Who is Michael Mroz from Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2?
Michael Mroz, also known as ‘Plater 089’, is a 63-year-old musician, guitarist, and filmmaker from Texas, who plays Angus Young in an AC/DC tribute band. He was a standout contestant on Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2, but was eliminated during episode 2 in a dorm test.
How old is Michael Mroz?
Michael is 63 years old as of 2025. He always celebrates his birthday every year, and his zodiac sign is Scorpio. His exact date, month, and year of birth remain unknown at the moment, but will be updated once available.
Personal Information Summary
| Real Name | Michael Mroz |
| Gender Identity | Male |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly specified |
| Age | 63 years old |
| Birth Place | Not publicly disclosed |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White-American |
| Net Worth | Not publicly estimated |
| Occupation | Musician, Guitarist, and Filmmaker |
| Reality TV Appearance | Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 (Netflix) |
| Social Media |
Early Life and Education
As of now, there is no publicly available information about Michael Mroz’s early life or educational background. Despite his brief but memorable appearance as Player 089 on Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2, most coverage of Michael Mroz focuses on his gameplay and post-show activities. Michael’s mom is 87 years old as of 2025 and lives with his sister in Ohio.
| Parent’s name | Father: Information currently unavailable Mother: Information currently unavailable |
| Siblings | Information currently unavailable |
Michael Mroz Married
Mroz hasn’t shared his marital status publicly, and no verified sources confirm whether he’s married. He, however, has a son called Alex. On September 28, 2025, he posted a photo of his son on his Instagram account with the caption, “My son Alex and I backstage with Stevie Young in 2016 on AC/DC’s ‘Rock Or Bust’ tour.
| Relationship Status | Information not available |
| Partner | Information not available |
| Children | Son, Alex |
What does Michael Mroz do to earn a living?
Mroz earns a living as a guitarist and filmmaker, actively pursuing creative work in both music and visual storytelling.
Michael Mroz, Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2
Mroz proudly announced to his Instagram followers that he had joined Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2. On one of his Instagram posts, posted on October 31, 2025, Mroz captioned, “I am so honored to announce that @realbackinblack will be competing on @squidgamenetflix The Challenge Season 2. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the most rewarding. Tune in November 4th on @netflix 🦑”
On joining the game, Mroz had a clear mindset: “How you play the game is who you are.” He stood out in the premiere episode of Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2, where 456 contestants competed in high-stakes games of strategy and endurance. During the initial mini-challenge, which eliminated half the players, Michael took charge of counting numbers for his team, helping them secure a crucial win. However, in Episode 2, the dynamics shifted. Michael lagged in the timed challenge, prompting the group to vote on who to eliminate.. He expected loyalty from his team, but in a twist, the votes turned against him, cutting his journey short.
Although Mroz was eliminated, he wants to return to the show and is urging his followers to vote him back into Squid Game: The Challenge Season 3. On one of his posts on his Instagram account on November 11, 2025, Mroz captioned, “2ND CHANCE FAN VOTE‼️ Vote me back into Squid Game: The Challenge Season 3 – LINK IN BIO! I would love an opportunity to get back into the game! I’m counting on your vote😉.” He acknowledges the opportunity he had to be part of the game, saying that it helped him make friends from all over the world and who have already reached out with such kind words of support. He stated, “One of the most incredible things about this adventure was getting to make friends from all over the world. You all changed my life and gave me my most epic day ever. Thank you.”
Other Ventures
Outside the game, Michael Mroz is a guitarist and filmmaker. He hosts the podcast For Those About To Talk and streams it across all major platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts. He is also the founder and Guitarist of the Back in Black Dallas band, which he led in participating in Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2. The band family masterfully recreates the energy of the AC/DC rock band. The Back in Black band family has had an extensive and memorable journey, having performed in concerts and major events across the country and even making international appearances. The band achieved a major milestone by earning a feature in Record Collector’s 50th Anniversary AC/DC magazine.
Some of the notable performances by the Back in Black band family were performing ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’ live in Atlanta, GA, playing the historic @doseydoethebigbarn in Woodlands, TX, and performing at Jack’s Throwback” tribute festival. Through his Instagram posts, Mroz shares a glimpse of their adventures while travelling to different places. Notably, they have been to Maui, Albuquerque, Hard Rock Casino Rockford, Top Golf in Brainerd, MN, and New Mexico. They’ve also visited several other places, too many to highlight individually.
In addition, Michael is the Director, Writer, and Producer of the acclaimed music documentary, ‘My Stupid Tribute Band.’ It is a film that chronicles his band’s 20-year journey, which reached new heights when their lead singer auditioned for AC/DC itself (information as per moviedelic.com). It’s worth noting that Mroz learned how to be in a band at Somsen Hall at Winona State University, where he has many wonderful memories. He also had the opportunity to open for Cheap Trick, an experience he termed ‘a dream come true.’ In addition, his band was invited by Rick’s guitar tech to sing “Surrender” on their show.
All you need to know about “Squid Game: The Challenge’ Season 2”
Squid Game: The Challenge is returning for another high-stakes outing on Netflix, with the second season now available to watch on the streamer. The season contains 9 episodes; the First four premiered on November 4, 2025, followed by four more episodes on November 11, 2025, and the season finale will premiere on November 18, 2025. Inspired by the original scripted series, this season will once again feature 456 contestants competing for a life-changing $4.56 million prize, the largest single prize in reality TV history. The season introduces a mix of returning and new games. Familiar challenges like Red Light, Green Light, Marbles, and Mingle return, while new additions such as Slides and Ladders, Six-Legged Pentathlon, and The Count make the competition even more interesting because of their complexity. Each game is designed to test different aspects of the contestants’ abilities, whether it’s trust, logic, teamwork, or deception.
Season 2 was filmed in the United Kingdom, using elaborate sets that replicate the surreal and colorful aesthetic of the original Squid Game. It features a diverse cast of 456 players from across the globe, including the U.S., UK, Ireland, and beyond, each identified by a number and with a story of their own. The contestants’ age range from 21 to 77, with expertise ranging from creators, nurses, athletes, an NFL cheerleader, poker champions, bartenders, four family duos, and even Robert Pattinson’s stunt double in Twilight. With each player facing elimination at every turn, players must master alliances, adaptability, and emotional control to survive in the game. Some of the notable contestants include;
- Mark Levy, Player 100
- August Schroeder, Player 111
- Sydney Belle, player 016
- Jonti Crisp, Player 118
- Perla Figuereo, player 072
- Viper Glanton, Player 152
- Natalie Hortz, Player 75
- Austin Carpenter, Player 153
- Jeffrey Figuereo, Player 283
- Samantha Chan, Player 352
How Tall is Michael Mroz?
Mroz is approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall.
Michael Mroz Net Worth
No verified sources have disclosed Mroz’s net worth, and estimates remain unavailable as of 2025.
Social Media
Mroz is gaining popularity on social media, where he shares his creative work, performances with his band, and behind-the-scenes of his podcast. You can follow him on his Instagram account @mrozmichael, where he has more than 800 followers.