Jeff Probst Almost Made The ‘Worst Decision’ Of His Life In 2005

“Survivor” is gearing up for season 50, and after more than 25 years on air, host Jeff Probst is thrilled to still be at the helm for its milestone season.

At one point, Probst wanted out of hosting the reality series, but looking back, he’s happy that he stayed and is excited to continue guiding the show into the new chapter.

Probst has been synonymous with “Survivor,” and it’s hard to imagine someone else hosting the show. However, that nearly became a reality in 2005 when Probst contemplated leaving.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 64-year-old TV presenter said that gruelling work and stress made him think twice about returning, and that his contract was ending after the filming of season 12 in 2005.

“There were a period of years on ‘Survivor’ where the travel was pretty extensive, and the time away was a long time away, and the stress to keep the show high in the ratings — all that pressure does have a cumulative effect on you,” he shared.

Additionally, he felt discouraged by what CBS was paying him compared to other stars on the network, given that “Survivor” was a highly rated program with millions of viewers tuning in weekly.

Despite the issues he faced, Probst decided to renew his contract. Looking back, he now says that if he did quit, “That would’ve been the single worst decision I could have ever made.”

As he explained, he is now “embarrassed” that he even considered quitting because he was “so tired.” In 2010, CBS announced that, aside from hosting, Probst would also return as an executive producer, a role he has kept since. The added role afforded him the chance to make creative and casting decisions, as well as format changes.

While his job remained taxing, Probst says the COVID pandemic allowed him to step back from filming “Survivor” for one year. It was a much-needed break that allowed him to reflect on how much he really enjoyed hosting the show. “In that time, I think all of us remembered how much we love this show. We just needed a moment,” he explained.

Prior to being the host of “Survivor,” Probst hosted “Rock & Roll Jeopardy!” and was also an Access Hollywood correspondent. When he heard producer Mark Burnett talking about the concept of “Survivor” on the radio, he called his agent.

He was able to get a meeting with Burnett, but was disappointed when he couldn’t talk himself into being the perfect host for the show. About six months later, however, he got the call that he was in the running to be the host.

As he revealed on “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show,” the other “Survivor” finalist was Phil Keoghan, who went on to host “The Amazing Race,” which debuted in 2001 and was just renewed for season 39.

Hosting a show for more than 25 years and serving as its executive producer have made Probst millions of dollars. His exact salary per season of “Survivor” is not disclosed, but Celebrity Net Worth reports he is worth $50 million.

The site claims that Probst’s salary is $8 million for “Survivor,” which films two seasons per year. This translates to $4 million per season, an amount Variety also reported in 2016. However, that information is almost 10 years old, which could mean he earns more now.

To celebrate season 50 of “Survivor,” Probst is releasing a book titled “Survivor: Forged By Fire.” It’s a book that big fans of the show will enjoy, featuring never-before-seen photos spanning the years, Probst’s notes from filming, and personal reflections. It will be released on February 24.

Meanwhile, those waiting for “Survivor 50” could try their hand at playing the game from home with the Survivor: Let’s Go to Rocks board game, inspired by the show’s tribal council. The board game is now available on Amazon and Target.

“Survivor 50” will kick off with a three-hour premiere on CBS on February 25.