Aaliyah Puglia’s net worth and salary haven’t been made public. She’s a chef in Providence, Rhode Island, and US pay for that kind of work typically runs from about $37,000 to $61,000 a year. Here’s how we got that range, and what’s actually known about her career.
You may know her as the first person voted out of Survivor 51. She went home on Day 3, so most viewers saw very little of her. Here’s the short version of her story.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Aaliyah Puglia |
| Age | 24 (CBS cast bio). Some sites list 25. |
| Hometown | Gloucester City, New Jersey |
| Lives In | Providence, Rhode Island |
| Profession | Chef (holds an NASM Nutrition Coach certification) |
| Education | Johnson & Wales University, 2019-2023 |
| Known For | Survivor 51 (first player voted out) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Typical Pay for Her Job | About $37,000-$61,000 a year (BLS, for the role) |
Who Is Aaliyah Puglia?
Aaliyah is a chef who lives in Providence. According to her LinkedIn profile, as reported by The Providence Journal, she studied culinary nutrition at Johnson & Wales University.
The same report says she has worked as a food consultant with places like Café Ava and Apothica Café. A public cast profile on Survivor Castaways also lists Essential Eats, her years at Johnson & Wales (2019 to 2023), and an NASM Nutrition Coach certification.
She grew up in Gloucester City, New Jersey. Later she lived in Miami before moving to Rhode Island. In her Survivor bio, she says those moves, her solo travel, and working in unfamiliar settings taught her to adapt.
[IMAGE: original or licensed photo of a plated dish or a culinary school kitchen. Replace this line before publishing.]
How She Got on Survivor 51
Aaliyah is one of 21 castaways on Survivor 51. The show premiered on CBS on Wednesday, September 23. It was filmed in Fiji in April, and the winner won’t be known until the December finale, according to Ocean State Media. The winner takes home $1 million.
In her CBS bio, she described herself as confident, wise, and sporadic. She also said she isn’t there to find herself. She wants to win and go home with something her family can be proud of.
Other castaways have day jobs too. Mike Pinsky works for the New York Yankees, and you can read about Mike Pinsky’s net worth and salary. Cristian Chavez is an HR head at an insurance company, and we covered Cristian Chavez’s net worth as well.
What Happened on Day 3
Aaliyah’s tribe lost the first Immunity Challenge, so it went to Tribal Council. Before the vote, Aaliyah talked about targeting Jenna Doore. She also floated going after Brady Booker because of his intense personality.
That talk got back to Brady, and he turned the vote around on her. She was voted out on Day 3 and finished in 21st place. If you want to know more about the player who flipped the vote, here is Brady Booker’s net worth.
Aaliyah Puglia Net Worth and Salary
There’s no confirmed net worth or salary for Aaliyah. We won’t guess a net worth, because nothing public shows her savings, debts, or pay. What we can do is look at what people in her line of work typically earn.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks pay for both ends of her field:
| Job | Typical pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks | $17.62 an hour (median, May 2025), or about $36,650 a year working full time | BLS |
| Chefs and head cooks | $60,990 a year (median, May 2024) | BLS |
That is typical pay for the job, not Aaliyah’s actual pay. Her studies ended in 2023, so she’s early in her career. That points to the lower end of the range as the more likely picture, but that is our reasoning, not a confirmed fact. Any extra income from nutrition coaching or consulting isn’t public either.
One more thing: she was the first player voted out, so she didn’t win the $1 million prize.
How We Put This Together
- Age, hometown, and where she lives: her CBS cast bio, as copied on Survivor Wiki.
- Work history and training: The Providence Journal (citing her LinkedIn) and a public cast profile on Survivor Castaways.
- Game details: Survivor Wiki and The Providence Journal.
- Season details: Ocean State Media.
- Pay ranges: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Where we couldn’t find a confirmed answer, we say so.
FAQs
What is Aaliyah Puglia’s net worth?
It isn’t public. We don’t estimate it, because no reliable numbers exist for her savings or debts.
How much does Aaliyah Puglia make?
Her pay isn’t public. According to the BLS, cooks in the US earn a median of about $36,650 a year full time, and chefs and head cooks earn a median of $60,990. That’s typical pay for the job, not hers.
What does Aaliyah Puglia do for a living?
She’s a chef in Providence, Rhode Island. She has also worked as a food consultant and holds an NASM Nutrition Coach certification.
Why was Aaliyah Puglia voted out first?
She talked about going after Jenna Doore and Brady Booker. Word reached Brady, who turned the vote onto her. She went home on Day 3.
How old is Aaliyah Puglia?
CBS lists her as 24. A few other sites say 25, so the CBS bio is the safest number.
The Short Version
Aaliyah’s Survivor run was short, but her career as a chef is real. Her net worth and salary aren’t public, so treat any exact figure you see online with caution. The BLS ranges above are the most honest starting point.