Most people recognize Jeff Probst more by his face than his name. After all, the reality TV show personality has been hosting 'Survivor' for more than twenty years and forty seasons (even though he lied to get the gig).
But few people would recognize either the face or name of Jeff's wife, Lisa Ann Russell. A commonly searched question is is Jeff Probst married? It turns out, he is!
Who is Lisa Ann Russell, and what does she do for a living while Jeff is busy working on location for 'Survivor'?
Who Is Lisa Ann Russell?
Lisa Russell is actually Jeff Probst's second wife. Previously, Jeff was married to Shelley Wright, from 1996 to 2001. But it would be a full decade before Jeff would marry again.
Some fans might recall that after separating from Wright, Jeff then dated a 'Survivor: Vanuatu' contestant.
Jeff Probst and Julie Berry dated for only four years before calling it quits. But where was Lisa during that time, and how did she and Jeff meet?
Jeff Probst Is Lisa Ann's Second Husband
Like Jeff, Lisa was previously married, to 'Saved by the Bell' actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar. In fact, she was married to Gosselaar until 2011, the same year that she married Jeff. She and Mark-Paul actually met on the set of 'Saved by the Bell: The College Years.' Lisa shares two kids with her ex, too.
But does Jeff Probst have kids? It turns out he doesn't, though he and Lisa note that her children are essentially considered Jeff's too.
The kids are teens now, and Jeff apparently has a close relationship with Michael and Ava; Probst has said that the kids call him dad. Jeff admitted that he often forgets they're his "stepkids," and that he "always [has] to remember" that they have a dad.
Apparently, the kids are close with their dad's second wife, Catriona McGinn, too.
Lisa told Jeff they could have a baby together, but she let him know that time was of the essence, given that she was almost 40 when they wed (Jeff was 50!). The couple opted not to grow their family, and the rest is history.
As for Lisa, who is now 49, she clearly has a full life outside of her husband's fame and very visible career. In fact, Russell herself is also in the entertainment industry.
Though Lisa met her ex-husband on the set of a sitcom he appeared in, she was on set as a guest star. Around the same time, Russell also appeared in advertisements as a model for Revlon.
Beyond that, Lisa has also appeared in a few films and served as a talent coordinator for her husband's show, 'The Jeff Probst Show.'
How Did Lisa Ann Russell And Jeff Probst Meet?
So Lisa met her first husband while working on a sitcom. But how did she meet the famous 'Survivor' host? It turns out a mutual friend was the key to their connection.
In an interview, Jeff explained that he met Russell at the home of 'Survivor' creator and executive producer Mark Burnett.
It was a Christmas party, in fact, which Jeff described as being chock-full of all kinds of interesting characters, from Barbra Streisand to Paris Hilton. He explained that while he was there because of his obvious connection to Mark, Lisa was there to "see the spectacle."
While he didn't have an adorable story about their first meeting, it seems that the two were smitten from the day they met.
How Much Is Lisa Ann Russell Worth?
She hasn't built up quite the fan following that her husband has, but that doesn't mean Lisa hasn't been successful in her career. While she spent more than 100 episodes as the "talent coordinator" for Jeff's show, Lisa likely earns another income.
After all, sources suggest she's worth around $2M, which sounds like a hefty salary for her one-time gig on Jeff's show. Conversely, Jeff has a net worth of around $40M from his prolonged time in the reality TV spotlight.
But it's definitely not about the money for either half of this celebrity couple. They're both familiar with being in the spotlight, especially Jeff. But with nearly two decades spent with another TV personality, Lisa is no stranger to the spotlight.
Still, she doesn't step out often with her husband; red carpets seem to be a rare specialty. But by all accounts, the two are very happy together.
Fans can expect Lisa to be in Jeff's corner for as long as he's still hosting 'Survivor' — and well into the future, too.