Since Survivor premiered, Jeff Probst has always been the beloved reality show's host. While casual fans know that, many viewers may not recognize how much authority Jeff now has over the show.
As a result, it matters when Jeff says that a punishment on the show isn't "too harsh." Jeff being in charge of Survivor also means that it matters that he has unusual relationships with the show's players.
As interesting as it is to learn what Jeff has to say about the bonds he has built with the show's players, another recently revealed Survivor relationship is arguably more fascinating. After all, it turns out that someone who is important to Jeff is now working on the reality show in a surprising role. Jeff recently revealed that one of his family members is now working on Survivor in an important behind-the-scenes job.
Jeff Probst's niece has an important behind-the-scenes Survivor job
When fans watch Survivor, the only people they see are Jeff Probst and the season's players. As a result, it can be easy for viewers to forget that there is a small army of people who are excellent at their jobs helping to make Survivor possible. While all those people deserve credit for their hard work, it typically isn't news when someone new joins the show's crew.
In September 2025, People reported the news that Survivor had a new employee behind the scenes. The reason why that was newsworthy is the fact that Jeff Probst's niece, Abby Probst, was working on Survivor as a member of the show's "Dream Team." While talking to People, Jeff praised the work his niece was doing and stated that she earned her job on her own.
"She kicks ass. She came in with a last name that put a little bit of a spotlight on her, but she got the job on her own. She got asked back on her own. We're very clear here — everybody runs their department. And I know it's a little weird because the last name is Probst, but had she not earned it, she wouldn't be back."
Many Survivor fans will have no idea what the show's "Dream Team" is and why they play an important role on the show.
As People's article explained, one thing that the "Dream Team" members do is assist the various behind-the-scenes departments in anything they need. More importantly, it is the "Dream Team" members who test challenges before they are run so that they can be adjusted to make them fair for players. Without the "Dream Team," challenges wouldn't run nearly as seamlessly as they do.
Watch new episodes of Survivor 49 on Wednesday nights on CBS and Paramount+.