Ben McDonnell: Age, Career, Barrel Racing, The Traitors: New Blood Status & Episode 4 Update
Ben McDonnell entered The Traitors: New Blood as a 34-year-old barrel racer, actor and podcast host from Texas. Before the season, he said he wanted the Traitor role and planned to use humor, social connections and his ability to move between different groups.
Instead, Ben became a Faithful. Through Episode 4, his most important contribution has been his decision with Michael Foote to choose secret information over extra prize money during the crypt challenge. The clue they received was real, but it ultimately sent the Faithfuls toward the wrong theory.
Current role: Faithful
Episodes completed: 4
Latest episode: Episode 4
Major Episode 3 development: Chose confidential Traitor information with Michael Foote instead of taking the larger cash option.
Major Episode 4 development: The clue he helped obtain remained central to the mistaken Arisa-Victor recruitment theory.
Current status: Still active heading into Episode 5.
Episode-by-Episode Timeline
Episode 1 — Enters as a Faithful
Ben entered the castle as a Faithful even though he had publicly said he preferred to be a Traitor. His preseason plan centered on humor, broad social connections and becoming someone different groups would want around.
Episode 2 — Survives the Opening Elimination Cycle
Ben remained in the game while Kim Daily was murdered and Madeline Kostopulos was banished. His major strategic storyline developed in the next episode.
Episode 3 — Chooses Information With Michael
Ben and Michael Foote entered a crypt and chose confidential Traitor information rather than the larger immediate cash reward. The clue told them that two contestants had recently battled in plain sight for the chance to become a Traitor.
Episode 3 — The Clue Is Shared With the Group
Ben and Michael returned to the castle and disclosed the clue. The information was genuine, but they did not know it referred to the Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs Accomplice competition.
Episode 4 — The Clue Continues to Shape Suspicion
The Faithfuls carried the recruitment theory into Episode 4 and increasingly focused on Arisa Thomas and Victor Vollbrechthausen. Ben remained one of the two people who had obtained the information that started the theory.
Episode 4 — Survives While Arisa Is Banished
Arisa received 13 votes at the Round Table, Victor received six and Michael received one. Arisa was revealed as a Faithful. Ben survived and remained in the game.
Latest Episode Update: Ben Remains a Faithful After Episode 4
Ben's current storyline is tied closely to the crypt clue he discovered with Michael. The information was one of the most valuable pieces of evidence the Faithfuls had received, but the group did not immediately understand what it referred to.
The clue pointed toward the Katie-Xavier Accomplice competition, while the Faithfuls instead connected it to the unusual interaction between Arisa and Victor. That misunderstanding helped create the theory that ultimately contributed to Arisa's banishment.
Ben therefore enters Episode 5 as an active Faithful with an important piece of the season's puzzle already in his hands, even though the connection has not yet been correctly made.
Ben McDonnell Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ben McDonnell |
| Age | 34 |
| Hometown | Granbury, Texas |
| Professions | Barrel racer, actor, podcast host, photographer |
| Acting Union | SAG-AFTRA |
| The Traitors Role | Faithful |
| Pre-Show Preferred Role | Traitor |
| Major Episode 3 Event | Chose confidential Traitor information with Michael Foote |
| Current Status | Active after Episode 4 |
| Self-Declared Superlative | The Social Butterfly |
Who Is Ben McDonnell?
Ben McDonnell is a Texas-based entertainer and competitor whose public career combines acting, barrel racing, podcasting and photography. His official website describes him as a SAG-AFTRA actor working between Los Angeles and Dallas while maintaining his life in Texas.
That combination gives Ben a distinctly different profile from many of the other contestants. He has experience performing for cameras, competing on horseback and speaking publicly, while also presenting himself as someone who is comfortable moving between very different groups.
Ben's Acting Career
Ben's acting career includes film and television work as well as independent projects. His professional biography lists credits including Concussion, Amazon's Class Act, Blind Love, What Would You Do? and The Ellen Show.
His official site also describes work behind the camera. Ben has produced and directed independent projects, including the documentary I. His acting background is useful context for The Traitors because the show asks contestants to manage both what they know and what they present to everyone else.
Ben's Barrel Racing Career
Barrel racing is a substantial part of Ben's real-life identity rather than a one-line reality-show label. His public biography says he has ridden horses since childhood and competed on barrel-racing circuits including the National Barrel Horse Association.
Competition records also show Ben riding the horse One Out Of The Kash at barrel-racing events in Texas. His experience in the sport adds a physical and competitive side to his otherwise entertainment-focused career.
Podcast: It's Ben a Week
Ben also hosts It's Ben a Week, a weekly podcast that combines his Texas background with his entertainment work. The show's public description presents it as a conversational program covering relationships, Hollywood, personal stories and unusual experiences.
The podcast is another part of Ben's public-facing career. Like his acting work, it requires him to communicate with an audience and switch comfortably between humor and personal storytelling.
Ben and Photography
Photography is another creative field listed in Ben's public biography. Alongside acting and podcasting, he has developed work behind the camera and uses photography as part of his wider creative identity.
That makes Ben less of a single-profession contestant and more of a multi-disciplinary entertainer whose public work already involves performance, visual storytelling and communication.
Why Ben Wanted to Be a Traitor
Ben said before the season that he wanted the Traitor role. He described the position as appealing because the objective would be clear: build relationships, remain trusted and secretly remove the Faithfuls.
He also joked about the contrast between his friendly public persona and the role's requirements, describing the Traitor job as an opportunity to make friends and then betray them when the game demanded it.
His official cast material identified him as the “Social Butterfly”, a description that matches the broad social approach he planned to bring into the castle.
Ben's Pre-Show Social Strategy
Ben wanted to be useful to different groups inside the castle. He described a plan to become close to the women in the cast while also making the men see him as someone worth keeping around.
Humor was another central part of his plan. Ben said making people laugh was his natural response to tension and that he expected comedy to help him lower the temperature when discussions became uncomfortable.
He also believed his physical experience with horses could make him valuable during challenges, giving other contestants another reason to want him around.
Ben's Actual Game Strategy Through Episode 4
Ben's actual game has remained relatively social, but his biggest strategic moment has been his willingness to trade immediate cash for information.
In the Episode 3 crypt, Ben and Michael rejected the larger money option and chose confidential information instead. That decision shows that Ben was willing to make a long-term information play rather than simply maximize the visible prize pot.
The information turned out to be difficult to interpret. The clue was accurate, but the Faithfuls connected it to the wrong players.
Ben and Michael Foote
Michael Foote is central to Ben's Episode 3 story. The pair entered the crypt together and jointly chose the confidential clue.
They then returned to the castle and shared the information with the group. That made Ben and Michael the two Faithfuls most closely associated with the clue that later shaped the Arisa-Victor theory.
The partnership also fits Ben's preseason emphasis on social connections. Rather than working completely alone, he had another contestant with whom he could compare observations and make a shared decision.
Ben and the Arisa-Victor Theory
The clue Ben and Michael found said that two players had battled in plain sight for a Traitor opportunity. The actual players were Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs, but the Faithfuls did not know that.
Instead, the clue became connected to Arisa and Victor after the group considered Arisa's unusual interaction with Victor. That theory continued into Episode 4 and contributed to the Round Table that sent Arisa home as a Faithful.
Ben's role in the storyline is therefore best described factually: he and Michael found the clue, shared it, and became part of the investigation built around its incorrect interpretation.
Ben's Most “Traitorous” Story Before the Show
In preseason material, Ben shared a story about deceiving his parents after college. He said he told them that he had landed a major Los Angeles advertising internship and even staged photographs outside an office so the story looked real. He said the deception helped him secure financial support while he moved toward an entertainment career.
It was presented as a playful example of his ability to commit to a story, not as evidence about his real-life character. The anecdote is useful in the profile because it came directly from Ben and gives readers a glimpse of the humor he brought into the casting process.
Current Role & Status
| Category | Current Information |
|---|---|
| Role | Faithful |
| Status | Active after Episode 4 |
| Episodes Completed | 4 |
| Major Episode 3 Decision | Chose confidential Traitor information with Michael Foote |
| Key Current Storyline | Crypt clue and the mistaken Arisa-Victor theory |
| Episode 4 Outcome | Survived while Arisa was banished and Logan was murdered |
| Next Episode | Episode 5 |
Ben McDonnell on Social Media
Related Traitors: New Blood Profiles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ben McDonnell a Traitor or Faithful?
Ben McDonnell is a Faithful.
Is Ben still on The Traitors: New Blood?
Yes. Ben survived Episode 4 and remains active heading into Episode 5.
What did Ben and Michael find in the crypt?
They chose confidential information instead of the larger cash option and received a clue about two contestants who had recently battled in plain sight for a Traitor opportunity.
Did Ben and Michael interpret the clue correctly?
No. The clue referred to the Katie Fites and Xavier Scruggs Accomplice competition, but the Faithfuls connected it to Arisa Thomas and Victor Vollbrechthausen.
What does Ben McDonnell do for work?
Ben is a barrel racer, actor, podcast host and photographer. His acting career is associated with SAG-AFTRA, and he maintains a professional presence between Texas and Los Angeles.
Did Ben want to be a Traitor?
Yes. Before the season, Ben said he preferred the Traitor role and planned to use humor and broad social connections as part of his game.
What podcast does Ben McDonnell host?
Ben hosts It's Ben a Week, a conversational podcast covering entertainment, personal stories, relationships and other topics.
What is Ben McDonnell known for besides The Traitors?
His public work includes acting, barrel racing, podcasting and photography. His acting credits include film and television projects, while his barrel-racing career includes professional competition.
Sources
A.V. Club: Episode coverage documenting the crypt decision, the clue and its role in the Arisa-Victor theory: A.V. Club.
Entertainment Weekly: Preseason cast material and Ben's own “most traitorous” story: Entertainment Weekly.
NBCUniversal: Official cast announcement for The Traitors: New Blood: NBCUniversal.
Ben McDonnell official website: Acting career, biography and creative work: BenMcDonnell.com.
It's Ben a Week: Ben's official podcast and media work: It's Ben a Week.
National Barrel Horse Association: Barrel-racing organization and competition information: NBHA.
Barrel Bash: Competition records showing Ben's barrel-racing participation: Barrel Bash.
Ben's existing TraitorsNewBlood profile: Original profile information and season background: TraitorsNewBlood.digital.
Full Cast & Live Statistics: Current cast, roles, status and elimination information: TraitorsNewBlood.digital.