Ozzy Lusth: Survivor Legend’s Bio, Age, Career, and Net Worth

If you’ve been watching Survivor since the early 2000s, one name has never really left the conversation — Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth. He’s been called the greatest physical player in the show’s history, a real-life survivalist who made climbing coconut trees and spearfishing look as easy as breathing. And right now, in 2026, Ozzy is back in the spotlight bigger than ever, returning for the milestone 50th season of Survivor.

So who exactly is Ozzy Lusth? How old is he, what’s his net worth today, and what has he been up to since his last appearance? We’re breaking all of that down right here.

Who Is Ozzy Lusth? Quick Bio Overview

Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth was born on August 23, 1981, in Guanajuato, Mexico, and is a Mexican-American reality television personality best known for competing on multiple seasons of Survivor. He’s widely regarded as one of the most physically gifted and naturally skilled players the show has ever seen — the kind of guy who could survive in the wild without a camera crew and probably do it better.

His multicultural upbringing, including living with siblings Katrina and Zoe and an adopted sister from Vietnam, shaped his adventurous spirit from a young age.

Early Life and Background

Ozzy’s early years were marked by significant change — his parents divorced when he was just two years old, and he moved with his mother to Durham, North Carolina, before eventually settling in Mountain View, California.

He completed his high school education in Mountain View, where he developed a passion for surfing. After high school, he attended Santa Barbara City College, where he pursued courses in art and marine biology.

He never followed a conventional career path. Instead of an office job, Ozzy built his identity around the ocean. After completing college, he became a professional fisherman and also acquired skills as a chef, eventually landing a job as a personal chef on a yacht where he cooked for wealthy clients.

He can dive to 30 feet and hold his breath underwater for three minutes, and is skilled at building traps, forts, and shelter. In the summer of 2005, he camped all the way from Panama to San Diego over five months. That’s not a TV gimmick — that’s just who Ozzy Lusth actually is.

Ozzy Lusth’s Survivor Career: A Season-by-Season Breakdown

Survivor: Cook Islands (Season 13, 2006)

This is where it all started. On Cook Islands, Ozzy managed to win five out of the season’s six individual Immunity Challenges, tying the record for most immunity wins in a single season. Despite being respected for his challenge dominance, he was identified as the “brawn” to Yul Kwon’s “brains,” and Kwon won the title of Sole Survivor in a close 5-4-0 vote, leaving Ozzy as the runner-up.

For a first-timer, finishing runner-up while setting challenge records is nothing short of remarkable. America fell in love with him almost immediately.

Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites (Season 16, 2008)

In Micronesia, Ozzy formed a relationship with Amanda Kimmel and again gained traction in the game, believing himself a core member of an end-game alliance. Things didn’t go his way this time — he was blindsided in one of the most memorable eliminations in the show’s history. His elimination in Episode Ten of Micronesia was voted by viewers as the #2 most memorable moment in the series’ history.

Survivor: South Pacific (Season 23, 2011)

South Pacific is where Ozzy cemented his legacy as a Survivor legend — even without winning. Ozzy made an unprecedented, bold strategic move by requesting that his tribe vote him out to Redemption Island, hoping to beat his opponent there and return to the merged tribe. jeff probst has called this one of the greatest moves in Survivor history.

Ozzy’s chief accomplishment was earning the distinction of being voted out three times in a single season, twice winning his way off Redemption Island through sheer challenge dominance. He fell one day short of the Final Tribal Council after losing a critical Final Immunity Challenge to Sophie Clarke.

He walked away with $100,000 as the Sprint Player of the Season during Survivor: South Pacific.

Survivor: Game Changers (Season 34, 2017)

In Game Changers, Ozzy improved his social game and managed to form early bonds, but when he lost the second individual Immunity Challenge, he was quickly taken out as a physical threat. He placed 12th and served on the jury.

Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans (2026) — He’s Back!

This is the big one. Ozzy is returning for the show’s 50th season, Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, which premiered on February 25, 2026.

In his CBS cast bio, Ozzy stated: “Because I live for adventure and experiences. Survivor is the greatest adventure game to ever exist and I am here to win it. When Jeff personally asked me back, my soul erupted like an emotional volcano.”

He also revealed a major life change that prepared him for the game: after living in Venice Beach for twenty years, he packed everything up, said goodbye to his friends and community, and moved back to Guanajuato City, the town he was born in, with an ambitious plan to build a music venue, vinyl bar, and restaurant. That kind of bold life reset? Sounds very Ozzy.

Ozzy’s Records and Survivor Hall of Fame Status

Ozzy Lusth doesn’t just have a memorable Survivor career — he has one that’s statistically unmatched in multiple areas.

• Lusth has won 9 individual immunity challenges, a Survivor record.
• Ozzy holds the all-time record for being voted out the most times in a single season (three times in South Pacific) and across his career (five total).
• He has played more days on Survivor than almost anyone in the show’s history.
• He ranks 5th on the Greatest Castaway of All Time poll and third in the Hottest Male Castaway ranking, making him one of only two contestants to appear in both polls.
• Shortly after South Pacific, Ozzy was inducted into Xfinity’s Survivor Hall of Fame in the class of 2011, alongside Cirie Fields and Tom Westman.

Ozzy Lusth’s Net Worth in 2026

So what is Ozzy Lusth actually worth? The honest answer is that he’s not a Hollywood millionaire — but he’s built a comfortable life through a combination of reality TV earnings, personal ventures, and a resourceful lifestyle.

Celebrity Net Worth estimates Ozzy Lusth’s net worth at $500 thousand. Other sources estimate his net worth to be around $1.2 million. The range generally floats between $500K and $1.2 million depending on the source.

His income streams include:

• Reality TV appearance fees across five Survivor seasons
• $100,000 in Sprint Player of the Season prize money from Survivor: South Pacific
• Public speaking engagements, freelance photography and writing, and investments in land ownership in Panama
• A co-ownership stake in the Brakeman Brewery in Los Angeles, though the business closed several years ago
• Content creation, including his OnlyFans account which he started in 2022

His lifestyle reflects his values more than a pursuit of wealth. Ozzy leads a modest yet adventurous lifestyle centered around outdoor activities like surfing and spearfishing, and owns property in Panama where he retreats for solitude.

With his return to Survivor 50 in 2026, his public profile — and earning potential — is certainly climbing again.

Personal Life: Relationships and Family

Ozzy has largely kept his romantic life out of the spotlight, though one relationship got plenty of screen time.

As revealed in the Micronesia reunion show, Ozzy and fellow contestant Amanda Kimmel continued their relationship after filming. In an interview for South Pacific, Ozzy revealed that he and Amanda had since broken up.

In 2011, Ozzy also briefly dated actress lindsay lohan, and they broke up in 2013.

As of 2026, Ozzy appears to be single and focused on his new chapter in Mexico. He remains close to his family and values his Mexican heritage deeply.

Life Beyond Survivor: What Ozzy Has Been Up To

Ozzy’s life off the island has been just as adventurous as his time on it.

He competed on the second season of American Ninja Warrior and appeared on the Playboy reality series Foursome. In 2016, he appeared in a special episode of The Price Is Right featuring former Survivor contestants.

He’s also a man with genuine passions. Ozzy enjoys big wave surfing, skateboarding, sailing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, gymnastics, and motorcycle riding. He’s not playing a character — this is his actual life.

His most recent major move was leaving the Venice Beach lifestyle behind to return to his roots in Guanajuato, Mexico, where he’s pursuing a restaurant and entertainment venue project — a bold entrepreneurial leap that reflects who he’s become in his 40s.

FAQs

How old is Ozzy Lusth in 2026? Ozzy turned 44 years old on August 23, 2025. He’s currently 44 and competing on Survivor 50.

How many times has Ozzy been on Survivor? Five times — Cook Islands, Micronesia, South Pacific, Game Changers, and now Survivor 50 in 2026.

Has Ozzy ever won Survivor? No. His closest finish was runner-up on Cook Islands Season 13. Despite being one of the greatest challenge competitors ever, he’s never won the title of Sole Survivor.

What is Ozzy Lusth’s net worth in 2026? Estimates range from $500,000 to $1.2 million, with most sources landing around $500K to $1 million.

Where does Ozzy Lusth live now? As of 2026, Ozzy has relocated from Venice Beach, California, back to his birthplace of Guanajuato, Mexico, where he is developing a music and dining venue.

What records does Ozzy hold on Survivor? He holds the record for most individual immunity challenge wins (9), most times voted out in a single season (3), and most total times voted out in a career (5).

Is Ozzy Lusth on Survivor 2026? Yes — Ozzy is competing on Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, which premiered February 25, 2026, on CBS.

Final Thoughts

Ozzy Lusth is one of those rare TV personalities who transcended reality television and became something more — a genuine cultural symbol of what it means to live adventurously and compete fiercely. He may never have held the Sole Survivor title, but his legacy in the show is ironclad.

Now at 44, he’s back for one final shot at glory on the biggest season in the show’s history. If there’s anyone who deserves to win Survivor 50, most long-time fans would tell you it’s the guy who has given more of himself to this game than almost anyone else.

Whether he wins or not, Ozzy Lusth’s story is far from over.