Russell Hantz

Russell Hantz (born October 10, 1972) is best known as a contestant on the reality TV show Survivor. He was the runner-up in Survivor: Samoa, and second runner-up in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. He was also a fan favorite among Survivor viewers, winning the “Sprint Player of the Season” award and the $100,000 prize that went with it both seasons he was on. His protege is named Bryan Mincher. Hantz was called by casting two years later to appear on Survivor: Samoa, the nineteenth season of the show. After being assigned to the Foa Foa tribe, he quickly demonstrated his preference to play through lies and deceit. After making alliances with every person in his tribe, he also attempted to sow discontent by causing havoc whenever possible. However this approach is believed to have contributed to Foa Foa's constant losses in challenges. In an early interview, he stated his belief that if he could control how his fellow survivors felt, he'd be able to control how they thought.
Key Moves
In episode 2, Hantz had a feeling that the Hidden Immunity Idol was already hidden within the Foa Foa camp, even before any clues were given. After looking in the roots of a large tree, Hantz found the Hidden Immunity Idol. Hantz then used this Immunity Idol as a way to build trust by showing it to the people he allied himself with.
In episode 8, Hantz was concerned he was the next to be voted off, despite fellow Foa Foa Natalie White telling him of her plan to blindside Galu leader Erik Cardona. He played the Hidden Immunity Idol at Tribal Council but no votes were cast against him and the Immunity Idol went to waste. However, another Hidden Immunity Idol was put back into the game. In the next episode, Hantz found the new Hidden Immunity Idol under a bridge, also with no clues. He played it again at the next Tribal Council, where he received 7 votes against him. Since all those votes were negated, Kelly, with the next highest vote count (4), was sent home.
In episode 10, Hantz along with 4 other tribe members won a reward in which they got to fly to Savai’i, a nearby island, and have a picnic at a waterfall. They were also given a Palm Pre to take pictures with; however this cell phone also contained clues to the location of another Hidden Immunity Idol. Hantz figured out the Immunity Idol was behind a mossy rock of a wall and found it upon returning to camp.
In the final Immunity Challenge, Hantz, Natalie, and Mick, who were all original members of the Foa Foa tribe, had to compete against Brett, who won the last 3 Immunity Challenges prior. Brett was a member of the original Galu tribe and since most of the jury was made up of Galu members, it was almost certain Brett would win the Survivor title if he won this challenge. Mick and Natalie lost the challenge, leaving just Hantz and Brett. Hantz ended up outlasting Brett to win his first Individual Immunity. Brett was eliminated at the next Tribal Council.
Final Tribal Council & Reunion
Although Hantz’s tactics were successful enough to get him to the final three, there was a lot of animosity towards him on the jury. He believed that the jury would automatically vote based on who played the best game.Natalie ended up winning Survivor: Samoa, receiving 7 votes, while Hantz only received 2 votes based on Hantz's belief as the Jury had the final say as to who played the best game.
On the Survivor: Samoa Reunion, Hantz offered Natalie $10,000 for the title of Sole Survivor, but she declined. He then offered her $100,000, but she declined again, stating that the title of Sole Survivor was priceless.
Although he didn't win the one million dollar prize, Hantz did take home the Sprint “Player of the Season” award, and a cash prize of $100,000.
Personal life
Russell Hantz was born October 10, 1972. He used to live in Dayton, Texas with his wife and four kids. He ran an oil outfit called Hantz Tankering Service in Dayton with his dad and brother and a bar in Lafayette, Louisiana called Bootleggers. In Survivor: Samoa, he claimed to have made $1.7 million the year prior.
Arrest
On April 23, 2010, Hantz was arrested for committing an assault while partying near the bar he owns in Lafayette, Louisiana. A woman confronted Hantz, so he allegedly shoved her to the ground. Hantz was released later that day without bail but was given a misdemeanor summons and a scheduled court date.<ref name="hantz1" />

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