Given how long Sajak and White have worked together, many viewers have wondered over the years whether or not the pair was ever romantically involved. It’s a question that White finally answered. Here’s a brief history of the hosts’ time on the show and their unique relationship.
Joining ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Pat Sajak joined Wheel of Fortune in December of 1981. A year later, Vanna White was also made part of the cast. She made it to the final round of casting over more than 200 other women who hoped to become the future letter flipper. Ultimately, White won out over Summer Bartholomew and Vicki McCarty, the other top choices for the role of hostess.
After testing each of the women on real episodes of the show, the producer decided that White was the one who activated the letters best of all the candidates. She quickly became very popular among viewers, particularly young adults. Many of her fans were interested in her dazzling show wardrobe. The phenomenon, known as “Vannamania,” swept through the United States, earning the new star numerous additional jobs outside of Wheel of Fortune.
Nearly 40 years together
For the next 40 years, White and Sajak would work intimately together as host and hostess of Wheel of Fortune. While they generally stuck to the same roles throughout this time, there were a few instances where they would swap, most notably in November 1996 when Sajak had laryngitis.
Despite their many years together, in 2020 Sajak admitted that he initially didn’t want White to be cast as the hostess. He said, “Not that she wasn’t lovely and wonderful and personable and all that. But she was the most nervous, by far, of any of them.”
White obviously proved him wrong and has done a wonderful job. It helped that the pair seems to have such incredible chemistry together. It’s this very chemistry which has caused many fans to question just what kind of relationship White and Sajak had outside of filming.
Friends or more?
It is well known that White and Sajak get along well – extremely well, in fact. According to White herself, they rarely disagree on anything except whether ketchup should be put on a hot dog. Yet despite their closeness, White has emphasized that they really are just best friends and there is nothing romantic going on between them. The closest the two have come to being involved was when they played a prank on their audience.
“Years and years ago, we did an April Fool’s joke,” White recalled. “I don’t know that we said we were married, but we said something about being together, and we received toasters…” Sajak added later that it took years for people to stop sending the “married couple” Crockpots.
So although the renowned Wheel of Fortune stars have been together, in a work sense, for longer than most couples, they are not, and have never been, in a romantic relationship.
Nearly 20 years without a raise?
Soon after Sajak announced his retirement, fans were stunned to learn that Vanna White has not gotten a pay raise in 18 years. This surprising revelation comes from Puck reporter Matthew Belloni, who says that White, 66, has hired an aggressive lawyer to negotiate a raise as her current deal concludes at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Puck’s report states that White currently earns $3 million annually, while Sajak earns five times more than that. While some argue that Sajak is the host while White is a co-host responsible only for revealing letters on the board, Puck asserts that White engages in significantly more publicity for the show than Sajak. Sony, the show’s production company, declined to comment on Puck’s findings.
Whoopi Goldberg from The View expressed interest in taking over Sajak’s role, and several other notable names, including Ryan Seacrest and Sajak’s daughter Maggie, were mentioned as potential candidates.
Seacrest was named the new host of ‘Wheel’
The New York Times and other media outlets reported on June 27 that Ryan Seacrest will take over as the host of Wheel of Fortune. The news comes just two weeks after Sajak’s announcement. Seacrest, 48, is a talk show veteran himself, having hosted and produced many other programs including American Idol and Live with Kelly and Ryan.
“I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” Seacrest said in a statement. “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.”
Seacrest will also act as a consulting producer on the show.
Girl Sells $2,000 Prom Dress to Fund Friend’s Mother’s Treatment, Discovers 17 Years Later She’s a Millionaire
A poor girl saved up for years to buy her dream prom dress but ended up selling it to help her friend. Seventeen years later, she received surprising news about a fortune she inherited from someone she hadn’t seen in years.
Sienna Powell, a 16-year-old girl, was raised by her single mother, Lisa, after her father left in search of a better life. He promised to support them financially but never did, leaving Lisa to struggle as a bank teller.
Sienna tried her best to avoid putting pressure on her mother. She rarely asked for anything and took part-time jobs to help with expenses. Every time she received a paycheck, she saved a small amount in a tin can in her closet, which she intended to use for a prom dress, as she knew her mother couldn’t afford one.
Sienna often passed a beautiful boutique with stunning dresses and dreamed of having a custom-made red satin gown that cost $2,000. She admired the dress so much that she put drawings of it on her bedroom wall to keep herself motivated. She frequently shared her dreams about the dress with her best friend, Aaron, who understood her situation well since he faced similar struggles.’
Weeks before prom, Sienna finally saved enough money to order her dress. On prom day, she was thrilled to pick it up, and the moment she saw it, she felt it was worth all the effort. She couldn’t wait to wear it later that night.
Just before leaving for prom, Sienna received a call from Aaron. He was upset and informed her that his mother was in the hospital and needed surgery. Sienna, touched by Aaron’s situation, decided to put her own plans aside to support him. She took a few pictures in her dress for memories and then listed it for sale online, starting the bid at $2,000.
After rushing to the hospital, Sienna discovered that her dress attracted multiple bids, ultimately selling for $4,200. She immediately gave all the money to Aaron to help with his mother’s medical expenses.
Aaron and his mother, Elsie, were incredibly grateful but felt guilty for not being able to repay her. Sienna reassured them that their friendship was all that mattered. After Elsie recovered from surgery, she opened a successful bakery, allowing her and Aaron to move to a new town while keeping in touch with Sienna online.
Years later, on her 33rd birthday, Sienna received a letter from Elsie. It revealed that Elsie had decided to retire and divided her bakery assets equally between Sienna and Aaron. The letter expressed how much Sienna’s kindness meant to them, and it opened the door for renewed communication.
Sienna was shocked and delighted to learn how much the bakery had grown and realized she had become a millionaire. The unexpected inheritance not only changed her life but also rekindled her connection with Aaron and Elsie. This story teaches us the value of selflessness and true friendship. Sienna’s sacrifice for her friend resulted in unforeseen rewards, reminding us that kindness often returns in unexpected ways.
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