Vanna White, a beloved figure on Wheel of Fortune, is set to return for season 42 alongside new co-host Ryan Seacrest. Since 1982, she has been turning letters, becoming an integral part of the show’s success alongside former host Pat Sajak. After four decades, Sajak retired in June 2023, marking the end of an era.
Ryan Seacrest has since been announced as the new host, receiving Sajak’s blessing in a promotional clip for season 42. Sajak told Seacrest, “You’re never going to find a better job, and you’re never going to find a better co-host,” gesturing toward White, who signed on to stay through the 2025-2026 season in September 2023.
Following Sajak’s departure, White renegotiated her salary. Reports indicated she sought compensation comparable to Sajak’s. This article delves into Vanna White’s salary on Wheel of Fortune and her other business ventures.
Vanna White’s Wheel of Fortune Salary
After Pat Sajak’s retirement announcement in June 2023, Vanna White initiated negotiations concerning her salary and contract. A source revealed to PEOPLE in July 2023 that White aimed to earn as much as Sajak, potentially even more. This followed a TMZ report stating that White’s lawyer requested 50 percent of Sajak’s salary from Sony Pictures Television.
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“50 percent of Pat’s salary is so outrageous that no one in their right mind could say that it’s fair,” the source commented. “The negotiation is asking for much more than 50 percent of his salary. It’s asking for the same pay — if not more.”
According to the source, White had been earning $3 million annually for 18 years without any salary increases. She last renewed her contract in 2021, committing to three years through the 2024 season. While some reports claimed she was paid $100,000 per episode, the source clarified this was “not correct at all.”
The source added, “Vanna was told, ‘If you fight this, you will lose your job. You’re lucky to have the job.’ And when people tell you that for so long, you believe it,” highlighting White’s experience throughout her career before she decided to advocate for her salary.
Following extensive negotiations, White finalized a deal with Sony in September 2023, extending her contract for two additional seasons through 2025-2026, according to Deadline. She had also previously agreed to return as the host of ABC’s Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which included a substantial pay raise. The exact amount of her current salary remains undisclosed. Figuring out how much money Vanna White makes is a popular question.
Vanna White’s Perspective on Her Salary
A month after signing her contract, White shared with PEOPLE the challenges of reading about her salary negotiations in the media.
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She stated, “It was because people just have rumors. Everything is so blown out of proportion, not just with my stuff, with everybody’s stuff.”
White emphasized her resilience, stating she wouldn’t be swayed by rumors.
“I’m not going to do anything I don’t want to do or that I don’t believe in,” the longtime host said. “My mother taught me that at a young age and I’m sticking to my guns.”
Vanna White’s Diverse Business Ventures
Beyond her hosting duties, White has explored various business opportunities. She has experience in real estate, particularly in flipping houses, and serves as a spokesperson for Lion Brand Yarn.
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“I’m a businesswoman. You know, I have other investments too, real estate,” White shared with ABC in 2017. “A long time ago, I would buy a house and flip it. But now everybody does that so I don’t do that anymore because there’s no houses out there to buy.”
White also transformed her love for crocheting into her own line at Lion Brand Yarn, named Vanna’s Choice Yarn.
“Thirty years ago, I started with Lion Brand Yarn Company as their spokesperson. About 15 years later, they came to me and said, ‘How would you feel about having your own line of yarn?'” she told PEOPLE in December 2022.
White added, “And I said, ‘I would love to do that. 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 leveraged her role on Wheel of Fortune to pursue further ventures, including a limited-edition makeup collaboration with Laura Geller Beauty in October 2023, featuring six Wheel of Fortune-inspired products.
“They brought it to me and asked, ‘What do you think of this?’ And I absolutely loved it!” White said of the products.
Vanna White’s Future on Wheel of Fortune
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While White expressed her enduring love for her job in December 2022, she admitted in October 2023 that she considered retiring after Sajak’s departure announcement.
“[Of course it’s a thought],” White said. “It’s like, ‘Well, wait, if you’re leaving, what am I going to do? How can I stay without you?’ It was a very hard decision for me to make, because it definitely crossed my mind.”
She added, “It’s like, ‘I just don’t know if I can do this without you,’ but I thought about it and I’m not ready to retire, so I am staying on.”
Ultimately, White signed her contract through 2026, expressing her happiness to enjoy her last season with Sajak and continue with the show for at least two more seasons.
“I’m just so happy that I have signed for two more years,” she said. “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.” So while we don’t have an exact figure for how much money Vanna White makes now, her continued success on the show is assured.
