A few names in television, such as Jeff Probst, are associated with adventure and excitement. The Survivor host has been in the show business for almost four decades and has become a household name by hosting several successful entertainment and reality TV shows.
But what is Jeff Probst’s net worth? How much does he make? This article will answer your questions.
Who is Jeff Probst?
Jeff Probst was born to a middle-class family in Kansas on November 4, 1961. His family moved to Washington when he was in high school, and after graduation, he studied at the Seattle Pacific University.
He doesn’t share information about his parents or siblings but reported that he worked at Boeing Motion Picture/Television studio, where he narrated marketing videos. It was his first job after graduation.
What is Jeff Probst’s Net Worth?
Jeff Probst has a net worth of $50 million, while some reports mentioned his net worth is up to $76 million. He gained his money from working as a reality TV host and producer.
His wealth increased from $34 million in 2018 to $37 million in 2019. He made more money in the following years, and his net worth increased to $50 million in 2021.
Sources mentioned that he receives an average salary of $300,000 per episode of Survivor, which he has been hosting since 2000. However, Probst also appears on TV series as a guest actor and other shows as a host or guest star. The American showbiz star’s annual salary is about $5 million.
Income Sources
Thanks to his fame and popularity, many brands are willing to collaborate with the American TV host, offering him paid promotions, collaborations, and sponsorships. He does pay ads and gains money from affiliate marketing, adding to his wealth.
Jeff Probst won multiple Emmy Awards for Survivor, and his charismatic hosting style made him more successful, encouraging the show’s producer to offer him a higher salary every season. He’s also Survivor’s producer, and this allows him to increase his earning potential.
He even hosted the Jeff Probst Show for a single season but probably decided to quit to focus on Survivor. Over the years, he worked as an actor, voice actor, producer, and narrator in various shows and programs, and these represented an additional income source.
In addition to hosting TV shows, Jeff Probst ventured into writing and film directing after succeeding as a TV personality. He wrote several books like Stranded, Forbidden Passage, and The Sabotage based on his popular show. These creative endeavors added to his income.
Vehicles
Jeff Probst is known for his love for luxury cars and owns a collection valued at $5 million, coming a long way from the 1966 Ford Mustang, which he got as his first vehicle. But the first car he bought with his own money was a 1980s Mazda RX-7, and he liked it so much that he kept it for years.
But nowadays, Probst owns a collection of state-of-the-art vehicles, including a Porsche Macan, Range Rover, Ferrari, and a Lamborghini. These vehicles show off his status as a success symbol in showbiz and can also be considered a wise investment.
Real Estate and Properties
The TV star bought a Monterey Colonial home from the estate of the late actor Gene Autry for $5 million. It’s located in the Studio City celebrity-exclusive neighborhood in Los Angeles and has five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a library, and a swimming pool. Probst got it for a 28% discount off the market price of $7 million. This house is currently valued at $10 million.
His house’s lush entrance shines elegance and warmth, while the expansive windows show fine craftsmanship. The vintage walnut paneling, the built-in living room bar, and the dining room’s ambient lighting set the stage for intimate family gatherings.
Many interior decoration enthusiasts admire the all-white kitchen equipped with the latest appliances. Moreover, you’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast on the generous island overlooking the stunning outdoor space.
Residents enjoy elegant walk-in closets, and each bedroom has a unique style, reflecting the owner’s taste. The library houses personal memorabilia showcasing Probst’s career milestones.
Investments
Jeff Probst has a stock portfolio of $21 million, as he invests in several technology companies and restaurants. He also owns an expansive collection of luxury watches that cost a fortune.
His investments also include gold reserves, an intelligent choice that would maintain the value of money. The value of his total investments is reported to be $40 million.
Some sources reported that he owns a luxurious yacht and probably spends time boating when he’s not filming his famous show. Jeff Probst is known for his love for the finer things in life, but he’s a bit discreet about his financial situation.
What Does Jeff Probst Do?
In the ’90s, Jeff Probst worked at a marketing agency but wanted to work in the show business. He was chosen to host FX’s Backchat, an original half-hour show where he would respond to viewers’ messages and letters. It showed the producers that he was talented and had more to offer.
This show was successful, and Probst usually had two readers with him, helping him interact with viewers. However, after a while, people stopped sending letters, and Jeff and his colleagues had to make up some messages.
It ran from 1995 to 2007, and then the network dropped it. Probst commented that viewers couldn’t tell that some of the messages were made up.
During this period, he was hired to host Sound FX, a music series, and Rock & Roll Jeopardy! He wanted to try doing something else, so he wrote and directed Finder’s Fee, an American drama thriller.
The 2001 movie achieved moderate commercial success but won the Golden Space Needle for best picture. Probst also won an award for the best screenplay. Becoming a celebrity, he appeared several times as a guest star on MADtv, a sketch show.
Hosting Survivor
In 2000, CBS broadcast an American version of the international Survivor reality competition. Jeff Probst was hired as the show’s executive producer with Mark Burnett and Charlie Parsons. He was also the show’s host, where he would guide a group of strangers left in an isolated location to survive and provide for themselves.
Probst worked hard to meet with Burnett, the show’s creator, because he believed it would succeed. The show’s first 11 seasons were among the top ten most-watched shows.
Survivor is a pioneer in its genre, as it was the first American reality TV to be that profitable. Since it started airing, the show has been nominated for 63 Emmy Awards and four times for the Outstanding Reality-Competition Program Award, when this category was introduced in 2003.
Time Magazine named Survivor one of the 100 greatest TV shows ever in 2007. As of 2024, the show has 662 episodes recorded at multiple locations across the globe. Jeff Probst won the Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program Award four times in a row after introducing this category in 2008.
“The tribe has spoken. It’s time for you to go,” is Jeff Probst’s catchphrase, which he delivers to losing contestants. It was chosen as one of the best 100 TV quotes and catchphrases in 2006.
Other Projects
In addition to Survivor, Jeff Probst worked on multiple projects. One of them was Live for the Moment, a show that features people with terminal illnesses, taking them for the last adventure in their lives. Nevertheless, after the pilot aired, CBS decided to cancel the show.
Probst appeared as himself in How I Met Your Mother, a sitcom, and I Get That a Lot, a reality TV show where celebrities are given ordinary jobs. Cameras capture the customer’s reactions as they interact with them.
In 2014, he directed his second movie, Kiss Me, a romantic film about two teenage girls who become friends. The producers took two years to finish the movie, and it achieved modest commercial success. Probst later appeared in two episodes of Two and a Half Men and one episode of Life in Pieces.
Who is Jeff Probst Dating?
Jeff Probst married psychotherapist Shelley Wright in 1996. They stayed together till 2001, but then the couple started having issues. They decided to break up and got a divorce in 2001.
During the ninth season of Survivor in 2004, Survivor: Vanuatu – Land of Fire, Jeff Probst met Julie Berry, one of the contestants. She was only 24 at the show’s time, almost 20 years younger than Probst. Although she was voted out of the show, the two continued dating for four years until they broke up in 2008.
Meeting His Current Wife
Probst owes Mark Burnett more than his career success because he’s the reason he met the right woman. After staying single for a few years, he met Lisa Ann Russell as a guest at his friend’s Christmas dinner party.
She briefly worked as a model and tried her luck in acting, but things didn’t work out for her. The two gathered and publicly appeared for the first time at the 2010 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Both realized that they found the right person, and Probst proposed. The couple finally tied the knot on December 5, 2011.
They decided to have a cozy wedding in Probst’s backyard, away from the press. Only their friends and family members were invited.
Through his marriage, he became the stepfather to Russell’s two children. Russell’s ex-husband, actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar, shares the custody of their children, and after his marriage in 2012, the boy and the girl started spending more time at his place.
Marriage Life
Probst spoke about his marriage in an interview, saying he felt blessed because he married the right person. After struggling in the dating world, he knew he met his soulmate when he got with Russel.
He also explained that his two stepchildren consider that they have four parents. Now that the oldest is 20 years old and the youngest is 18, Probst spends most of his time enjoying his time with his long-time partner. Both kids have been calling him dad since he married their mom, and Jeff is proud that they feel this way about him.
Jeff Probst is often seen taking a stroll with his wife when he’s not working today. He also goes on yacht cruises where they stay away from the press. They usually spend their vacations in Hawaii, alone or with their kids.
Although Russell doesn’t work, she acted as a talent coordinator on The Jeff Probst Show. Her job was coordinating with celebrity guest stars who would appear on the show. She also appeared as a co-host in one of the episodes.
When Survivor: Blood vs. Water aired, where married couples competed against each other, Probst and his wife were asked if they ever thought about competing against each other. Russell mentioned that she would always have her husband’s back if he got voted out.
Wrap Up
Jeff Probst is a TV personality, director, and writer mainly known for hosting Survivor. As a reality TV host, Probst became a pioneer in the showbiz, setting the path for multiple shows that would air in the following years.
The show has been airing since 2000, adding to Probst’s wealth. His current net worth is between $50 million and $76 million. He also owns several luxury vehicles and a $10 million property in Los Angeles. In addition to his salary, he invests in the stock market and buys gold to save his cash.
Apart from being a TV host, Probst appeared as a guest star in several TV shows and series. He even directed two movies, which added to his fortune.