Wheel Of Fortune’s Ryan Seacrest Made This Shocking Mistake On The Job (It’s Not The First Time)

Wheel of Fortune Ryan Seacrest smiling with blue background

Ryan Seacrest has made some errors as a Wheel of Fortune host, which haven’t gone unnoticed by viewers. Ryan established a solid reputation for himself by hosting shows such as American Idol and Live with Kelly and Ryan.

He also became popular as a producer of several TV shows before making his debut on Wheel of Fortune. Ryan took over as host after Pat Sajak retired in June 2024. During his time as host, he co-hosted the show with Vanna White, creating an interesting dynamic that blended the old and new eras of the show.

Ryan’s main role on the show is to host the games, guide contestants, and engage with viewers. He also entertains fans with his incredible chemistry with Vanna. Ryan demonstrated excellent professionalism, charisma, and personality in his first season of Wheel of Fortune.

Despite a few mistakes, he still managed to convince most viewers that he was a great replacement for Pat. Ryan’s debut season was impressive – he is so watchable. While some missed Pat’s dry sense of humor, most welcomed Ryan with open arms.

One Mistake Cost Ryan $56,000

Ryan Was Criticized For Not Clarifying The Rules To The Contestant

american idol star ryan seacrest smilng in a suit with a blue white and purple background

Ryan has made his fair share of mistakes on Wheel of Fortune. However, one of them had cost significantly more than the others. In June 2025, Ryan was criticized for a significant blunder that resulted in one contestant losing over $50,000. The incident involved Todd Meyer solving a crossword puzzle, where he had to guess words related to the theme of “party.”

Although he guessed correctly, he used the word “party” in his answers, causing them to be considered incorrect due to a technicality. Ryan was called out for not clarifying the rules and for being responsible for Todd losing his opportunity to win $56,000.

Ryan Fell On The Set

Ryan Lost His Balance While Hosting

Not explaining the rules to the contestant beforehand isn’t the only mistake Ryan has made on the show.

Previously, he fell on stage, becoming part of one of the most memorable yet embarrassing moments in the history of Wheel of Fortune, as per the show’s official Instagram. The episode showed Daniel correctly guessing the word and running toward Ryan to hug him.

Ryan Seacrest replacing Pat Sajak as 'Wheel of Fortune' host - YouTube

While Daniel’s excitement was understandable, it caused Ryan to lose his balance and stumble to the ground. Even though Ryan’s fall wasn’t dramatic, it was clumsy and funny enough for viewers who had not seen something like that before, at least not when Pat hosted the show.

Ryan’s Blooper Got Noticed

Ryan Seemed Confused

Ryan made his first noticeable on-air mistake in 2024, when contestant Cody solved the bonus round puzzle correctly. As Vanna clapped, Ryan became confused and paused awkwardly before confirming the answer was correct. His odd delay in establishing the answers was a memorable Wheel of Fortune gaffe.

Ryan was compared to Pat and called out for dropping the ball at that moment. Ryan’s fumbled response led some viewers to question his skills as the host of Wheel of Fortune, earning him his first share of valid criticism.