Matthew von Ertfelda - Survivor: The Amazon

Seasons: 1 | Days played: 39 | Wins: 0 | Final Two: 1

  • Survivor 6: The Amazon (2003) - 2nd place, one jury vote.
  • Received 1 jury vote to finish second (6-1) in Episode 13, "...And Then There Were Four" (Day 39).

Matthew von Ertfelda on social media: twitter | Instagram

Matthew von Ertfelda - Career statistics

Challenge stats Tribal council stats Jury stats Overall stats
Season ChW ChA ChW% VFB VAP TCA TC% wTCR JVF TotJ JV% SurvSc SurvAv
S6: The Amazon 4.64 12.93 0.36 9 6 10 0.89 2.52 1 7 0.14 1.39 8.02
Career 4.64 12.93 0.36 9 6 10 0.89 2.52 1 7 0.14 1.39 8.02

 

Matthew von Ertfelda - Performance ranks

Challenges: MPF percentile

87%

Tribal: VFB% percentile

90%

Tribal: rVAP percentile

78%

Performance ranks are a quick visual measure of the contestant's season vs. historical data from all prior contestants, in three basic (scorable) categories:

1. Performance in individual challenges (MPF), as a measure of "physical game";

2. Ability to vote people out consistently (VFB%, or VFB/TCA), or "strategic game"; and

3. Ability to avoid being voted against (rVAP, or TCA-VAP) - which scales better than a percentage would - for "social/strategic game."

See also: Full glossary for all these abbreviations.

 

Matthew von Ertfelda - Challenge record
Survivor 6 logo  S6: The Amazon

Total Recall - Ep2 IC

Tribal/team challenge record (4-for-11):

  • The Amazon Ep. 1 IC: "Unchained" - Helps decode the message, but Tambaqui falls behind on the beam, loses.
  • The Amazon Ep. 2 RC: "Flip Out" - Blindfolded, grabs planks, but Tambaqui loses again.
  • The Amazon Ep. 2 IC: "Total Recall" - Answers one question correctly, and Tambaqui wins, 6-4.
  • The Amazon Ep. 3 RC: "Matchmaker" - Shown making a match, but Tambaqui loses, 18-14.
  • The Amazon Ep. 3 IC: "The Great Escape" - The women prove superior at escaping a crate; Tambaqui loses.
  • The Amazon Ep. 4 RC: "Light My Fire" - The men, however, are better at shielding a fire; Tambaqui wins.
  • The Amazon Ep. 4 IC: "Gone Fishin'" - Matt catches fish, and Tambaqui wins.
  • The Amazon Ep. 5 IC: "Up the Creek" - Now with new Jaburu, and Jaburu wins.
  • The Amazon Ep. 6 RC: "Log Jam" - Beats Roger, but loses to Butch; Jaburu loses, 5-4.
  • The Amazon Ep. 6 IC: "Piranha Feast" - Gnaws some meat, but Jaburu loses again.
  • The Amazon Ep. 8 RC: "Mud Bungee" - With Heidi and Jenna, the second-place team in the team portion.

 

Out on a Limb - Ep12 IC

Individual challenge record (4-for-11): (Mean % Finish: 71.3%)

  • The Amazon Ep. 7 IC: "Perch" - Lasts 1 hr, 51 minutes; jumps to share wings with Dave (4th/10).
  • The Amazon Ep. 8 IC: "Face Off" - Gets both questions right, but targeted first (9th/9).
  • The Amazon Ep. 9 RC: "Weapons" - Top score in first rounds, edged by Alex in round 3 (2nd/8).
  • The Amazon Ep. 9 IC: "Amazon Menu" - An eating machine, and Matt wins! (1st/8).
  • The Amazon Ep. 10 IC: "Touchy Subjects" - Part of the 5-way tie for second (tie-2nd/7).
  • The Amazon Ep. 11 RC: "Paddle" - First to the paddling and the puzzle, and Matt wins! (1st/6).
  • The Amazon Ep. 11 IC: "Shoot 'n' Shuffle" - Gets one puck, does not win (tie-2nd/6).
  • The Amazon Ep. 12 RC: "Try Again" - Passes Rob on the decoding, and Matt wins (1st/5).
  • The Amazon Ep. 12 IC: "Out on a Limb" - Finishes two feathers ahead of the rest, Matt wins (1st/5).
  • The Amazon Ep. 13 F4 IC: "Braille Maze" - Finishes just behind Jenna (2nd/4).
  • The Amazon Ep. 13 F3 IC: "Will Power" - Suspiciously drops out, really quickly (3rd/3).

 

Redemption/Exile Island duel record (0-for-0):

  • The Amazon: None.
Career totals - challenges
Team/tribal challenges
Wins: 4
Played: 11
Win%: 0.36
Sat out: -
Individual challenges
Wins: 4
Played: 11
Win%: 0.36
Mean% Finish: 71.3%
Hero challenges
Wins: 0
Played: 0
Win%: -
Mean% Finish: -
Matthew von Ertfelda - Tribal Council record
Survivor 6 logo  S6: The Amazon

Ep.11 Tribal Council

Idols held/played: (0/0)

  • The Amazon: None.

 

VFB - Votes for the person booted (9/10):

Tribal Voted Boot (totals) VFB?
Ep1 Roger Ryan Aiken (voted out, 4-3-1) -
Ep3 Daniel Daniel Lue (voted out, 6-1) Yes
Ep6 Shawna Shawna Mitchell (voted out, 4-2) Yes
Ep7 Roger Roger Sexton (voted out, 7-3) Yes
Ep8 Dave Dave Johnson (voted out, 8-1) Yes
Ep9 Deena Deena Bennett (voted out, 6-2) Yes
Ep10 Alex Alex Bell (voted out, 4-3) Yes
Ep11 Christy Christy Smith (voted out, 4-2) Yes
Ep12 Heidi Heidi Strobel (voted out, 3-2) Yes
Ep13 (F4) Butch Butch Lockley (voted out, 3-1) Yes
Ep13 (F3) -* Rob Cesternino (voted out, 1-0) -
10 TOTALS 9

*Matthew was present at the Final 3 Tribal, but could not vote himself; no TCA charged

 

VAP - Votes against (6):

  • The Amazon, Ep. 6: Two votes, from Alex and Shawna.
  • The Amazon, Ep. 8: One vote, from Dave.
  • The Amazon, Ep. 10: Three votes, from Jenna, Heidi, and Alex.

 

Jury votes received (1/7):

  • The Amazon, Ep. 13: Received one jury vote, from Butch Lockley, to finish second (6-1).
Career totals - Tribal Council
Hidden idols/ advantages
Advantages held/played: 0/0
Idols found: 0
Idols played: -
Votes voided: -
Voting record
VFB: 9
Tribals: 10
VAP: 6
Jury votes
Made: 0
For winners: -
Received: 1
Total jurors: 7
Matthew von Ertfelda - Pictures
Survivor 6 logo  S6: The Amazon
  • Matthew von Ertfelda S6
    The Amazon intro shot
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    The Amazon intro shot
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    CBS pre-game interview
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    Waiting for Probst to divide the tribes
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    The men of Tambaqui, ready to paddle out
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    Getting to work on the fire
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    Rob produces his Magic 8-Ball
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 RC/IC
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    Listening to Probst
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    And they're off...
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    Crossing the net
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    Fun with balance beams
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    Watching the puzzle stage
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    Listening to Dave's post-loss lecture on integrity
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    Excited for Tribal Council, probably
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    Tambaqui, Ep1 Tribal Council
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    Listening to Probst
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    Tambaqui fishing expedition, Ep2
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC
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    Listening to Probst
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    Tambaqui, late to the puzzle
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 IC
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    Q and A time
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    Ready to maybe remember stuff
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    Matthew scores a point for Tambaqui
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    Tambaqui wins!
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    Talking about his connection with Daniel, Ep3
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    Speaking Mandarin
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC
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    Trying to make a match
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 IC
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    Tambaqui, Ep3 Tribal Council
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    Listening to Rob
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    Talking up Tambaqui's fishing prowess, Ep4
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    See? There's one
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 RC
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    Starting line
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    Making fire
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    Tambaqui wins! Cheers!
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 IC
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    I wonder if we can win a challenge based on fishing?
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    All signs point to yes
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    Watching the final weigh-in
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    Tambaqui wins! Shocker!
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 IC
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    New Jaburu, listening to Probst
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    Word puzzling
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    Almost there...
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    Jaburu wins!
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    Talking about flirting with Shawna, Ep6
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 RC
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    Taking on Roger, first bout
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    We scored, Shawna!
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    Awkward
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep6 IC
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    Meeting the meat
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    Jaburu, Ep6 Tribal Council
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    Jaburu heads to the merge, Ep7
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    Pre-merge lineup
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    Merge feasting. Cheers!
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    Complaining about Roger
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep7 IC
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    Starting line
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    Just some minor disrobing
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    Just jumped for wings with Dave
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    Jacaré, Ep7 Tribal Council
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    Listening to the nearly departed Roger
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    Sharpening his machete as tribemates complain, Ep8
  • Matthew von Ertfelda S6
    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 RC
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    Orange team, starting line
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    Not winning
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    Discussing his relationship with Rob
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    Rob checks in to talk shop
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 IC
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    Listening to Probst
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    Answering questions
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    Jacaré, Ep8 Tribal Council
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    Excited about the upcoming use of weapons in the Ep9 RC
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 RC
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    Nailing a target with a spear
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 IC
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    Starting line
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    *Crickets*
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    Ready to go, final round
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    Matt wins immunity!
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    Jacaré, Ep9 Tribal Council
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    Listening to Alex
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    Auction time, Ep10
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    Ready to bid on some stuff
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    Money well spent
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    Rob proposes voting out Alex
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 IC
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    Oh yeah, we joke about it, Jeff
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    Heading to Tribal the next day
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    Jacaré, Ep10 Tribal Council
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    Listening to Rob
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    Auction time, Ep10
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    Talking about moving the shelter over by the fire shelter. Good idea!
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 (loved ones) RC
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    Starting line
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    Made it to the second stage
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    Almost there..
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    Matt wins reward!
  • Matthew von Ertfelda S6
    Being asked if he believes in giving rather than receiving
  • Matthew von Ertfelda S6
    He does!
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    It felt good to give everyone the reward. They deserve it.
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    Also getting a visit from his mom, for his generosity
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    Village feast time
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 IC
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    Taking aim at plates
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    Jacaré, Ep11 Tribal Council
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    Listening to Rob
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    Watching the vote reveal
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep12 RC
  • Matthew von Ertfelda S6
    Oh look, a car
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    Starting line
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    Everyone working on knots
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    Working the puzzle
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    About to zipline to victory
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    With his new car
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    Time for barbecuing while the camp burns
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    Bonding with Rob
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    Returning to the burned-out camp
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    Heidi says the necklace got a little scorched
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    Pre-challenge lineup, Ep12 IC
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    Starting line
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    Coming back with the final feather
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    Matt wins immunity again!
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    Necklaced up
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    Jacaré, Ep12 Tribal Council
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    Listening to Jenna
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    Still talking
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    Pre-challenge lineup, F4 IC
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    Starting line
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    Falling just short of Jenna's total
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    Guess we have to vote out Butch, then
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    F4 Tribal Council
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    Final 3 IC, now underway
  • Matthew von Ertfelda S6
    You guys keep going
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    Waiting for Jenna to vote out Rob
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    Ready to face the jury, Final Tribal Council
  • Matthew von Ertfelda S6
    Answering Butch's question
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    Reunion show, waiting for the vote reveal
  • Matthew von Ertfelda S6
    Congratulating Jenna on her win
Matthew von Ertfelda - Interviews
Survivor 6 logo  S6: The Amazon

Pre-game interviews

 

Post-game interviews

  • Ellen Crean at CBSNews.com (5/12/03): "Jenna Answers Her Critics"
  • SurvivorOz podcast interview (7/11/14): "Matt von Ertfelda Interview"
Matthew von Ertfelda - Bio
Survivor 6 logo  S6: The Amazon

From his official CBS Survivor: The Amazon cast bio page:

"Born in Hong Kong, Matthew Von Ertfelda has traveled all over the world. He was raised on a horse farm in Massachusetts and attended Middlesex School where he graduated with honors and served as co-captain of the football team. He received a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University in New York. In addition, he attended the Taipei Language Institute where he studied Mandarin Chinese. He also holds a culinary diploma with honors from L'Ecole de Gastronomie Française Ritz-Escoffier in Paris. Von Ertfelda currently designs restaurants and bars for a global lodging company. He has previously worked as a restaurant and bar developer in Hong Kong, a print model in Asia and a chef's apprentice/cook in Paris.

Von Ertfelda enjoys screenwriting, foreign language study, cooking, rock and ice climbing, weight lifting and hardcore adventure. In 1994, he successfully crossed the Darien Gap, a storied stretch of jungle linking Panama and Colombia. In the summer of 1998, he organized a deep jungle trek into unmapped areas of New Guinea to track cannibals. He dove for sunken treasure off Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands and participated in Earthwatch research expeditions to St. Croix and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. In the past, he has also competed in sprint triathlons and marathons.

In 2002, Von Ertfelda was listed as one of People Magazine's Top 50 Bachelors. He describes himself as unique, multi-faceted, hardworking, mentally and physically strong and tenacious. He credits his older brother, Eric (a bodybuilder and writer), with teaching him respect and humility at a very early age. If Von Ertfelda could hold political office, he would like to be Director of the CIA because he loves the cloak & dagger operations and the inherent risks. If he wins the $1 million, he will buy a bottle of 1929 Chateau d'Yquem to share with close family and friends. Von Ertfelda's favorite quote is "The things you regret most in life are the risks you didn't take."

Currently single, Von Ertfelda resides in Washington, D.C., with his vivacious fish, Reggie. His birth date is July 24, 1969."