Jeff Probst has become a household name over the last two decades as the iconic host of Survivor, but offscreen, he’s just as committed to another role—being a devoted husband and stepfather. His wife, Lisa Ann Russell, may not share the same level of public fame, but she plays a major role in Probst’s life and family. Married since 2011, the couple has built a quiet, close-knit life in Los Angeles, blending parenting, personal projects, and a love of downtime together.
Lisa Ann Russell: From Modeling to Family Life
Lisa Ann Russell was born in 1969 and is currently 55 years old in 2024. Before meeting Jeff Probst, she had a career in the entertainment world. She began modeling for Revlon while in college, which eventually led to acting opportunities. In 1993, she appeared in Saved by the Bell: The College Years, where she met her first husband, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, known for his role as Zack Morris.
Russell and Gosselaar married in 1996 and had two children together—Michael, born in 2004, and Ava, born in 2006. Their marriage lasted nearly 14 years before they announced their separation in 2010. Despite the split, the former couple has continued to co-parent their children with a strong sense of mutual respect and cooperation.
Meeting Jeff Probst: A Holiday Connection
Lisa and Jeff first crossed paths at a Christmas party hosted by Survivor creator Mark Burnett. Probst later recalled the gathering as a wild mix of celebrities and eccentric guests, with names like Barbra Streisand, Paris Hilton, Gary Busey, and David Foster in attendance. Amid the chaos, Jeff noticed Lisa, who was standing nearby with friends, and the two hit it off.
The couple began dating soon after and made their first public appearance together in August 2010 at the 62nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. They married a little over a year later, on December 5, 2011, in an intimate backyard ceremony at Probst’s Los Angeles home.
Blending a Family
When Jeff Probst married Lisa, he also stepped into the role of stepfather to her two children, Michael and Ava. In a 2012 interview with Larry King, Probst expressed just how deeply he values his family.
“One day, I met this woman, and it happened. And she had two kids,” he said. “They just see us as two more parents.”
According to Probst, the transition into a blended family was natural and full of love. Michael and Ava even began calling him “Dad,” a term of endearment that began on their wedding day and has stuck ever since. Before that, they jokingly experimented with nicknames like “Jeff Dad 2” or “D2.”
Probst has also spoken positively about Lisa’s ex-husband, saying that both couples worked hard to ensure the kids feel supported and loved by all four parents, including Mark-Paul Gosselaar and his second wife, Catriona McGinn.
A Quiet Life in Los Angeles
Following their wedding, Lisa and Jeff Probst settled into a stunning 8,000-square-foot Monterey-style home in Los Angeles, once owned by the estate of legendary entertainer Gene Autry. Purchased in 2011 for $5 million, the five-bedroom, seven-bath residence sits on nearly four acres of land. Probst credits his long-running gig on Survivor for the purchase, saying, “This is most definitely the house Survivor built.”
Their home briefly became a set during the pandemic when Probst hosted the Survivor: Winners at War finale from his garage. The behind-the-scenes moments, shared on social media, gave fans a rare look at the private life the couple shares.
In early 2020, when the COVID-19 lockdown began, Probst and his family were vacationing in Hawaii for spring break. As filming plans were postponed, they extended their stay—what started as a few extra days turned into three and a half months of family bonding. “It was probably the best three and a half months of my last 20 years,” Probst later said on the Review Revue podcast.
Russell’s Continued Influence and Career Involvement
Though Lisa stepped back from her acting career, she remains involved in creative projects with her husband. She worked as a talent coordinator on The Jeff Probst Show, his short-lived daytime talk show that aired from 2012 to 2013, and even appeared as a co-host on an episode. She once shared an anecdote about taking a pole-dancing lesson for a friend’s birthday—complete with a light-hearted demonstration on-air.
Russell has since focused primarily on family life but is often Probst’s collaborator behind the scenes. Her presence at red carpet events and Hollywood charity galas is typically quiet yet elegant—always supportive, never seeking the spotlight.
Jeff Probst’s Net Worth and Career Longevity
As of 2024, Jeff Probst is 62 years old and has hosted Survivor since its debut in 2000, anchoring over 45 seasons of the iconic CBS reality show. His net worth is estimated at $50 million, accumulated through decades of hosting, producing, and creating content across various platforms.
Probst is also a multiple Emmy Award winner and has dabbled in writing and film directing. But despite all the accolades, he often credits his family life with Lisa as the most fulfilling part of his journey.