After more than 40 years in the role, Pat Sajak announced on June 12 that he’s retiring from hosting the syndicated game show Wheel of Fortune. Sajak shared the news via Twitter, confirming that although he’s ready to kick his feet up and watch the show from home, he’ll stick around for one more season.
“Well, the time has come,” Sajak tweeted. “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!).”
Pat Sajak is 76 years old and Vanna White is 66
Sajak is 76 years old. He was born on Oct. 26, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois — so he’ll turn 77 while Wheel of Fortune’s 41st season airs.
Sajak has worked alongside Vanna White — the other face of Wheel of Fortune who’s charged with revealing letters on the board — since September 1983. Born on Feb. 18, 1957, in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, White is 66 years old. She’s given no indication that she’ll part ways with Wheel of Fortune alongside Sajak. However, she sent a heartwarming message to him after he announced his impending departure.
“When we started @WheelofFortune who could have imagined we’d still be at it 41 seasons later?” White tweeted on June 13. “I couldn’t be happier to have shared the stage with you for all these years with one more to come. Cheers to you, @patsajak!”
In 2019, Sajak earned the Guinness World Record for having the “longest career as a game show host for the same show,” beating out Price Is Right’s Bob Barker.
Contestants must have a good combination of word-puzzle skills and luck to make it to the bonus round on Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune resembles the game “Hangman,” where (typically) three contestants take turns guessing the letters of a blanked-out word, phrase or sentence. If they guess incorrectly, their turn is over and then the next player has an opportunity to guess. Before they can shout out a letter, they must spin the wheel. Every slot on the wheel has a corresponding cash, prize or punishment, like “Bankrupt,” which causes the player to lose what they’ve earned that round.
The process is repeated until someone can solve the puzzle. And by doing so, they’ll keep the cash and prizes they’ve received from spinning the wheel during that round of play.
After several word puzzles, which include fast-cash rounds, the contestant who earned the most money will then head to the bonus round and spin a smaller wheel that’s chock full of envelopes. With the help of already having the letters “RSTLNE” on the board, the contestant will then give three consonants and one vowel. Then, there are only a few short seconds for the player to guess the answer. Win or lose, Sajak will always open the envelope to reveal the cash or prize inside, either to the puzzle solver’s excitement or dismay.
