All castaways
Russell Swan

Castaway

Russell Swan

Russell Swan

Galu's commanding leader in Samoa, pulled from the game in one of Survivor's scariest medical evacuations — then back for a domineering Philippines run on the doomed Matsing tribe.

Seasons
2
Occupation
Environmental attorney
Hometown
Glenside, PA
The story

Russell Swan was the commanding patriarch of Samoa's Galu tribe — an environmental attorney elected leader on Day 1 who steered his tribe to dominance over Foa Foa. Then, mid-challenge, he collapsed from dehydration in what Jeff Probst called one of the scariest moments in the show's history, and was pulled from the game in fourteenth.

He came back for Philippines determined to rewrite the story, but landed on the cursed Matsing tribe, and a domineering reputation got him voted out after a fourth straight loss. Two seasons defined by leadership — and by rotten luck.

By the torchlight

Career record

14th
best finish
25
days on the island

Where they finished

the bigger the blaze, the deeper the run

  1. 14thS19
  2. 15thS25
  1. 19

    Samoa

    14th

    2009 · Samoa · Galu

    15 days

  2. 25

    Philippines

    15th

    2012 · Caramoan, Philippines · Matsing

    10 days

Read the votes

At Tribal Council

Pulled from the urn — every vote ever cast against Russell, and how often Russell read the night right.

4
votes against
5
Tribals sat at
4 / 5
read right
80% of the time
The tribe weighs in

Rate Russell's game

Tribe rating

Rate Russell

Your scores

7
7
7
The wider tribe

Played alongside Russell

Castaways Russell shared the island with — tap any face to cross over to their game.

19Samoa2009+7 more from Samoa
25Philippines2012+5 more from Philippines
Around the fire

Common questions

Did Russell Swan win Survivor?
No. Russell Swan competed on Survivor but did not win. Galu's commanding leader in Samoa, pulled from the game in one of Survivor's scariest medical evacuations — then back for a domineering Philippines run on the doomed Matsing tribe.
How many times has Russell Swan played Survivor?
Russell Swan has played 2 seasons of Survivor: Season 19 (Samoa), Season 25 (Philippines).
What is Russell Swan's best finish on Survivor?
Russell Swan's best finish is 14th on Survivor: Samoa (Season 19).
How many days has Russell Swan played Survivor?
Russell Swan has spent 25 days on the island across 2 seasons.
How many times was Russell Swan voted against at Tribal Council?
Across 5 Tribal Councils, 4 votes were cast against Russell Swan.
How good was Russell Swan at reading the vote?
Russell Swan voted for the eliminated castaway at 4 of 5 vote-decided Tribal Councils — 80% of the time.
What is Russell Swan known for?
Galu's commanding leader in Samoa, pulled from the game in one of Survivor's scariest medical evacuations — then back for a domineering Philippines run on the doomed Matsing tribe.

Around the fire

The tribe's debating Russell's game right now

“Cirie never needed an idol. She WAS the idol — read every vote a round early and bent the whole jungle to her will without a single immunity win. That's the cei…”
— MergeBeast · 64 🔥 and climbing

Cast your vote, drop a hot take, and climb your torch — every contribution is tied to your profile at Tribal Council.

Join the debate at Tribal