Who is replacing Pat Sajak on ‘Wheel of Fortune?’

The longtime host of the syndicated game show Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak, has recently announced his retirement after more than four decades. The upcoming season of the popular game show that has been running in its current incarnation since 1983 will mark Sajak’s final spin. He announced in a tweet on June 13, stating:

“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)”

The 76-year-old personality has held the position of host on the show ever since, and received 19 nominations for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host, winning three times. He also holds a Guinness world record for the longest career as a game show host for the same show. Now that our beloved Sajak is bidding farewell, the show officials have the challenging job to bring in a deserving replacement.

Who is taking over for Pat Sajak on ‘Wheel of Fortune?’

Sajak has been running the show with mastery and has set high expectations for the next host. That host, as the rumors foretold, will be media personality and producer Ryan Seacrest, who had reportedly been in talks to be the next Wheel of Fortune host for some time.

Seacrest ended his contract as the host of Live with Kelly and Ryan in April 2023. He has also successfully hosted American Idol, American Top 40, and On Air with Ryan Seacrest and rose as a promising personality. He has received Emmy Award nominations for American Idol every year from 2004 to 2013, and again in 2016, proving his skills.

Lucas Shaw, the Bloomberg reporter who originally broke the news of Sajak’s retirement, followed up in a tweet on Monday night revealing that Seacrest had been in talks with the producers of Wheel of Fortune.

Seacrest will officially take over as the Wheel of Fortune host following Sajak’s final hosting episode, which airs this evening. According to a statement by Suzanne Prete, EVP of Game Shows at Sony Pictures Television, it is confirmed that Sajak has agreed to continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year hosting.