Rob Rausch
American television personality (born 1998)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Kelley Wilson Rausch (born September 1, 1998) is an American snake wrangler and television personality, known for appearing as a contestant on the fifth and sixth seasons of the Peacock dating show Love Island USA in 2023 and 2024 and for starring on the fourth season of the reality competition series The Traitors, also on Peacock.
Rob Rausch | |
|---|---|
Rausch in 2024 | |
| Born | Robert Kelley Wilson Rausch September 1, 1998 |
| Alma mater | University of North Alabama |
| Occupation | Television personality |
| Years active | 2023–present |
| Known for | Love Island USA The Traitors |
| TikTok information | |
| Page | |
| Followers | 2.3 M |
| Last updated: March 5, 2026 | |
Life and career
Robert Kelley Rausch was born in Florence, Alabama on September 1, 1998, to Robert and Jennifer Rausch. His father is a photographer and luxury designer.[1][2] Rausch has two sisters and one brother.[3]
He attended the University of North Alabama from 2017 to 2020, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.[4] An avid wildlife expert and snake wrangler, Rausch shares his experiences with reptiles and their habitats on social media, particularly TikTok, where he has garnered over two million followers.[citation needed]
Love Island USA
In August 2023, he entered the Love Island USA villa as part of the series' Casa Amor twist on Day 16.[5] He was one of six contestants competing for a spot in the main villa but was not selected and was subsequently eliminated on Day 21.[6][7]
Rausch returned to the series in June 2024 for season 6 as part of the original lineup of contestants.[8] He initially coupled up with Leah Kateb on Day 1, and their pairing quickly became popular among viewers.
However, he ended his relationship with Kateb after Andrea Carmona entered the villa, which led to backlash from audiences and fans.[9][10][11] Some media outlets labeled Rausch as a "villain" for this decision.[12] After Carmona was eliminated from the villa, Rausch explored other connections, coupling up with Cassidy Laudano, Liv Walker, Daniela Ortiz-Rivera, and Kassy Castillo, in that order.[13][14]
After failing to find a meaningful connection, he was eliminated from the villa on Day 30 after receiving the fewest votes from the public. Although he formed a close connection with Carmona, Rausch decided not to pursue their relationship outside the villa.[15]
The Traitors
In June 2025, Rausch was announced as a contestant on the fourth season of the reality competition series The Traitors. The season premiered in January 2026, and he was selected as a "Traitor" alongside Candiace Dillard Bassett and Lisa Rinna.[16]
After banishing recruited Traitor Eric Nam at the Fire of Truth, he and Love Island co-star Maura Higgins, a "Faithful", decided to end the game, at which point Rausch revealed himself to be a Traitor, thereby winning the season.[17]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Maintenance Required | Rob | Cameo |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Love Island USA | Contestant | Season 5; Casa Amor, Dumped | [18] |
| 2024 | Season 6; Dumped | [19] | ||
| 2026 | The Traitors | Season 4; Winner (11 episodes) | [20] | |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Himself | Guest; 1 episode | ||
| Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen | Himself | Guest; 1 episode | ||
| The Kelly Clarkson Show | Himself | Guest; 1 episode | ||