After nine emotional seasons exposing online deception, Catfish host Nev Schulman has officially ended his MTV journey, revealing that the viral documentary that once humiliated him ultimately led to a 15-year career — and now, a surprising new chapter as a New York real estate agent, where he’s turning his empathy and people skills into a fresh start.

After more than a decade of exposing digital deception, Nev Schulman is trading catfishing for contracts.

The longtime host of MTV’s hit series Catfish: The TV Show has confirmed that his journey with the show has officially come to an end after nine seasons — and he’s opening up about what comes next.

In an emotional new interview filmed in New York City, Schulman reflected on the end of an era that began with one of the most talked-about documentaries of the 2010s and revealed the unexpected direction his life is now taking: real estate.

The revelation came during an exclusive sit-down for ET Then & Now, where Schulman revisited his unlikely rise to fame.

“It all started with me being lied to,” he said with a laugh, referring to his 2010 documentary Catfish, which chronicled his real-life experience of being deceived in an online romance.

“What was supposed to be an embarrassing, personal disaster somehow became this massive cultural moment.

I never imagined it would lead to a 15-year journey on television.”

The original Catfish film not only sparked widespread discussion about internet relationships but also coined a new term for online deception.

In 2012, MTV adapted the concept into a weekly investigative show, with Schulman and co-host Max Joseph tracking down digital impostors and confronting them on camera.

The series became a hit, blending reality TV with raw human drama, and turned Schulman into a reluctant guru of online truth.

But after years of long filming schedules, emotional confrontations, and constant travel, Schulman admits the decision to move on didn’t come overnight.

“When you dedicate that much time to something, it becomes a part of you,” he said.

“But I also realized I was ready for a new challenge — something that connects me to people in a different way.

”

That new challenge, surprisingly, is real estate.

Now based full-time in New York City, Schulman recently earned his real estate license and joined a boutique brokerage specializing in high-end properties in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

“People always laugh when I tell them,” he joked.

“But think about it — my whole career has been about meeting strangers, listening to their stories, and helping them find what’s real.

Turns out, that’s exactly what real estate is too.”

In the interview, Schulman revealed he’s been quietly training and shadowing top agents for the past year, even while filming the final season of Catfish.

He described the transition as both humbling and exciting.

“On Catfish, people came to me with emotional needs — they wanted truth or closure,” he said.

“Now, they come to me looking for a home, a sense of stability.

It’s different, but in both cases, I’m helping people move forward.”

Fans have had mixed reactions to the end of Catfish, with many expressing sadness online.

“Nev was the reason I watched,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“No one else could handle those confrontations with that kind of calm and empathy.

” Others have speculated whether MTV might revive the show with a new host, though network insiders have yet to confirm any future plans.

Schulman, however, isn’t closing any doors.

“If the right project comes along — maybe something that combines media, storytelling, and real human connection — I’m always open,” he said.

Reflecting on his years chasing digital ghosts, Schulman admitted that the experience taught him more about human nature than he ever expected.

“You see people at their most vulnerable — when they’re lonely, hopeful, or desperate for love,” he said quietly.

“I learned that everyone just wants to be seen for who they really are.

That’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”

As for his next chapter, Schulman says he’s both nervous and inspired.

“I’m starting over in a way,” he said.

“But I’ve never been afraid of a little reinvention.

Life’s about adapting — whether it’s to a new job, a new city, or a new truth.”

While fans may miss his investigations into online romance gone wrong, Schulman insists this is far from the end of his story.

“I’m grateful for every single person who watched, reached out, or shared their story,” he said.

“Catfish changed my life.

But now, I get to help people find a place to start the next chapter of theirs — literally.”

And just like that, the man who once exposed the lies behind online profiles is now helping clients find something much more tangible: home.