Appearance on 'Survivor'
Russell Hantz had originally applied to compete on CBS' short lived 2007 reality television show 'Pirate Master', but did not make it. Two years later, he was called by casting to appear as a contestant on 'Survivor: Samoa', the 19th season of the competitive reality TV show 'Survivor'.
He readily agreed to the proposition because he liked "the strategies, all the blindsides, the wittiness, the backstabbing" involved in the show, and was assigned to the Foa Foa tribe. He stated in the promo that he controls every aspect of his life and added that people can call him 'the puppetmaster'.
He immediately adopted "a rough strategy" that involved playing the game through lies and deceit to weaken the other contestants psychologically in order to manipulate them. He located two Hidden Immunity Idols without any clues but wasted his first idol, as no votes were cast against him, before successfully cancelling all seven Galu tribe votes against him.
While he was able to defeat tribe leader Mick Trimming, fellow tribe mate and his close ally Natalie White was given the 'Sole Survivor' title by the jury, presumably because of negative attitude towards him. His attempt to buy the title from White during the reunion failed as well, but he won the 'Sprint Player of the Season' award, including a cash prize of $100,000.
He got a last-minute invite to participate in the next season of the show, 'Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains', as a replacement for Shane Powers from 12th season, 'Survivor: Panama'. He was placed in the Villains tribe and developed a rivalry with de facto team leader 'Boston Rob' Mariano who saw him find a note leading to a Hidden Immunity Idol.
He teamed up with Danielle DiLorenzo and Parvati Shallow and foiled an attempt by Mariano to get rid of his idol by tricking Tyson Apostol to vote out Shallow, whom he gave the idol. Still outnumbered 5-3 by Mariano's alliance, he successfully convinced Jerri Manthey to switch sides and caused Mariano's elimination, while the Heroes tribe wrongly believed that Shallow was leading the opposing tribe.
After the two tribes merged, Heroes members gave him an Idol to test his true loyalties, which was revealed after he gave it to Shallow, whom the Heroes pretended to vote out. He later found another Idol following a clue discovered by DiLorenzo and wasted it at Tribal Council before orchestrating DiLorenzo's elimination to break up her alliance with Shallow.
He narrowly defeated Shallow and Manthey in the Final Immunity Challenge and secured his spot at the Final Tribal Council, where he was heavily criticized by the jury, mostly from the Heroes, for his betrayals. He lost the 'Sole Survivor' title to Sandra Diaz-Twine, but was again given the 'Sprint Player of the Season' award, along with additional $100,000.
In February 2011, he returned for the 22nd season of the show, 'Survivor: Redemption Island', for a face-off with old rival Rob Mariano, and joined the Zapatera tribe. He claimed that he would be playing differently than previous seasons but most of the other members, suspicious of him, voted him out at the next Tribal Council.
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He was sent to Redemption Island, where he lost the duel to Matt Elrod and was eliminated, following which he threatened legal action against tribemates for forfeiting the immunity challenge. He also claimed not to participate in another season of 'Survivor', but later indicated a change of mind at the reunion show.
In 2018, he competed internationally in the fifth season of 'Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders' as a member of the Champions tribe and was immediately perceived as a threat by most contestants. He soon found an idol and caused panic to divide the tribe by announcing his possession of the idol after the Champions lost the following Immunity Challenge.
He chose not to use the idol at the next Tribal Council, where Moana Hope gathered enough votes against him to force a 4-4-2-2 tie, with he and Jackie Glazier up for revote. He was eliminated by 9-1 in the revote, with only Damien Thomlinson staying loyal to him.
Career outside 'Survivor'
Russell Hantz made a special appearance on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' along with ten other contestants from 'Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains' on February 10, 2010, and presented the show's Top Ten List. He and Rob Mariano appeared together on the cover of the 'TV Guide Magazine' for a story titled 'Survivor Smackdown!' for the issue dated February 14, 2011.
Starting in April 2012, he and his older brother Shawn appeared on A&E's reality documentary 'Flipped Off', in which they teamed up with a local real estate agent to flip houses in the Houston area. Since May 2017, he has been hosting the podcast, 'The Russell Hantz Show', in which he "breaks down the world of reality TV, politics & the news".
He currently lives in Dayton, Texas, where he, his father and his brothers own the oil outfit 'Hantz Tankering Service'. He also owns a bar named 'Bootleggers' in Lafayette in his home state of Louisiana.
Family & Personal Life
During his appearance on 'Survivor', Russell Hantz was married to Melanie, with whom he has four children. He later revealed to 'Who' that he could not escape his persona from the show even at home, which led to his divorce in 2014, but added that he was in good terms with his ex-wife.
He was arrested for battery on April 23, 2010, after he allegedly shoved a woman during an altercation with her while partying near his bar in Lafayette. He was later released without bail, but was given a misdemeanor summons.
Facts About Russell Hantz
Outside of Survivor, Russell is a successful oil company owner and has built a lucrative career in the oil industry.
Russell is known for his strategic gameplay and ability to manipulate his fellow castaways, earning him the reputation as one of the most cunning players in Survivor history.
Despite his aggressive gameplay on the show, Russell has a softer side and is a devoted family man, often speaking fondly of his children and wife in interviews.
Russell's impact on Survivor has been significant, as his gameplay style has influenced future seasons and players, shaping the way the game is played today.
