The invention discloses a surface-active two-tailed hydrophobic associated polymer and a preparation method thereof; the surface-active two-tailed hydrophobic associated polymer is prepared via micellar free radical copolymerization: adding a surfactant, sodium lauryl sulfate, and a hydrophobic monomer, N-phenethyl-N-alkyl (methyl) acrylamide or N-benzyl-N-alkyl (methyl) acrylamide into the aqueous solution of acrylamide, acrylic acid, 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, and surface-active macromonomer polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (methyl) acrylate, using the surfactant to solubilize the hydrophobic monomer in the formed micelle, using sodium hydroxide to adjust pH to 6-8, and copolymerizing the hydrophobic monomer and a water-soluble monomer by means of photo-initiation. The properties, such as tackifying performance, temperature resistance, salt resistance and hydrolysis resistance, of the polymer can be effectively improved, the preparation method and principle of the polymer are reliable, and the preparation method is simple to perform and has a promising application prospect.