiered on September 24, 2007, featuring Brad Womack, a 34-year-old bar owner from Austin, Texas. Brad's season was remarkable because he rejected all his suitors during the final rose ceremony, becoming the first and only bachelor in the history of the show to do so. The two finalists were DeAnna Pappas and Jenni Croft, both of whom were eliminated in week 8. 

The 5th season of The Bachelor followed 25-year-old Jesse Palmer, a college football player. The season began with 25 contestants, including a variety of occupations, from a student to a professional soccer player. Palmer's final choice was Jessica Bowlin, but instead of proposing, they chose to continue dating, and broke up several weeks later. One of the dramatic moments of the season included a "spy" amongst the bachelorettes, who was later revealed, shaking up relationship dynamics. Despite the show typically being geared towards finding a fiancé, this season did not end in an engagement. Jesse is now the host of the franchise.

Season 23 of The Bachelor starred 26-year-old Colton Underwood, a former NFL player. After facing rejection from Becca Kufrin on the 14th season of The Bachelorette, Underwood set out on his own journey for love. Over the course of the season, he met and dated 30 contestants from various walks of life and professional backgrounds. Ultimately, Underwood broke up with the two finalists, and chose to pursue a relationship with Cassie Randolph, a speech pathologist from Huntington Beach, California who had broken up with him the week prior. He didn't propose to Randolph, but they chose to continue their relationship off-camera. Colton and Cassie broke up in May 2020, and in September 2020, Cassie filed a restraining order against Colton, alleging that he put a tracking device on her car, and had been following her. The restraining order was dropped after the pair resolved the issue privately, and Colton came out as gay on April 14, 2021. Colton married Jordan C. Brown in 2023.

The 27th season of The Bachelor featured 26-year-old tech executive Zach Shallcross, who was previously seen on Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey's season of The Bachelorette. Zach dated 30 women, including memorable contestants like Christina Mandrell, niece of country music star Barbara Mandrell, and Miss South Carolina 2018, Davia Bunch. After taking the participants to various locations, such as The Bahamas, London, and Tallinn, he made the final decision in Krabi, Thailand. In the end, Zach proposed to Kaitlyn Biggar, a travel nurse from Ontario, and the couple are still engaged as of 2023.

The 4th season of The Bachelor followed 32-year-old Bob Guiney, a mortgage company creator. Bob, who was previously rejected by Trista Rehn in the first season of The Bachelorette, ultimately chose Estella Gardinier. However, instead of a marriage proposal, he offered her a promise ring, as an indication of their continued dating. Drama ensued as the couple broke up shortly after the show aired, and Bob subsequently married soap opera star Rebecca Budig in 2004, only to separate five years later. Today, Bob is married to Jessica Canyon, with whom he has a son.

The 15th season of The Bachelor, which premiered on January 3, 2011, featured 38-year-old bar owner Brad Womack. This was Womack's second appearance on the show, because he had previously starred in season 11, after which he became known as "the most hated bachelor." This season had a larger than usual number of contestants: 30 instead of the typical 25. Womack eventually chose to propose to Emily Maynard, which she accepted. They initially broke up before the finale even aired, but then reunited in time for the last episode. However, they did go on to break up again in June 2011.

The Bachelor's 8th season, also known as The Bachelor: Paris, premiered on January 9, 2006, with medical doctor Travis Lane Stork as the star. This incredibly dramatic season featured two eliminated bachelorettes seeking revenge on the remaining women, and returning to pick Travis's dates in week 4. Travis faced more challenges when he visited the final four women's hometowns, and their families put him under scrutiny. In a surprising twist, he ultimately chose Sarah Stone, but did not propose. They started a relationship instead, which ended shortly after the show aired. Jealousy took center stage during the aftershow, The Women Tell All, when Travis had to address the eliminated contestants.

The 16th season of The Bachelor, which aired in 2012, featured Ben Flajnik, a 29-year-old winemaker who had been rejected in the 7th season of The Bachelorette. During this season, the bachelorettes traveled to various locations, including Flajnik's hometown of Sonoma, California, San Francisco, Park City, Utah, Panama City, Belize, and Switzerland. Flajnik chose to propose to Courtney Robertson, a model from Scottsdale, Arizona. However, they ended their engagement a few months after the show.

The 26th season of The Bachelor featured 28-year-old Clayton Echard, a medical sales representative. He previously appeared on season 18, Michelle Young's season of The Bachelorette. Clayton, via a tough process involving many dates, ultimately chose Susie Evans, though the decision didn't lead to an immediate proposal. The couple did begin dating again in December 2021, following the show's end, but they eventually parted ways in September 2022, as per their interview with Kaitlyn Bristowe on her podcast, Off the Vine.

The Bachelor's third season, which premiered on March 24, 2003, featured Andrew Firestone, a 28-year-old sales manager of Firestone Family estates. The season started with 25 contestants, ultimately ending with Andrew proposing to Jennifer Schefft. Despite the hopeful conclusion, the couple ended their relationship several months later. Jennifer Schefft later became the star of the third season of The Bachelorette, while Andrew Firestone went on to marry actress Ivana Bozilovic.

The 18th season of The Bachelor featured 32-year-old Juan Pablo Galavis, a former Venezuelan professional soccer player. There were 27 contestants at the start of the season, and Galavis chose Nikki Ferrell as the winner. He did not propose to her, but they decided to continue their relationship, which ended in October 2014. He became the first Hispanic bachelor, and traveled throughout the season to Utah, South Korea, Vietnam, New Zealand, Florida, and Saint Lucia.

The Bachelor's 10th season, also known as The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman, debuted on April 2, 2007, featuring Andy Baldwin, a 30-year-old US Navy Officer, physician, and sportsman from Pennsylvania. This season marked the first time the "First Impression Rose" was given on the first night, a tradition that became a key element in the show's format. Andy ultimately proposed to Tessa Horst, a social worker from San Francisco. Despite their engagement, the couple announced their split just a few months after the show's finale. One memorable moment was when one of the contestants was injured during a physical Bachelor boot camp, requiring personal medical attention from Andy.

In a first-time twist, two bachelors were introduced in the first episode, with the female contestants voting for the one they wanted to pursue. This resulted in 39-year-old professional bass fisherman, Byron Velvick, winning the vote. Byron ultimately ended up proposing to Mary Delgado. Memorable moments include Byron introducing two former "Bachelor" contestants to shake things up, and the contestants having to deal with the tension of back-stabbing events at the Ladies Villa. Off-screen drama included Delgado reportedly punching Velvick in the face, before their breakup, five years after the show.

The 9th season of The Bachelor, also known as The Bachelor: Rome, featured the first non-North American bachelor, Italian-American cosmetics entrepreneur, Lorenzo Borghese. In the end, Lorenzo chose Jennifer Wilson, but notably did not propose. Despite their initial connection, Lorenzo and Jennifer ended their relationship in January 2007, after which Lorenzo began dating the runner-up, Sadie Murray. Contestant Erica Rose returned to compete in future seasons of the Bachelor Pad.

The 19th season of The Bachelor, which premiered on January 5, 2015, featured Chris Soules, a farmer from Arlington, Iowa. Over the course of the season, Soules went on dates in various locales - including San Francisco, Santa Fe, Deadwood, Des Moines, and Bali - with the 30 contestants vying for his affection. Whitney Bischoff, a 29-year-old fertility nurse from Louisville, Kentucky, won the season, and Soules proposed to her. However, the couple ended their relationship shortly after their six-month anniversary.

The 22nd season of The Bachelor featured Arie Luyendyk Jr., a race car driver, as the show's bachelor. He was previously rejected by Emily Maynard on the 8th season of The Bachelorette. This season started with 29 contestants, and over time, saw Arie Luyendyk Jr. chose Becca Kufrin as the recipient of his proposal. Throughout the season, the couples traveled to various locations including Lake Tahoe, Fort Lauderdale, Paris, Tuscany, and Peru. He later ended his relationship with Becca, due to lingering feelings for contestant Lauren Burnham, to whom he proposed during the After the Final Rose show. Arie and Lauren got married in 2019, and share three children.

The Bachelor season 7 premiered on March 28, 2005, featuring Charlie O'Connell, a 30-year-old actor, as the bachelor. Over the course of the season, O'Connell went on a variety of both individual and group dates, including bringing the final two women home to meet his parents. The dramatic end of the show featured O'Connell choosing Sarah Brice as the winner, but in a twist, he did not propose to her. They instead began a relationship, which ended up being quite tumultuous. They broke up in 2007, reunited in 2008, and then split again in 2010. O'Connell later married model and actress Anna Sophia Berglund in 2018.

The 12th season of The Bachelor, nicknamed The Bachelor: London Calling, featured 27-year-old British bachelor, Matt Grant. He was the first British bachelor on the show, and dated 25 women from the United States. The season began on March 17, 2008, and ended with Matt proposing to Shayne Lamas. However, Matt and Shayne later broke up due to their lives heading in different directions. Shayne Lamas married Nik Richie later, and they have two children together.

The 25th season of The Bachelor featured Matt James, a 28-year-old real estate broker and entrepreneur, and the first Black bachelor. Having originally been slated to appear on The Bachelorette's 16th season, he instead took on the role of the bachelor. Over the course of the season, Matt dated various women, but ultimately chose to pursue a relationship with Rachael Kirkconnell. The couple temporarily split due to a scandal involving Kirkconnell's past photos that were seen as racist, but they later reconciled, and are still together.