He is a co-founder of Rhinosoft Interactive, a maker of Christian-based computer software. He is currently best-known as a contestant in Survivor: The Australian Outback, and the first of only two contestants in the American show's history to be MEDEVACed from the show due to a medical emergency. The second was Bruce Kanegai, a contestant in Survivor's 12th season, Survivor: Panama.

Michael, who is known as "Mike" or "Scoop" among his friends, is married, and has four children ages 17 to 3. His father died of cancer (at age 28) when he was four years old. His mother married baseball coach Clarence Landry when he was about 10 years old, and for a few years he took the last name as well. However, his name was never legally changed, and he reverted back to Skupin during high school.

Michael appeared on Survivor: The Australian Outback in 2001, where he was a member of the Kucha tribe. One of the incidents he is known for is a well-publicized hunt he undertook where he killed a small wild boar, then painted his face with the boar's blood. That event was overshadowed, however, by his medical-related departure on Day 17. He was stoking a fire at the Kucha camp after a Reward Challenge victory, when he inhaled smoke and passed out, falling forward into the fire pit. As a result, he suffered second and third degree burns on his face, hands and chest which necessitated his evacuation and removal from the game. Tina Wesson later went on to say that had this not happened, she would have lost the season.

Michael, who was raised Catholic, is a born again Christian. He created the charity Victory Over Addiction in 2001 to help combat drug addiction among children.