In 2016, Adam Klein, a then-25-year-old homeless shelter manager from San Francisco, became a millionaire overnight after being named the “Sole Survivor” of “Survivor’s” 33rd season: “Millennials vs. Gen X.” The castaway later returned to the longrunning CBS competition series as one of 20 former winners tapped to duke it out on Season 40, “Winners at War,” before seemingly retiring from the franchise – and reality TV altogether – to focus on his personal life with his wife, 29-year-old acrobatic performer Kailey Maurer.
CBSThe couple, who started dating prior to Klein’s run on “Winners at War,” got engaged in 2022 before officially tying the knot in April 2024, with many of Adam’s former “Survivor” co-stars in attendance during the Vegas ceremony.
Now, shortly following the couple’s one-year anniversary, Klein has announced that he and Kailey have filed for divorce in a bittersweet post on Instagram.
Klein Announces His Divorce in Heartfelt Instagram Post
“It is with profound heartbreak that I share that Kailey and I just filed for divorce. My relationship and marriage with Kailey was filled with joy, passion, and love, and together we shared some of the most incredible moments of my life,” wrote Klein in the September 9 Instagram post.
The former winner continued, expressing that he did not “want” or “expect” to see his marriage end, telling fans that he had “imagined building a family with [Kailey] and growing old together, and I am mourning the loss of that future.”
“Sometimes life takes us down paths we never imagined,” Klein continued, revealing that he and Kailey unofficially separated in May 2025. Since then, Klein said he’s “been navigating the pain of this reality while slowly beginning to heal and look toward a different kind of future.”
“I’ve been through loss and grief before and found happiness on the other side and I know I can and will find love and happiness again,” he added, undoubtely referencing his late mother, who passed away just two days after Klein finished filming “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X” after an ongoing battle with lung cancer.
Devestatingly, Klein was unable to make it back to San Fransisco in time to see his mother one last time before her passing, arriving at the hospital after jetting in from Fiji just two hours too late. During the live finale of the season, where Adam was announced as the “Sole Survivor” and recipient of a $1 million check, he revealed that he would be using his significant winnings to become a cancer research advocate in honor of his mother.
Adam concluded his Instagram post by calling on fans, friends and family to extend their love and support to himself and Kailey during this “challenging time.”
‘Survivor’ Stars Speak Out in Support of the Former Winner
A plethora of former “Survivor” stars sounded off in the comments, offering their advice, messages of support, and expressions of gratitude towards Klein, including the former winner’s co-stars from “Millennials vs. Gen X” – many of whom were in attendance at Adam and Kailey’s 2024 wedding.
“Love you friend,” wrote Adam’s fellow “Millennials vs. Gen X” finalist Hannah Shapiro, while other stars from the season, including Jay Starrett, Zeke Smith and Mari Takahashi left similar messages of support.
“I’m so sorry Adam. Sending you hugs,” added “Survivor: Kaoh Rong” champion Michele Fitzgerald, who competed alongside Klein on “Winners at War.”
Also from the “Winners at War” cast, “Survivor: Afric” winner Ethan Zohn said, “Sending love your way. Time heals and so will you,” while “Survivor: Ghost Island” victor Wendell Holland added “Love you brother. I’m so sorry.”
While many comments flooded in from castaways Klein had played the game with before, others surfaced from players from other seasons, like “Survivor: David vs. Goliath” finalist Angelina Keeley, who wrote: “ I love you so much, Adam. Always, always here for you. Better days ahead for sure my dear friend.”
Meanwhile, “Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers” finalist Chrissy Hofbeck added, “You have an army of people who love you deeply, me included.”
Shauhin Davari, who competed on the most recent season of the franchise, “Survivor 48,” added the most poetic and powerful comment in the outpouring of support and love for Adam, writing, “You always lead with the right heart…If hearts truly broke, everytime we fell from love, I’d be able to offer you confetti by now. But hearts don’t break, they bruise and get better.”
