This ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Win Was Worth $120K, but It’s What Ryan Seacrest Did That Has Everyone Talking

There’s a first time for everything, especially in your first year as the host of an iconic series. Wheel of Fortune is a well-oiled machine, but allegedly, on the night of March 27, 2025, the wheel may not have been oiled enough! Having taken over for the iconic Pat Sajak as Wheel‘s new host, Ryan Seacrest had some room to grow in the eyes of some long-time fans. But if the ratings mean anything, he proved his worth by season’s end.

But, during his first-year run, Seacrest encountered a moment that required him to call in for backup. During the Bonus Round, contestant Keith Upton was eager to earn some more money. Upon spinning the wheel, the ticker got stuck in between two spots, between the “A” and the apostrophe. And that’s when Seacrest said, “Well, that’s interesting. That’s never happened to me. Do I go this way or this way, judges?” Well, the judges’ call made Upton quite happy in his “big finale.”

The Judges Aided in Keith Upton’s Big Finale on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

For Upton, a coffee lover from San Diego, California, it was a big night. But his victory will forever be tied to a Seacrest snafu. Upton played against Clare Antoine, a cheese lover and collector from Madison, Wisconsin, and Dhaina Grubb, a bammy lover from Grayson, Georgia, but originally from Jamaica. It wasn’t a full-on blowout for Upton. The trio actually did a fairly decent job keeping the action flowing with the lead flopping around between players. By the end of the game, Upton was the big winner, earning $20,730 and a chance to play in the Bonus Round.

Upton, who dressed eerily like the show’s host, was eager to play in hopes of earning a massive payout. After introducing his lovely wife, Havilah, Upton spun the wheel, which got stuck, causing the host to call for backup. After learning it was the apostrophe, Seacrest remarked, “That was a first for me.” For his puzzle, which was an event, Upton selected “C, H, D, A,” and “B,” which he earned as a wild card earlier in the game. With the letters provided by the game and his selections, Upton had a board that read, “THE B_ _ _ _ N A L E.” It was a fairly easy answer, and Upton was fairly confident he knew it.

Before the timer could even begin its countdown, Upton revealed the answer as “The Big Finale,” earning him the prize inside the envelope from the apostrophe slot. Well, it was Upton’s lucky day as his big finale resulted in a whopping $100,000! His wife raced over to him for a massive congratulatory hug as Seacrest said, “That was incredible! When did you know it?” Upton revealed that when he saw ALE in finale, he put it all together. Upton walked away with $120,730.

Fans Reacted to Keith Upton’s Emotional Victory on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

With a huge prize handed over to Upton, the fan reaction to his victory was warm and inviting. Reacting to the Bonus Round, fans gave the contestant endless praise. “Now that’s what I call a BIG FINALE! Congratulations on the $100K, Keith,” one fan exclaimed. Another chimed in with, “That was definitely ‘The Big Finale’ that I would go for! Way to go, Keith! Another $100,000 Winner of the Ryan Seacrest Era on Wheel of Fortune!”

In addition to Upton, Brent Miller won $100,000 in the Bonus Round. Though other players have played for and lost out on the massive crowd, Seacrest was under fire during his run for his reaction to a contestant losing out on the $100,000 prize. In October, best friends Kim Kellum and Yolanda Trust missed out on the big prize, causing Seacrest to uncomfortably deliver the bad news. At least they walked away with some cash and two trips! In March, Seacrest was found chuckling when Jim Venckus missed the answer, “Popping the cork.” Hopefully, for his second season, Seacrest will have gotten out all of his silliness prior to giving anyone the good or bad news.