Russell Hantz

**Russell Dennis Hantz** is a contestant from *Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders* (2018)

Russell became the first contestant from *Survivor (U.S.)* to return for an international season when he appeared on *Champions vs. Contenders*, where he attempted to replicate his former style of gameplay. However, after showing his idol to strongarm his tribe, his tribemate Moana Hope managed to turn the majority of the tribe against him, and orchestrate his elimination.

Russell's legacy is hotly disputed as his display of strategic prowess and ability to locate Hidden Immunity Idols have enabled him to reach the Final Tribal Council in his first two seasons. However, his interpersonal conduct rendered him virtually ineligible to win a game predicated on social relationships. He is at the core of wide-ranging debates about in-game ethics, public interference, and the concept of quality play on *Survivor*.

## Profile

*Retrieved from 10play.com.au*

**Age:** 45
**Occupation:** Survivor USA Super Player
**State:** USA
**Tribe:** Champions​​​​​

Regarded by super fans everywhere as *Survivor*'s greatest villain, Russell is one of the most notorious characters in the US show's history.

Considered to be one of the most influential contestants of all time, Russell is ready to take a crack at his Aussie counterparts, making it the fourth time he has played the game.

Famous for his stints on *Survivor: Samoa*, *Heroes vs. Villains* and *Redemption Island*, Russell has made it to the end but never won the title of Sole Survivor.

"I have no choice in this. I have to win. I have to prove to everyone that I can do it and I have to prove to myself that I am as good as people say I am."

Russell is one of only five contestants to be inducted into the *Survivor* Hall of Fame in 2010 and he is also one of the only competitors to ever make it to the finals in more than one season.

Lying, stealing, sabotaging his fellow tribe members, there's nothing Russell won't do to win. Father of four and recently a grandfather, he won't let anything get in his way saying, "When I'm out there, I am a blank screen. My family don't matter until I get off that island. I'll be playing for them but I won't let my emotions get in the way and I won't let it make me soft.

"I'm very excited to take on the Australians, they won't know what's hit them when they see me walking out on day one."

### Champions v Contenders

Russell was placed on the Champions tribe. While his experience with island living proved to be invaluable, the tribe remained skeptical about him, promptly branding him as a threat.

To his frustration, Russell believed the tribe was not keen on talking strategy. Russell returned to his old ways by luring in a seemingly unwitting woman to be his ally, this time, in former Miss Universe Australia Monika Radulovic, though Monika and Samuel Hinton, the second person Russell recruited, mutually agreed to shoot down Russell's offer. Also true to his legacy, Russell had found the Hidden Immunity Idol unaided by clues and was determined to "teach" the Australians how to play the game. Russell was spared from elimination however, as the Champions won the first Immunity Challenge.

Russell later flaunted the idol for the tribe to see and strike fear in them. Believing that showing the idol would open opportunities for him, Russell made an alliance with Jackie Glazier, Mat Rogers, and Damien Thomlinson, and as a sign of trust, Russell swore on his wedding ring. Unknown to them, Russell, who had since divorced to Melanie, brought multiple rings for the game. The suspicion over Russell furthered as he was caught by Moana Hope scheming with Damien later that night.

Following the tribe's loss at the second Immunity Challenge, Russell attempted to sow chaos by throwing multiple names to prevent a majority vote against him. Meanwhile, Moana, unbothered by Russell's antics, rallied to oust Russell, though the campaign found some roadblocks with Lydia Lassila insisting to instead eliminate perceived weak links such as Damien and Shane Gould. At Tribal Council, Russell proudly wore his idol to further intimidate his tribemates, leading to a snide exchange between him and Moana, with Moana advising him that if his gameplay had not worked in his previous seasons, he should probably change it.

Russell ultimately did not play his idol; a critical error as Moana called out his bluff and still amassed enough numbers for a 4-4-2-2 tie between Russell and Jackie. At the revote, though Damien remained loyal to Russell by voting Jackie, the rest of the tribe took the opportunity to oust Russell and flush his idol out in a 9-1 vote.

#### Voting History

**^1** In "Episode 2", the vote ended with a 4-4 tie between Russell and Jackie, forcing a revote. Brian, Lydia, Mat, Monika, and Steve W. changed their votes to Russell on the revote, eliminating him from the game.

## Post-Survivor

* On December 22, 2020, Russell appeared in an episode of *Catfish*.
* On March 15, 2022, Russell announced that he would be auctioning off the entirety of his *Survivor* memorabilia on eBay because of the negative impact he believed the show had on his life.
* In January 2023, Russell was accused of not issuing payouts for several fantasy football leagues he was involved in, the largest of which being $1,400, with participants claiming that Russell had pocketed the money for himself. The oldest of these alleged schemes date back to August 2018.

## Redemption Island

### Days spent on Redemption Island:

2

* Russell is the second American contestant to appear in a foreign version of *Survivor.* The first was Rupert Boneham, who made a guest appearance in the Israeli version as part of a reward. However, Russell is the first American former contestant to actually *compete* in a foreign version of the show.
* Russell is the oldest man on the original Champions.
* Russell and Joan Caballero are currently tied for the most votes received at a single Tribal Council on *Australian Survivor*, with 13.

## References

1. ↑ https://10play.com.au/australian-survivor/participants/season-3/russell/pa190317dkl
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=171&v=GQFwj7cRv8k
3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEdjaDmiiZE
4. ↑ https://thespectator.com/book-and-art/russell-hantz-survivor-villain-scam-fantasy-football-leagues/