'As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years.

Sajak will continue to serve as a consultant on the show for three years after his retirement as host. The show soon shifted to a syndication and aired in the evening in many markets, becoming one of the most successful game shows in history. He took over duties from Chuck Woolery, who was the show's first host when it debuted in 1975.Īlong with Vanna White, who joined the show in 1982, Sajak has been a television mainstay. Sajak, 76, has presided over the game show, which features contestants guessing letters to try to fill out words and phrases to win money and prizes, since 1981. In short, she arguably adds just as much value.Television Pat Sajak: 'I Didn't See Myself As A Game Show Host' The duo are in all the Wheel marketing together (unlike the late-night shows), and Sony’s own research shows Vanna’s appeal to women helps drive the show’s older, female viewership. And at this point, she’s arguably become more associated with Wheel of Fortune than Sajak is. Her enthusiasm and silly button segments with Sajak at the end of each episode are fan favorites. She’s a personality, part of the show’s look, feel, and, let’s be frank, appeal. She does way more publicity for the show than Sajak. White spends the same time on set as Sajak-more, actually, due to hair, makeup, and wardrobe obligations, my Sony TV source noted. Analogous? There’s no real comp for what Vanna does, which means she’s not exactly Jennifer Lawrence or Michelle Williams when it comes to shining examples of pay disparity in Hollywood.īut… that’s a pretty shortsighted way of assessing value, in my opinion. Ed McMahon and Andy Richter made way less than Johnny Carson and Conan O’Brien, respectively.

White doesn’t even turn letters anymore, instead tapping the lighted rectangles and silently cheering on contestants from her perch. Sure, OK, he’s the host, she’s the co-host, and-cue the voice of the Bobs from Office Space- What would you say that Vanna… actually… does… here? An OK point. White currently makes about $3 million a year for her duties on the syndicated Wheel, per multiple sources. I’ve since confirmed that fact (a Sony rep declined to comment on that and other new details reported here), and it led me down a wild path about “America’s Game” and what’s going on behind the scenes. After I wrote about Wheel of Fortune on Sunday and the impending retirement of host Pat Sajak, a Sony TV source reached out to note one thing I missed: Vanna White, Sajak’s co-host for four decades, is negotiating to continue on Wheel beyond when her deal ends at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.

Has vanna white hosted wheel of fortune