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Matthew von Ertfelda is a contestant from Survivor: The Amazon.

Matthew knew little about the game and initially found himself at the bottom of the main alliances. He tried to improve his position by using his physical strength and survival skills to become the tribe's hardest worker and main provider. Despite this, he became an outcast due to his "creepy" behavior, such as his obsessive sharpening of the machete. Viewing him as an easy pawn, Rob Cesternino made Matthew his "student" and taught him about the strategic side of Survivor. Eventually, with Jenna Morasca winning the last two Immunity Challenges, Rob's teachings would backfire as Matthew formed a Final Two alliance with her, ultimately getting him to the end. However, the jury viewed Matthew as a socially and strategically lacking player who rode Rob's coattails throughout the game, and he became the first finalist to lose in a landslide 6-1 vote.

Profile[]

Retrieved from CBS.com

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.[1]

Survivor[]

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Episode Tribe
Affiliation
Challenge Challenge Type Sit-Out? Result
1 Tambaqui Unchained Immunity No Lost
2 Flip Out Reward No Lost
Total Recall Immunity No Won
3 Matchmaker Reward No Lost
The Great Escape Immunity No Lost
4 Light My Fire Reward No Won
Gone Fishin' Reward/Immunity No Won
Switched Tribes, Day 14
5 Jaburu Up The Creek Immunity No Won
6 Log Jam Reward No Lost
Piranha Feast Immunity No Lost
Tribes Merged, Day 20
7 Jacaré Perch Immunity Lost
8 Mud Bungee Reward Lost
Face Off Immunity Lost
9 Weapons Reward Lost
Amazon Menu Immunity Won
11 Survivor Auction
Q and A Immunity Lost
12 Paddle Reward Won1
Shoot 'n' Shuffle Immunity Lost
13 Try Again Reward Won
Out on a Limb Immunity Won
14 Braille Maze Immunity Lost
Will Power Immunity Lost
Runner-Up, Day 39
Notes:
^1 Matthew initially gave up his reward to the tribe. In a surprise, he ended up receiving his reward anyway.

Episode Matthew's
Votes
Voted Against
Matthew
1 Roger -
2 Tambaqui Tribe Immune
3 Daniel -
4 Tambaqui Tribe Immune
5 Jaburu Tribe Immune
6 Shawna Alex, Shawna
7 Roger -
8 Dave Dave
9 Deena Individual Immunity
11 Alex Alex, Heidi, Jenna
12 Christy -
13 Heidi Individual Immunity
14 Butch -
Ineligible -
Jury Votes
for Matthew
Butch
Runner-Up, Day 39

Post-Survivor[]

  • On January 9, 2010, Matthew attended Survivor's 10-year anniversary party.

Trivia[]

  • Matthew is the first contestant to reside in Washington, D.C. during filming.
  • Fluent in Mandarin, Matthew frequently spoke the language with tribemate Daniel Lue.
  • Matthew is the first person to receive only a single jury vote at the Final Tribal Council.
    • He is also the first male finalist to receive fewer than three jury votes at the Final Tribal Council.

References[]

Survivor: The Amazon Castaways
 Alex
Tambaqui
S6 alex t
 Butch
Tambaqui
S6 butch t
 Christy
Jaburu
S6 christy t
 Daniel
Tambaqui
S6 daniel t
 Dave
Tambaqui
S6 dave t
 Deena
Jaburu
S6 deena t
 Heidi
Jaburu
S6 heidi t
 Janet
Jaburu
S6 janet t
 Jeanne
Jaburu
S6 jeanne t
 Jenna
Jaburu
S6 jenna t
 JoAnna
Jaburu
S6 joanna t
 Matthew
Tambaqui
S6 matthew t
 Rob
Tambaqui
S6 rob t
 Roger
Tambaqui
S6 roger t
 Ryan
Tambaqui
S6 ryan t
 Shawna
Jaburu
S6 shawna t
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