Jeff Probst, the face of Survivor since its debut in 2000, has had quite the journey when it comes to love and marriage. While audiences know him for snuffing out torches and throwing out catchphrases like “The tribe has spoken,” his personal life has been just as eventful.
He’s walked down the aisle twice and even had a high-profile relationship in between, proving that even the host of one of the toughest reality competitions isn’t immune to the complexities of love and relationships.
Who Was Jeff Probst’s First Wife?
His first marriage was to Shelly Wright, a psychotherapist, long before Survivor turned him into a household name. The two tied the knot in 1996, back when Probst was still grinding through the entertainment industry, hosting lesser-known shows like Rock & Roll Jeopardy!
Their marriage lasted five years before ending in divorce in 2001, around the same time Survivor was skyrocketing in popularity. There wasn’t much public drama about their split, and the reasons remain largely private, but it’s clear that his career was in a major transition at the time.
After his divorce, Probst found himself in a relationship with none other than Julie Berry, a contestant from Survivor: Vanuatu in 2004. Their romance wasn’t just some fleeting reality TV fling—it was a serious relationship that lasted four years. The story goes that after the season wrapped, Probst reached out to Berry via email, and the two quickly hit it off. They became an item after the show aired, but Probst always maintained professional boundaries while she was a contestant.
The relationship ended without much noise in 2008, and while neither of them spoke much about the breakup, Probst later admitted that it was tough and that Berry was a great person.
Jeff Probst’s Second Marriage to Lisa Ann Russell
Then came the love story that stuck. In December 2011, Probst exchanged vows with Lisa Ann Russell, a former model and actress known for roles in ‘90s favorites like Saved by the Bell: The College Years. Lisa was previously married to actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar, the Saved by the Bell heartthrob, for 14 years before their divorce in 2010.
When she and Probst got together, it was a blending of families rather than just a union of two people. Lisa already had two children, Michael and Ava, from her previous marriage, and Probst stepped into the role of stepfather seamlessly. In interviews, he’s spoken openly about how much he loves being part of their lives, even referring to them as “his kids” despite never officially adopting them.
Their wedding was a small, intimate affair, held at a private home in Los Angeles, attended by close friends and family. Unlike some Hollywood marriages that play out in the tabloids, Probst and Lisa have kept their relationship low-key. He rarely posts about their personal life, and they tend to stay away from the spotlight outside of his Survivor duties. But by all accounts, they’ve built a strong partnership over the years.
Even though Probst’s life revolves around orchestrating blindsides and million-dollar challenges, his approach to marriage seems much more straightforward: love, commitment, and family. He’s spoken about how much he values his relationship with Lisa and how they navigate the entertainment world together. They’ve now been married for over a decade, which in Hollywood years is basically an eternity.
So, while Jeff Probst might be best known for surviving the jungle and orchestrating tribal councils, his real-life love story has had its fair share of twists, turns, and happily-ever-afters. From a first marriage that ended before his reality TV fame to a whirlwind romance with a Survivor contestant and finally finding lasting love with Lisa Ann Russell, Probst’s journey proves that sometimes, the best alliances are the ones built to last.
