Vanna White is cashing in big as she just signed a huge “Wheel of Fortune” contract worth millions of dollars after negotiations.
Vanna White Signs New Contract For ‘Wheel of Fortune’
White has just signed a two-year contract extension to continue as co-host of the ABC game show through the 2025-26 season, per The Hollywood Reporter. This new contract takes her two years into co-hosting alongside the new host of the show Ryan Seacrest, who will take over for long-time host Pat Sajak in fall 2024.
Although the specific details of the contract remain under wraps, we know White is getting a big payout after she previously spoke out about her salary demands. Several reports state that there is a “substantial pay increase” in the new deal, from the $3 million per year she was making for nearly 2 decades. Shockingly, she had not gotten a raise for 18 years.
Vanna White‘s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, was in on what is being described as a “very difficult negotiation” with Sony. But, it pays to have the best lawyer in town.
Pat Sajak Steps Down From Hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’
The popular game show “Wheel of Fortune” first began its run as a daytime series on NBC, debuting in 1975.
Six years later, in 1981, “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak stepped in alongside Vanna White to replace former host Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford. Today, the two still host the game show as it airs on ABC.
Sajek and White have been hosting the show together ever since, going on 39 years now, as millions of contestants have come on to try and solve enough word puzzles to get to the bonus round and spin the wheel. However, Pat Sajak will be stepping down after more than 40 years of hosting “Wheel of Fortune.”
“As previously announced, Wheel of Fortune’s Season 41, which kicked off this past week, will be the last for host Pat Sajak,” the statement said. “The show will celebrate the 41-derful seasons with him at the helm. Co-host Vanna White has extended her contract for an additional two years, keeping her revealing letters at the iconic puzzleboard through the 2025-2026 season.”
Vanna White Says Goodbye To Pat Sajak
Vanna White recently opened up about her time on “Wheel of Fortune” alongside Pat Sajak, referring to themselves as a “brother and sister team.”
“I think when Merv Griffin chose both of us, 40 and 41 years ago, he saw something between us — a brother-sister type relationship,” White told PEOPLE. “And I think that is kind of what it is. He saw that we would be able to get along, and we do. We are like a brother and sister team.”
However, when thinking about the end of their “Wheel of Fortune” run, White admits it is “depressing.”
“I don’t even want to think about that. I mean, we’re a team,” White said. “That’s depressing. I don’t even want to think about it.”
Continuing on, the 79-year-old said, “I can’t imagine. Everybody relates Wheel of Fortune to Pat and Vanna. We’re like Ken and Barbie, you know? We’ve been in everybody’s homes for 40 years, so it would be weird having somebody else turn my letters.”
