Vanna White is one of the big names in the American TV industry and is best known as the co-host of the game show, Wheel of Fortune. She has been associated with the show and held her position since 1982 as she started her career as a model studying fashion.
Vanna even competed in Miss Georgia USA in 1978 before she became a household name in the world of television.
Back in August ‘23, it was reported that after being diagnosed with COVID-19, her absence coincided with her ongoing contract negotiations that raised speculations of her leaving the show. However, Wheel of Fortune producers reveal that they have extended her contract with Vanna White, and she isn’t going anywhere for now. She will remain on the show through the 2025-2026 season.
What Happened to Vanna White?
As she was a staple on the Wheel of Fortune since her 1982 debut, there were rumors that she had left the show. It was reported that Vanna White did not work for the show’s annual “Teachers Week” after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
As the episodes were filmed, the production could not wait until she got better, as the episodes were scheduled to air in October.
It was also reported that Vanna White hasn’t received a raise in 18 years and hired a high-powered attorney, Bryan Freedman, to help her with negotiations. Puck News claimed that she has been making $3 million a year since 2005, while a 2016 report from Forbes alleged that her co-host Sajak cashes in a hefty amount of $15 million a year.
Has Vanna White Extended Her Contract with Wheel of Fortune?
While speculations were high that she might have left the show, her contract has been renewed, and she will stay for a bit longer. A representative from Sony Pictures Television confirmed that Vanna White will continue to reveal letters on the Wheel of Fortune puzzle board through the game show as they have extended her contract for the 2025-26 season.
Agreeing to the contract, Vanna White has signed a two-year contract extension to continue as co-host of the show through the upcoming two years. She will get into the hosting tenure of Ryan Seacrest, who will take over for longtime host Pat Sajak in the fall of 2024.
Did Vanna White Asked for A Raise In Salary?
There were reports that she was not happy with the salary from the makers and got into a salary negotiation for her work. While Vanna joined the show in 1982, she negotiated her salary deal for the syndicated show and fought to make at least as much as spinmeister Pat Sajak, a source said. However, the makers did not agree to it, as her lawyer Bryan Freedman asked for 50% of what Pat was making.
“50 percent of Pat’s salary is so outrageous that no one in their right mind could say that it’s fair,” said the source to PEOPLE. Reportedly, Pat Sajak made around $400k an episode, and Vanna settled for $100k an episode, which was a “meaningful bump” from her last contract.
While Vanna White has been flipping and revealing letters on the show for more than four decades alongside Pat Sajak, do you think the raise was justified? Let us know in the comments what you think about it.
Wheel of Fortune is available to watch on Hulu.
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