Vanna White

Vanna White Secures Two-Year Contract Extension on “Wheel of Fortune”

Longtime “Wheel of Fortune” co-host Vanna White has signed a two-year contract extension, ensuring her continued presence on the iconic game show. Announced on September 19, this agreement follows challenging negotiations as White approached the end of her current contract during the 2023-24 season. White, who had not received a salary increase in 18 years for her role on the syndicated version of the show, reportedly earned $3 million annually—substantially less than her co-host Pat Sajak, who earned nearly five times as much, according to Puck. While specific terms of her new contract were not disclosed, sources from TMZ indicate that White secured a “substantial pay increase.” With this extension, White will continue her duties alongside Ryan Seacrest, who will succeed Sajak as host starting in the fall of 2024.

Who Is Vanna White?

Vanna White is a well-known television personality and the longtime co-host of the iconic game show Wheel of Fortune, as well as its spinoff, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Before gaining fame on Wheel, White worked as a professional model. She joined the show in 1982, alongside host Pat Sajak, and became an integral part of its success. Her primary role involves revealing letters on the puzzle board, but she is equally recognized for her elegant and frequently changing wardrobe. Beyond television, White is also a passionate crocheter and has developed her own yarn line, called “Vanna’s Choice.”

Early Life and Acting Career

Vanna White, born Vanna Marie Rosich on February 18, 1957, in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, experienced a significant family change early in life when her parents divorced during her infancy. Raised by her mother, Joan, and stepfather, Herbert White Jr., in North Myrtle Beach, she later adopted her stepfather’s surname.

After completing high school, White pursued modeling in Atlanta while attending the Atlanta School of Fashion. In 1979, she relocated to Los Angeles to follow her passion for acting. However, in 1980, she returned to South Carolina to be with her mother, who was battling ovarian cancer.

Following her mother’s passing, White returned to Hollywood with a renewed sense of purpose. She secured several minor roles in films, such as Mickey in Gypsy Angels (1980), a small part in Looker (1981) alongside Albert Finney, and the role of Doris in the high school thriller Graduation Day (1981). In addition to her film roles, she appeared in a 1982 episode of the television series Star of the Family.

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host

Later in 1982, however, White got the job that would make her career. She was chosen out of 200 applicants to join new host and former weatherman Pat Sajak on the NBC game show Wheel of Fortune, created by entertainment giant Merv Griffin. The show met with tremendous success over the next several years, and by 1986, a syndicated evening version attracted 30 million viewers—twice as many as the No. 2 syndicated program, MAS*H—and grossed $100 million a year. In 1999, its 16th year in syndication, Wheel of Fortune was seen by approximately 40 million people.

White’s position as co-host and chief letter-turner while modeling of an ever-changing line of designs on Wheel of Fortune quickly made her a huge star. Suddenly, “Vannamania” was sweeping the nation, and White soon earned a number of lucrative endorsement contracts and even starred in the NBC movie Venus: The Goddess of Love. While more skeptical media observers mocked White for her limited acting ability and her position on Wheel as a non-speaking clotheshorse, the majority of viewers developed a liking to her, due in no small part to her beauty, energy, and constant charisma. Her popularity as an icon peaked during the mid- to late 1980s.In 1992, White was recognized in The Guinness Book of World Records as TV’s most frequent clapper, with an average of 720 claps per show and over 28,000 per season. A ghostwritten autobiography of the game show star, entitled Vanna Speaks, was published in 1987.

Of her longtime career on Wheel of Fortune, White has stated, “It’s not the most intellectual job in the world, but I do have to know the letters.” She also once joked, “When I was having that alphabet soup, I never thought that it would pay off.”

After more than three decades on air, White stepped in to host Wheel of Fortune by herself when Sajak was hospitalized for emergency surgery in late 2019. White will remain with the show when Ryan Seacrest takes over hosting duties from Sajak in fall 2024.

Salary Dispute Amid Contract Negotiations

As her contract for the 2023-24 season neared its end, Vanna White sought a salary increase, marking her first raise in 18 years for the syndicated version of Wheel of Fortune. To spearhead the negotiations, White hired renowned entertainment lawyer Bryan Freedman, known for his assertive approach, to secure the pay raise. At the time, White’s annual salary for the syndicated show stood at $3 million, significantly lower than Pat Sajak’s earnings, which were nearly five times higher, according to Puck. While White had received raises for her work on ABC’s Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, this disparity became a focal point in negotiations.

In mid-September 2023, after protracted discussions, White signed a two-year contract extension. Although the specifics of the agreement were not disclosed, TMZ reported that she received a “substantial pay increase.”

Ex-Husband and Children

White’s personal life was marked by tragedy in 1986, when her longtime partner John Gibson, a soap opera actor and Chippendales dancer, died in a plane crash.In 1990, White married restaurateur George San Pietro. Their son, Nicholas, was born in 1994, and their daughter, Giovanna, arrived in 1997. White and San Pietro divorced in 2002.

A couple of years later, she was engaged to finance mogul Michael Kaye, but the two never married. White later became involved in a long-term relationship with real estate developer John Donaldson.