Bernt Bodal, born June 14, 1953, was a Norwegian-American businessman and musician. He served as chairman and CEO of American Seafoods for more than two decades.
Bodal died on February 18, 2026, at age 72, following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Who is Bernt Bodal?
Bernt Bodal was a Norwegian-American businessman best known as the longtime CEO of American Seafoods, one of the largest seafood companies in the United States. He built his career from the ground up, starting as a deckhand before eventually owning a majority stake in the company.
Bodal was also a lifelong musician, playing bass guitar since his teenage years in Norway. He performed alongside artists including Eddie Vedder, Sammy Hagar, and Roger Daltrey later in life.
He gained additional public recognition after appearing on the CBS series Undercover Boss in 2012. Bodal died in February 2026 in Columbus, Ohio, following a cancer diagnosis in the fall of 2022.
Early Life of Bernt Bodal
Bernt Olav Bodal was born on June 14, 1953, in Ski, Norway, and grew up on the outskirts of Oslo. He spent his childhood building ski jumps with friends and participating in Speider, Norway’s version of the Boy Scouts.
He discovered his love of guitar and music as a boy. After finishing high school, Bodal spent much of the 1970s touring Norway as bass guitarist for his band Høst, recording three albums with the group.
In July 1978, he married Elisabeth Bang in Svolvær, Norway. A month later, the couple moved to Seattle to pursue opportunities in the Alaskan fishing industry, following family who had already relocated there.
Bernt Bodal Age
Bernt Bodal was 72 years old at the time of his death, born on June 14, 1953, and passing on February 18, 2026. His zodiac sign was Gemini.
He was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2022 but continued traveling, golfing, and performing music through much of his final years. Bodal kept playing with his band, Høst, until his final weeks of life.
Bernt Bodal Ethnicity and Nationality
Bernt Bodal held both Norwegian and American nationality. He was born in Norway and became a naturalized U.S. citizen after moving to Seattle to work in the fishing industry.
He stayed closely connected to his Norwegian roots throughout his life, maintaining ties to family and friends in Norway. Bodal spent his final Christmas skiing in Norway before his death in February 2026.
Bernt Bodal Career
Bernt Bodal’s career moved from working the deck of Alaskan fishing boats to leading one of the country’s largest seafood companies.
Early Career
After relocating to Seattle in 1978, Bodal began working as a deckhand on crab boats in the Alaskan fishing industry. He advanced steadily, becoming a mate and eventually the captain of a factory trawler within about a year.
He spent roughly 13 years fishing in Alaska and became part owner of a trawler during that time. Bodal has said he learned nearly every skill in the business directly on the job.
Building American Seafoods
Bodal joined American Seafoods Company in 1990 as a minority partner, becoming president of the company in 1994. In 1999, he and his management team secured the exclusive right to buy the company from its Norwegian owners for about 475 million dollars, backed by a New York equity firm.
He became CEO of American Seafoods Group in January 2000. Bodal went on to lead a management buyout of Centre Partners’ stake in 2006, and by 2010 he held a majority equity position in the company.
Later Career and Recognition
Bodal gained wider public attention in 2012 when he appeared on an episode of CBS’s Undercover Boss, working undercover as a deckhand and in a fish processing plant in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He also earned an Airline Transport Pilot rating and personally captained the company’s business jet.
He stepped down as CEO of American Seafoods Group in 2018 after more than 25 years with the company, though he remained on its board of directors. Bodal was later elected to the board of Assuranceforeningen Skuld.
In his later years, Bodal returned to music, performing with the bands Høst and Aunt Mary and forging friendships through the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp. He was inducted into the Rock Camp Hall of Fame on February 25, 2025, at a ceremony held at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood.
Bernt Bodal Wife
Bernt Bodal married three times over the course of his life. He first married Elisabeth Bang in July 1978 in Svolvær, Norway, and the couple raised three children together before their marriage ended in 2008.
He was later married to Elizabeth Lyn Vargas, who went on to appear on The Real Housewives of Orange County. Bodal and Vargas wed in 2000, separated in 2017, and finalized their divorce in July 2020, ending a relationship that spanned about two decades.
Bodal married Michelle Fox in March 2023 after several years together. Fox remained by his side throughout his cancer treatment until his death in February 2026.
Bernt Bodal Children
Bernt Bodal had three children with his first wife, Elisabeth Bang: Thomas Bodal, Ellen Medley, and Alexander Bodal. He became a grandfather in 2013 and is survived by three grandchildren, Katherine, Henrik, and James Medley.
He also gained two stepchildren, Alex and Avery Fox, through his marriage to Michelle Fox. Bodal was known to prioritize time with his grandchildren, often golfing with them at a club in La Quinta, California.
Bernt Bodal Net Worth
Bernt Bodal’s estimated net worth was $200 million as of 2026.
His wealth came primarily from his majority ownership stake in American Seafoods, built over more than two decades leading the company.
The Bottom Line
Bernt Bodal rose from working as a deckhand on Alaskan crab boats to becoming CEO and majority owner of American Seafoods, one of the largest seafood companies in the United States. He led a 475 million dollar buyout of the company in 1999 and served as its chairman and CEO until 2018.
Bodal never gave up music, touring Norway with his band Høst in the 1970s and later performing with Eddie Vedder, Sammy Hagar, and Roger Daltrey. He was inducted into the Rock Camp Hall of Fame in February 2025, just a year before his death.
Bodal spent his final months traveling, skiing in Norway, and playing music with his bandmates despite his cancer diagnosis. He died on February 18, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio, survived by his wife, Michelle Fox, his three children, and three grandchildren.
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