Vanna White, the beloved co-host of Wheel of Fortune, is returning for Season 42 with a new co-host, Ryan Seacrest. White has been a fixture on the show since 1982, where she has charmed audiences by turning letters while Pat Sajak hosted the game. Following Sajak’s retirement announcement in June 2023, White’s role on the show has been a focal point, particularly concerning her salary and contract negotiations.
Pat Sajak’s departure at the end of Season 41 marked the end of an era. After four decades together, Sajak announced he would retire, and Ryan Seacrest was named as his successor. In a promotional video for Season 42, Sajak formally handed over the role to Seacrest, complimenting both Seacrest and White. “You’re never going to find a better job, and you’re never going to find a better co-host,” Sajak said, referring to White, who had agreed to stay on with the show through the 2025-2026 season.
With Sajak stepping down, White faced renewed scrutiny over her salary. Reports suggest that White, who had been on the show for over four decades, was seeking to renegotiate her compensation to match or exceed what Sajak had earned. According to sources, White’s initial salary demands included a request for up to 50 percent of Sajak’s salary, which sparked significant debate.
Historically, Vanna White has earned $3 million annually for her role on Wheel of Fortune. This figure had remained unchanged for approximately 18 years. Despite reports that she was paid $100,000 per episode, a source close to the situation disputed these numbers, claiming they were “not correct at all.” The source explained that White had faced tough negotiations over her salary, citing a challenging environment where she was once told that fighting for a better salary could jeopardize her job security.
In September 2023, White reached a new agreement with Sony Pictures Television, extending her contract through the 2025-2026 season. However, the specifics of her new salary have not been disclosed. This deal came after White had spent several months negotiating her pay, during which she reportedly pushed for compensation equal to or greater than Sajak’s salary.
White’s negotiations were complicated by the media’s portrayal of her demands. In a conversation with PEOPLE, White expressed her frustration with the public discourse surrounding her salary. “It was because people just have rumors,” she said. “Everything is so blown out of proportion, not just with my stuff, with everybody’s stuff.” White emphasized that despite the challenges, she remained committed to her values and her role on the show.
The discussions surrounding White’s salary were particularly notable in the context of her other ventures. In addition to her work on Wheel of Fortune, White has been active in several other business areas. She has a history in real estate, where she engaged in house flipping but has since scaled back her involvement due to market saturation. White is also a spokesperson for Lion Brand Yarn, with a line of yarn named Vanna’s Choice Yarn. This venture has been a significant part of her career, as she has used it to support charitable causes, including donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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In December 2022, White spoke about her yarn line, explaining that she had been involved with Lion Brand Yarn Company for 30 years. “About 15 years later, they came to me and said, ‘How would you feel about having your own line of yarn?’” White recounted. “I would love to do that, but I want to be able to give back. So I’d like to donate some of my proceeds, half of my proceeds actually, to St. Jude.”
White has also expanded her brand through partnerships and endorsements. In October 2023, she collaborated with Laura Geller Beauty on a limited-edition makeup line inspired by Wheel of Fortune. This collection featured six exclusive products and reflected White’s continued influence beyond television.
Despite her extensive career and various ventures, White faced a pivotal moment regarding her future on Wheel of Fortune. She admitted in October 2023 that she had considered retiring following Sajak’s departure. “Of course, it’s a thought,” White said. “It was a very hard decision for me to make, because it definitely crossed my mind.” Ultimately, White chose to stay, expressing satisfaction with her new contract and her plans to remain with the show through at least 2026.
“I’m just so happy that I have signed for two more years,” White told PEOPLE. “I have this next year with Pat, and then I have two years after that, so I will be part of Wheel of Fortune, at least through 2026.” Her decision to continue reflects not only her dedication to the show but also her resilience in navigating the complex world of television contracts and salary negotiations.
As White prepares for Season 42 alongside Ryan Seacrest, her salary and contract discussions highlight the broader issues faced by long-time television personalities negotiating their worth in an evolving media landscape.
