Stein Retzlaff: How the Adventure Filmmaker Won ‘Got to Get Out’ and Split $312,000
Hulu’s reality competition “Got to Get Out” kept us glued in with its unusual premise: Contestants trapped in a mansion with an ever-growing cash prize, running to escape while others tried to stop them.
Stein Retzlaff won Season 1. During the game, he relied on his perceptive nature and honest character to win the $312,000, which he shared with fellow contestant Cynthia Bailey.
Stein is an adventure filmmaker who has been to remote places outside the show, from Antarctica to Greenland. His journey is a testament to how authenticity and strategic thinking can result in success, both on screen and off.
How Stein Retzlaff Outwitted Everybody Else In “Got to Get Out”
When “Got to Get Out” debuted, Stein Retzlaff wasn’t the contestant most people expected would win. Unlike louder, more dominant players, he opted for a strategy of quiet observation.
From day one, Stein observed and absorbed everyone’s moves and plans while forming genuine connections with his fellow contestants. This method became essential when early obstacles challenged his nerves.
Stein’s nerves caused trouble during a complex puzzle challenge with Kim and Spencer. However, Kim’s compliment on his clever thinking gave him a confidence boost. Their exit strategy ultimately wasn’t successful, but the relationships Stein made turned out to be more valuable than anyone escape72.
As they progressed through the first puzzle and neared the escape point, Cynthia Bailey, known for guarding the escape button as “the button lady,” ultimately realized Stein was trustworthy. She got a hint of when a window would open but knew she couldn’t do the run herself. Rather than selecting a more clear-cut physical opponent, Cynthia chose to share her clue with Stein.
Their plan worked perfectly. While Cynthia played the trusted button-watcher, Stein slipped from the window once it opened. With the pot at $312,060, he made it to the gates while Cynthia intentionally delayed pushing the button that would have trapped him inside.
Stein did win, and in victory, he was faced with a choice that showed what kind of person he was. He could have walked away with the full prize, but true to his word, he split it 50/50 with Cynthia. Each left with $156,030, a reminder that honesty is sometimes the most lucrative path in a game of strategy and trickery.
Stein’s Way Of Life: From Mountain Town To World Traveler and Adventure Filmmaker
Long before he emerged as a winner on his reality show, Stein Retzlaff was honing the skills that would prove helpful in front of and behind the camera. Stein grew up in the small mountain town of Truckee, California, where his love for the outdoors flourished.
Stein graduated from Truckee High School in 2012 and earned a degree in Economics at Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon, in 2016. His path to a career wasn’t a straight shot; he hopped around in jobs ranging from lifeguard to marketing associate before finding what he loved.
That all changed when Stein crossed paths with polar expeditionist Douglas Stoup, whose tales of adventure seared something profound in the young economics graduate. This accidental meeting turned Stein’s sights on adventure and storytelling and ultimately thrust him into the role of a filmmaker on a mission.
In January 2016, Stein cemented his President and Creative Director role at Wyld Boys Adventure Media. In March of the same year, he co-founded IRM and turned his career towards global awareness of waste dumping and dumping in remote areas. He made this combination of adventure and environmentalism his trademark.
Today, Stein is Co-founder of Do Good Shit and Co-CEO of Mosaic Studios, an adventure media house that develops world-class adventure storytelling to support luxury experience brands. This work combines his love of exploration with his career as a storyteller, allowing viewers to experience remote corners of the planet through his lens.
Stein’s credentials—Red Cross first aid/CPR, wilderness first responder, avalanche rescue, and Avalanche Pro 1 Certification—qualify him in both his vocation and his TV show achievements. These skills keep him safe during remote expeditions and represent the meticulous preparation his philosophy of challenges embodies.
Around The World, From Antarctica To Africa, Stein Traveled To Fulfill This Mission
For Stein Retzlaff, adventure is not solely about individual thrills — it’s a means of environmental awareness and storytelling. His journeys are dual-purpose, as he captures breathtaking footage while shedding light on environmental issues that might otherwise go unreported.
Among his most memorable expeditions are to Greenland and Antarctica. In these pristine but fragile environments, Stein has chronicled both natural beauty and the effects of climate change. His adventures merge the extreme with the serene, whether skiing alongside reindeer or watching the aurora dance beneath Arctic skies.
In June 2024, Stein made his first trip to Africa, where he delved into the continent’s diverse wildlife. Then came an October tour in Antarctica, with curious penguins and watchful seals as his temporary neighbors. He revisited the Arctic in March 2025, when he greeted towering mountains on a skiing expedition.
Each adventure connects to Stein’s mission of combining storytelling with environmental awareness. This media aims to inspire, raise awareness of far-reaching ecosystems and the corresponding challenges, through a portfolio of companies (including Mosaic Studios and Do Good Shit).
His “Got to Get Out” strategy reflects his explorer’s methods: scrupulous observation, meticulous planning, and authentic bonding. These tools allow him to capture moments others may overlook, including the perfect shot of wildlife or the opening to escape and win the game.
Family Background And Personal Relations: What Makes Stein a Success
Dash through the juicy details of how Stein Retzlaff’s TV show, reckless enthusiasm, and loving family meet. Stein, whose parents provided the foundation for his life path in Truckee, California.
His love of skiing, which has taken him to remote mountain ranges across the globe, started with his parents. His mother was a ski instructor, and his father was a devoted skier who passed the passion onto his son. This early exposure to adventure in the great outdoors would serve as the foundation for the expeditions that Stein later undertook.
Stein has a significant relationship with his younger brother, Thor. The brothers have embarked on numerous adventures together, from treks to the northernmost mountain range in the world to exploring the raw natural landscapes of Patagonia. Stein’s second younger brother, Wulfe, also shares a tight relationship with him, rounding out a family unit that enables his nomadic lifestyle.
These familial ties gave Stein the emotional grounding and life skills necessary to thrive in challenging circumstances. So when he navigated the intense social dynamics of “Got to Get Out,” Stein relied on those experiences to form real bonds with his fellow contestants.
In the same way, his ability to trust Cynthia Bailey — and for her to trust him back — speaks to the value he places on authentic bonds. In a game rife with lies, Stein’s genuine connections with contestants became his ace in the hole, ultimately leading him to victory and a $156,030 cash prize.
FAQ
How did Stein pull off the “Got to Get Out” win?
Stein won by partnering with Cynthia Bailey, who received a hint for when a window would open. Cynthia kept her Nay-but ” button watcher deception, but Stein got out of the gates when the pot was $312060. They split the prize money 50/50, taking home 156,030 each.
What became of the other contestants after Stein managed to escape?
The other contestants kept playing once Stein and Cynthia left with their prizes. Two players — Clare Crawley and Jill Ashlock — opted out on Episode 6. The last 16 contestants tried several escape maneuvers, but they were unsuccessful. They eventually divided the remaining $687,940 pot, each taking home $42,996.
What does Stein do professionally outside of reality television?
Stein is an adventure filmmaker and environmentalist. He is the Co-founder of Do Good Shit and Co-CEO of the adventure media house Mosaic Studios. He makes adventure content while engaging with environmental sustainability issues in many remote places.
In what countries has Stein filmed his adventure?
Stein has led expeditions to Greenland, Antarctica, the Arctic, Africa, and Patagonia, among other places. His latest adventures include wildlife spotting in Africa (June 2024), being surrounded by penguins and seals in Antarctica (October 2024), and skiing in the Arctic (March 2025).
Were there any advantages Stein had that gave him a leg up in winning the show?
Stein’s resume of adventure and his certifications (including Wilderness First Responder and Avalanche Rescue) probably helped keep him fit. But his biggest asset was his social game — getting people to trust him and playing it low-key while more dominant characters sought the limelight.
Final Words
Stein Retzlaff’s win on “Got to Get Out” teaches life lessons beyond reality TV. Stein’s combination of strategy and integrity won out in a narcissistic contest. As with adventure filmmaking, he relied on careful observation, patience, and authentic relationships.
However, his and Cynthia’s decision to split the prize money showed that the right move may be to cooperate rather than betray, morally and strategically, in stark contrast to the competition’s apparent design.
Stein’s saga shows that success doesn’t often go to the loudest voice but to the quiet observer who recognizes missed opportunities. Stein’s Journey reminds us that exciting endeavors can yield the best outcomes when engaging personal relationships and considered strategy are at the helm.
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