Who Is Eric Macksoud?
Eric Macksoud is a licensed mental health counselor from Windsor Locks, Connecticut, who competes on CBS’s Survivor 51. Originally from Lincoln, Rhode Island, he was 34 years old when he joined the reality competition after spending six years trying to secure a place on the show.
Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Clark University in 2013, where he also competed on the men’s swimming and diving team. He later completed the licensing requirements to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).
He grew up in an Italian-American family and developed an interest in Survivor as a child. His professional experience, competitive swimming background, and involvement in community theatre have all influenced how he approaches the competition.
Outside television, Eric is engaged to Gina DeVito. His journey to Survivor is particularly interesting because he spent years applying before finally receiving the opportunity to fulfil his childhood ambition.
Here is everything to know about Eric Macksoud, including his age, education, counselling career, family background, fiancée, and Survivor 51 journey.
Eric Macksoud Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Eric Macksoud |
| Age | 34 during Survivor 51 |
| Hometown | Lincoln, Rhode Island |
| Current residence | Windsor Locks, Connecticut |
| Ethnic background | Italian-American |
| Profession | Licensed Mental Health Counselor |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in psychology |
| University | Clark University |
| Graduation year | 2013 |
| University sport | Men’s Swimming & Diving |
| Known for | Survivor Season 51 |
| Relationship status | Engaged |
| Fiancée | Gina DeVito |
| @emack401 |
How Old Is Eric Macksoud?
Eric Macksoud was 34 years old when CBS introduced him as a contestant on Survivor 51 in August 2026. He was born and raised in Lincoln, Rhode Island, and currently lives in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
Eric had watched Survivor since childhood and spent several years trying to secure a place in the competition.
Where Is Eric Macksoud From? His Family Background/Ethnicity
Eric Macksoud is originally from Lincoln, Rhode Island, and comes from an Italian-American family. He has described his upbringing as taking place in a primarily Italian-American household. His cultural background is part of how he describes his personality and identity.
In his official contestant interview, Eric described himself as a charming, slightly sassy East Coast Italian-American. He now lives in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, where he works as a mental health counselor.
Where Did Eric Macksoud Go to College?
Eric Macksoud attended Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2013.
He was also a member of the university’s men’s swimming and diving team during his undergraduate years.
Did Eric Macksoud Play College Swimming?
Yes. Eric Macksoud was a member of the Clark University men’s swimming and diving team. He swam competitively from the age of eight through his senior year of college.
What Does Eric Macksoud Do for a Living?
Eric Macksoud works as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).
After earning his psychology degree from Clark University, he completed the additional professional requirements necessary to become licensed in mental health counselling.
He has described passing his licensing examination as one of his proudest accomplishments. The examination was challenging, and he had to take it four times before successfully passing.
Eric has explained that the experience taught him persistence and the importance of not giving up when faced with difficult challenges.
His counselling career involves helping people understand their feelings, behaviours, and personal experiences.
He also believes his professional background has helped him develop the ability to build trust and make people comfortable enough to discuss personal matters.
How Long Did Eric Macksoud Try to Get on Survivor?
Eric Macksoud spent approximately six years applying to become a contestant on Survivor before finally being selected for Season 51.
His interest in the show began when he was eight years old, around the time the first season premiered. He became interested in the competition again during the COVID-19 pandemic after revisiting previous seasons on Paramount+.
Eric started applying in 2020 and continued submitting applications and audition videos over the following years. The process involved several unsuccessful attempts, but he continued pursuing the opportunity.
In an interview with Clark University, Eric explained that his motivation gradually changed. Initially, he was attracted to the possibility of appearing on television and becoming famous. Eventually, the experience became more about challenging himself and proving that persistence could help him achieve a difficult goal.
He applied for Season 51 in July 2025 and received confirmation around November of that year. His eventual selection represented the fulfilment of a childhood ambition.
Is Eric Macksoud Married? Who Is His Fiancée?
Eric Macksoud is engaged to Gina DeVito. The couple’s engagement was publicly acknowledged before his appearance on Survivor 51.
In his September 2026 interview with Clark University, Eric spoke about his excitement for their upcoming wedding and described Gina as a supportive partner who encourages him to pursue his ambitions.
He also explained that competing on Survivor before their wedding was important because he did not want to leave his fiancée with the responsibility of planning everything alone.
Eric described their relationship as an important source of inspiration in his life. Although he has shared some details about their engagement, he generally keeps their private life separate from his television appearance.
Eric Macksoud on Survivor 51
Eric Macksoud joined Survivor 51 as a member of the original Savu tribe. The season introduced a new Open Era format, allowing twists, advantages, and elements from previous seasons to return in unpredictable ways.
Eric’s approach focused on building relationships and understanding the personalities of the people around him. His background in mental health counselling, swimming, and community theatre gave him different experiences to draw on when navigating the social and physical demands of the competition.
He later moved to the Dina tribe, where he competed alongside Cristian Chavez, Danny Kilby, Lewis Kelly, and Sharonda Cox.
The contestants eventually merged into the Tovutu tribe during Episode 7.
Eric Macksoud at the Survivor 51 Merge
The merge took place on November 4, 2026, bringing the remaining 13 contestants together as one tribe. However, the contestants had to complete an eating challenge involving two live grubs to qualify for the merge feast. Eric successfully ate the grubs and earned a place at the feast.
The moment was particularly emotional for him. As he completed the challenge, he became tearful and described the experience as making a childhood dream come true. His reaction reflected how much the opportunity to compete on Survivor meant to him.
Did Eric Macksoud Get Voted Out on Survivor 51?
No. Eric survived the first post-merge Tribal Council, which aired on November 4, 2026. He received four votes during the Tribal Council, but the majority of the contestants voted for Brady Booker instead.
Eric joined Cristian Chavez, Danny Kilby, Kristin Flickinger, Maggie Nestor, Mike Pinsky, Devin Way, Angelica Loblack, and Sharonda Cox in voting against Brady.
Brady received nine votes and became the first member of the Season 51 jury.
Eric’s survival was significant because he had been one of the potential targets discussed before Tribal Council. Although four contestants voted against him, the majority ultimately decided to eliminate Brady.
What Is Eric Macksoud’s Survivor Strategy?
Eric entered the competition hoping to use his ability to understand people and build relationships. He described himself as someone who enjoys learning about different personalities and what motivates them.
His experience as a mental health counselor influenced how he viewed the social aspects of the competition. He also identified community theatre as an important part of his preparation for Survivor. Working with different people in theatrical productions requires patience, communication, and the ability to adapt to different personalities.
Eric believes these experiences helped prepare him for the social environment of the reality competition, where contestants must build relationships quickly.
However, he did not intend to rely entirely on being friendly. He wanted to develop genuine relationships while remaining aware that the other contestants were competing for the same prize.
What Are Eric Macksoud’s Hobbies and Interests?
Outside his counselling career and television appearance, Eric enjoys several activities.
His interests include:
- Community theatre.
- Playing the electric guitar.
- Watching horror movies.
- Swimming.
- Playing board games with friends.
- Travelling and going on adventures with his fiancée.
- Spending time with his cats.
He is also trained in Muay Thai kickboxing, an accomplishment that may surprise viewers who know him primarily through his counselling career.
His combination of swimming, martial arts, and theatre gives him a varied background beyond his professional work.
Eric Macksoud Instagram
Eric Macksoud is on Instagram under the username @emack401. Viewers interested in his activities outside Survivor 51 can follow his account for personal updates and content related to his life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eric Macksoud
How old is Eric Macksoud on Survivor 51?
Eric was 34 years old when CBS introduced him as a contestant for Season 51.
Where is Eric Macksoud from?
Eric is originally from Lincoln, Rhode Island, and currently lives in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
What is Eric Macksoud’s ethnicity?
Eric has described himself as Italian-American and said he grew up in a primarily Italian-American household.
Where did Eric Macksoud go to college?
Eric attended Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.
What did Eric Macksoud study?
He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Clark University in 2013.
Did Eric Macksoud play college sports?
Yes. He competed on the Clark University men’s swimming and diving team.
What does Eric Macksoud do for a living?
Eric works as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).
Is Eric Macksoud married?
Eric is engaged to Gina DeVito. A confirmed marriage announcement has not been established in the sources reviewed.
How long did Eric Macksoud try to get on Survivor?
Eric spent approximately six years applying for the show before being selected for Season 51.
Did Eric Macksoud survive the Survivor 51 merge?
Yes. Eric made the merge and survived the first post-merge Tribal Council on November 4, 2026, despite receiving four votes.
What is Eric Macksoud’s Instagram?
His Instagram handle is @emack401.
