When you hear the name Jeff Probst, you probably picture the fearless host of Survivor, standing in the rain, tossing out immunity idols, and telling contestants to “drop their buffs.” But what you might not immediately connect him with is family life. Surprisingly, Probst isn’t just the master of tribal councils; he’s also a dedicated stepfather to two children, Ava and Michael, who entered his life when he married Lisa Ann Russell. The story of Jeff’s relationship with them is not flashy, loud, or tabloid-fueled. Instead, it’s pretty real and, honestly, kind of sweet.
So here’s the rundown. Jeff Probst married Lisa Ann Russell back in December 2011. Lisa, before tying the knot with Jeff, was previously married to Mark-Paul Gosselaar—you know, Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell. From that marriage, Lisa had two kids: a son named Michael (born in 2004) and a daughter named Ava (2006).
Now, when Jeff stepped into their lives, he didn’t just play the “fun stepdad” role from afar. He genuinely became a parental figure, which, according to him, wasn’t something he took lightly. He’s been super open about how he didn’t try to “replace” their dad, Mark-Paul, but instead wanted to be a strong presence, offering them what he called “a third parent.” Not every family does it like that, and Jeff has been refreshingly honest about the fact that it works for them.
Jeff Probst Shares Two Children With His Wife, Lisa Ann Russell: Michael and Ava
In interviews over the years, Jeff—who wed twice—has described his setup with the youngsters as being about balance and, most importantly, respect. Mark-Paul is still very much involved in their lives, and Jeff fully supports that. Jeff once explained, “They have a dad, who is a great dad,” and emphasized that he wasn’t trying to take that role away. Instead, he stepped into his own lane, forming his own unique connection with Ava and Michael.
What’s cool is that Jeff didn’t walk into their lives when they were toddlers; they were older and fully aware of the dynamics around them. That makes the relationship even more impressive because winning over teenagers isn’t exactly a cakewalk.
Ava and Michael didn’t just magically accept him overnight. It took time, patience, and lots of small moments to build trust. Jeff admitted that he was nervous at first about how it would all work out. I mean, think about it—the guy is used to handling fire-making challenges and reality show drama, but family blending is a whole different game. Yet, he’s pulled it off. Over the years, Jeff has talked about how their family spends time together doing simple things—hanging out at home, watching movies, having dinners—things that may seem ordinary but, in reality, are the glue of any solid family unit.
And let’s not skip over the fact that Jeff Probst is pretty much a kid at heart. He’s always had this adventurous, youthful energy, whether he’s on location in some remote corner of the world for Survivor or goofing around at home. He’s mentioned how that quality actually helped him connect with Ava and Michael, who, at the time he married Lisa, were still young enough to appreciate that kind of fun but old enough to notice when an adult genuinely cared.
Interestingly, Jeff has never had biological children of his own, but he’s made it clear that doesn’t make his bond with Ava and Michael any less real. In fact, he has flat-out said that he sees them as his own. He once shared that he doesn’t refer to them as his stepson or stepdaughter unless the conversation specifically calls for clarification. In daily life, they’re just “my kids,” he says, and that really tells you everything you need to know about where his heart is on this.
What adds another layer to this whole dynamic is how smooth the co-parenting has been between Jeff, Lisa, and Mark-Paul. It’s not every day you hear about such a seamless arrangement. Probst himself has spoken about how important it was that there was never any drama, and he credits that to Lisa and Mark-Paul’s ability to maintain a strong co-parenting relationship even after their divorce. Jeff just stepped in to complement that, and by all accounts, it seems to be working beautifully.
So yeah, he might be the ultimate Survivor host, but when it comes to family, he’s playing a totally different game—and winning. Jeff may not have gone through sleepless nights with newborns or changed diapers, but he’s shown up for the important stuff: building trust, offering love, and simply being there. And honestly? That’s worth a million-dollar prize right there.
