Michael Yerger is an American actor, model, real estate professional, and reality television personality best known for his standout appearance on CBS’s Survivor: Ghost Island (Season 36, 2018) a competition he entered at just 18 years old, making him the youngest male contestant in Survivor history at the time.
A former Eagle Scout, licensed real estate agent, underwear model represented by Ford Models and LA Models, and a martial artist with black belts in three disciplines, Yerger is a multifaceted achiever whose charisma and physical presence have made him one of the more compelling personalities to emerge from his Survivor season.
| Michael Yerger | |
|---|---|
Michael Yerger: History · Bio · Photo
|
|
| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Full Name: | Michael Yerger |
| Born: | July 20, 1998 |
| Age: | 27 years old |
| Birthplace: | Knoxville, Tennessee, USA |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | Model, Actor, Real Estate Agent |
| Net Worth: | $2.5 million |
Early Life
Michael Yerger was born on July 20, 1998, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was raised in Knoxville, where he grew up as an academically driven and physically active young man with a diverse range of interests including fitness, architecture and design, outdoor activities such as camping and hiking, luxury and exotic cars, and travel.
From a young age, he pursued disciplines that required both physical and mental rigor. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout the highest achievement in the Boy Scouts of America program which he has described as his proudest personal accomplishment.
He is also a skilled martial artist, having earned black belts in taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, and hapkido three distinct martial arts disciplines requiring years of dedicated training.
His family background is not extensively documented in public sources he has been characteristically private about his parents and upbringing beyond the achievements described above. He posted an Instagram tribute to his mother in May 2017, suggesting a warm and close family relationship.
Education
Michael Yerger graduated from Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. Following graduation, he relocated to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a professional career in modeling a decision that launched a multi-faceted career trajectory.
He later became a licensed real estate agent, suggesting he pursued relevant professional qualifications alongside his modeling work.
Career
Real Estate Career
Before appearing on Survivor, Michael Yerger worked as a licensed real estate agent a career he began at an unusually young age.
Real estate has been cited as his primary professional income source, with his net worth largely attributed to his success in the property market rather than his television or modeling income alone.
Modeling Career
Michael is an underwear and fashion model who has been represented by three prestigious agencies: Ford Models, LA Models, and Kult Models.
He has collaborated with renowned fashion photographer and model Alessandra Ambrosio on modeling assignments and appeared in various editorial and commercial projects.
His athletic physique, chiseled features, and self-described “energetic, slick, and resilient” personality have made him a compelling commercial and editorial subject. He appeared as Base in the 2019 science-fiction short film Bionic – McLaren, adding acting to his professional portfolio.
Survivor: Ghost Island (2018)
Michael’s most significant public profile came when he was cast on CBS’s Survivor: Ghost Island the 36th season of the long-running competitive reality series in 2018.
At 18 years old, he was the youngest male contestant in Survivor history at the time of filming. He was placed on the Malolo tribe, where he immediately proved his value through physical strength in challenges.
Throughout the season, he played with exceptional strategic intelligence for his age finding and using two Hidden Immunity Idols (including James Clement’s legendary idol from Survivor: China) and saving himself multiple times despite frequently being on the bottom of the tribe’s hierarchy.
He also bluffed convincingly about an idol’s powers, a bold strategic gambit. He received 15 votes against him over the course of the game the highest total in Ghost Island and lost 21 pounds during filming. He was ultimately eliminated in 9th place, one of the most unfortunate early exits for a player of his quality in recent Survivor history.
Personal Life
Michael Yerger is engaged People magazine confirmed his engagement. He previously dated model, social media personality, and fitness influencer Daisy Keech (who has over 5 million Instagram followers), a relationship that began around 2020 and attracted considerable public attention given both partners’ social media profiles.
Before dating Daisy Keech, he was briefly linked to transgender model and influencer Nikita Dragun, though that relationship ended.
He has a rescue dog named Mudra. His hobbies include health and fitness, exotic car collecting, outdoor activities, traveling, music festivals, and architecture and design.
Net Worth
Michael Yerger’s estimated net worth is approximately $2.5 million, primarily derived from his real estate career, supplemented by modeling income from his agency work, brand partnerships, and television appearances.
FAQs
Who is Michael Yerger?
Michael Yerger is an American model, actor, real estate agent, and reality TV personality from Knoxville, Tennessee, best known for competing on Survivor: Ghost Island (Season 36, 2018).
How old was Michael Yerger on Survivor?
He was 18 years old when he competed on Survivor: Ghost Island, making him the youngest male contestant in Survivor history at the time.
What modeling agencies represent Michael Yerger?
He has been represented by Ford Models, LA Models, and Kult Models.
What martial arts black belts does Michael Yerger hold?
He holds black belts in taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, and hapkido.
Conclusion
Michael Yerger’s biography is a compelling portrait of a young man who has packed an extraordinary amount of achievement into a relatively short life Eagle Scout, three black belts, licensed real estate agent, Ford Model, and one of the most talked-about Survivor contestants of his era.
His strategic intelligence, physical capability, and charismatic personality made him one of Survivor: Ghost Island’s most memorable participants, and his continued career development in real estate and modeling suggests a person whose best professional achievements may still be ahead. The energetic, slick, and resilient young man from Knoxville is very much still on the rise.
Related People
Leave a Reply