Jeff Probst met former model and actress Lisa Ann Russell at a party hosted by Survivor producer and creator Mark Burnett. Probst once shared that sparks flew the moment he met her and they soon started dating. They got married in a private ceremony in 2011. While he loves his wife, Probst once shared that he would vote out his wife to win Survivor.
Probst is currently hosting the 47th season of his competitive reality show. It was filmed from May to June of this year and will air its final episode on December 18. Probst has been the host of Survivor since its inception in 2000 and won four Primetime Emmy Awards for the series.
Jeff Probst Would Choose Survivor Over His Wife Lisa Ann Russell
Jeff Probst and his wife Lisa Ann Russell shared a love for reality television. Russell has yet to appear on Survivor alongside her husband. However, Probst once talked about what he would do if they were to appear together on Survivor: Blood vs. Water, the 2013 edition that featured married couples.
Probst shared with Entertainment Weekly that he and Russell would go through every scenario and come to an agreement. He shared that he or his wife would try to sway the jury depending on who it would be. He told EW (via People):
We would both be assessing every scenario and we would, I think, probably come to an agreement that either given the jury you will be better at swaying them, or I will be.
When asked if he would vote out his wife, Probst shared that it depended on the situation but he would absolutely do it if it meant he could win the show. He shared that they would have a code system among them, where one meant ‘everything is good’ and five meant ‘I’m in trouble.’
Probst shared that if Russell held up one, he would do everything possible to keep her in the game. However, if she held up a four or five, he would gut her and use it to his advantage. Despite his winning mindset, he also added that he would go crazy if someone messed with his wife in the show. Probst shared (via @allwinnerssurvivor/IG):
Absolutely. Lisa and I would have a simple code. Whenever we’d see each other, we’d hold up our fingers. One finger would mean, ‘I love this. Everything’s going great.’ Five fingers would mean ‘I’m in trouble and I’m ready to go.’
If she held up one, I’d do what I could to keep her in the game. If she gave me four or five, I’d gut her – and then I’d use that move to my advantage. Of course, I say that now, but if I saw someone messing with my wife, I’d go crazy.
It appears that Russell’s love for reality shows would make her a healthy competitor and Probst’s choice wouldn’t offend her. On the other hand, Russell would also probably take advantage if the situation forced her to do so.
Jeff Probst Says He Has A Great Family Unit With Lisa Ann Russell
During a chat with Larry King, Survivor host Jeff Probst opened up about meeting his wife Lisa Ann Russell. He shared that he met Russell at the “crazy” Christmas party hosted by Mark Burnett, which also featured guests like Barbra Streisand and Paris Hilton. They immediately connected and made their first appearance together at the 62nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in 2010. They tied the knot in 2011.
Russell started her career as a model for Revlon before pursuing her acting career. She appeared in the sitcom, Saved by the Bell: The College Years, in a minor role and met Mark-Paul Gosselaar on set, whom she married later. She has two kids with Gosselaar, Michael and Ava.
Probst shared that he and Gosselaar’s second wife, Catriona McGinn, were “two more parents” to these kids. He shared about his personal life with Russell:
I always thought I would have this family and this great family unit, because that’s what I came from. And then, one day, I met this woman, and it happened. And she had two kids.
Probst later shared his experience being quarantined with Russell and her kids when he appeared on the Review Revue podcast. He shared that his two-day stay with the kids turned into three and a half months. He shared, “It was probably the best three and a half months of my last 20 years.”
Survivor Season 47 is currently airing on CBS. The show is also available for streaming on Hulu.
