Fans Are Split On Vanna White Leveraging Pat Sajak’s ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Departure

Vanna White is said to already be missing the days she co-hosted Wheel of Fortune alongside Pat Sajak, but her colleague’s departure from the long-lasting game show had one distinctive advantage for her: she leveled up in terms of her salary.

Sajak first announced in 2023 that he would finally be leaving his post on Wheel of Fortune, one that he had held since 1984. It was a decision that impacted many, including his daughter Maggie, whose personal life is now the veteran host’s new primary focus.

White has found herself at odds with Sajak’s replacement Ryan Seacrest, who has been described as a “control freak.” On his part, the American Idol host is said to be battling crippling anxiety as he gets ready to step into Sajak’s shoes

All this is the ripple effect of Sajak’s decision to exit Wheel of Fortune, so how did Vanna White find herself in a position to earn even more in the aftermath?

Vanna White Renegotiated Her Wheel Of Fortune Contract Following Pat Sajak’s Departure

It was June 13, 2023 when Pat Sajak took to the social platform X to announce his decision to leave Wheel of Fortune after the following season ended. “Well, the time has come,” he wrote. “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.”

Contrasting Views From Social Media On Vanna White’s Salary Increase

“Youre trying to tell me all those years Pat Sajak and Vanna White were working together Pat couldn’t have put in a good word for Vanna on that salary increase?” – @RedIsNotAFlavor, X
“It is insane that for over 41 years this woman quite literally gets paid millions to just turn letters for a game show… The dream tbh” – @galaxystars1, Reddit

A Puck News report around the same time revealed that Vanna White was looking for a raise from her salary then. The write-up suggested that the former Miss Georgia had been taking home around $3 million per year from the show.

If this figure is accurate, it would have translated to about $15,000 per episode. There reportedly was a major gap between her and Sajak, however, who is believed to have been earning $15 million per year.

It was this significant difference that White apparently used to leverage a pay hike for herself. Sony Pictures, who produce the series, were not too keen on this, though. The company was reported to have felt that Sajak’s salary was not standard, and therefore wanted to avoid using it as a reference point for White.

In the end, Sony and White settled on an improvement of terms, including for her work on the spin-off show Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.

Pat Sajak And Vanna White Had An “Intensely Competitive” Relationship Behind The Scenes On Wheel of Fortune

Summary

Vanna White’s salary increased after Pat Sajak’s exit from Wheel of Fortune, sparking mixed reactions on social media.
White found success in real estate and other “side gigs,” making her richer than Sajak despite earning less on the show.
Sajak and White earn big from licensing their images for casino slot machines, generating significant income outside of the game show.

Vanna White is said to already be missing the days she co-hosted Wheel of Fortune alongside Pat Sajak, but her colleague’s departure from the long-lasting game show had one distinctive advantage for her: she leveled up in terms of her salary.

Sajak first announced in 2023 that he would finally be leaving his post on Wheel of Fortune, one that he had held since 1984. It was a decision that impacted many, including his daughter Maggie, whose personal life is now the veteran host’s new primary focus.

White has found herself at odds with Sajak’s replacement Ryan Seacrest, who has been described as a “control freak.” On his part, the American Idol host is said to be battling crippling anxiety as he gets ready to step into Sajak’s shoes.

Although Pat Sajak is huge in the entertainment business, it appears as if his son, Patrick Michael James chose a different route!