Wheel of Fortune co-host Vanna White has extended her contract on the show for an additional two years—but it took some lengthy negotiating to get there.
Reportedly, the longtime letter-flipper had held out for a significant salary increase so as to get substantially closer to the sum commanded by host Pat Sajak, who will be retiring after the current season, his 41st with the show. Replacing him will be American Idol alum Ryan Seacrest, who had recently stated that he hoped Vanna would stay on Wheel of Fortune: “I hope for nothing more than to be able to walk out on that stage and host with her,” the former Live with Kelly & Ryan host told the audience at a Fortune magazine conference earlier this month.
Vanna White Signs Wheel of Fortune Contract Extension Through 2025-26 Season
Vanna's new Wheel contract has her time on the show extended through the 2025-26 season for now, giving her at least 2 seasons with upcoming host Ryan Seacrest. TMZ reported back in June that Vanna had allegedly threatened to quit during these negotiations if her $3 million salary wasn't raised substantially to be at least much closer to Pat Sajak's $15 million yearly. In July, Sony Pictures Television — which produces Wheel of Fortune — reached an agreement with the co-host to at least continue work on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, reportedly for $100,000 a show.
This was still less than Pat's estimated $400,000-plus salary, but was a sign that perhaps relations between the game show star and the production company were softening. There was also the fact that many fans showed support for Vanna once it emerged that her future with the show past this season was uncertain, which likely contributed to the effort to keep her on.
Vanna White has been a part of Wheel of Fortune since 1982, a year into Pat Sajak's tenure as host after taking over from Merv Griffin in 1981. Griffin's co-host, Susan Stafford, had remained flipping letters into Sajak's introduction, but left to become a humanitarian worker, leading to a search for the perfect new hostess. After a tryout process on the show where multiple finalists were "auditioned" in the role for a few weeks apiece, Vanna was given the gig, soon leading to a phenomenon known as "Vannamania" during which viewers clamored each episode to see what the host would be wearing on the show.
The nighttime syndicated version of Wheel became the only version of the show in 1991 (beforehand, it had also had a daytime version), and since then both Pat and Vanna have hosted the show together pretty much continuously, aside from a few short absences due to family, health, and work commitments.
Pat Sajak Retiring From Wheel After This Season; Will Be Replaced By Ryan Seacrest
The hostess' contract extension is not the only big recent news in the Wheel of Fortune world—it has been announced that the show's main host, Pat Sajak, will be exiting the series at the end of this season after 41 years to enjoy his retirement. By signing the contract extension, Vanna will provide continuity for the show after Pat's departure through new host Ryan Seacrest's first 2 seasons, at minimum, with the show having been renewed through its 45th season. The new season, the game show's 41st, just premiered last week.
Speaking with Fortune before the contract negotiations were concluded, upcoming host Ryan Seacrest said, "I love Vanna White. I’ve known Vanna for a long time. We sat in important places next to each other. And I hope for nothing more than to be able to walk out on that stage and host with her." It's rumored that Seacrest's deal to host Wheel of Fortune might be netting him around $28 million per season. If this figure is accurate, it would make the Keeping Up with the Kardashians producer one of the highest-paid figures on television. "I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak," Seacrest recently told Variety, continuing, "I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them. One of my first jobs was hosting a little game show called Click for Merv Griffin 25 years ago so, this is truly a full circle moment for me and I’m grateful to Sony for the opportunity. I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White."
