Vanna White Is Reportedly 'Worried' Her 'Wheel Of Fortune' Days Are Numbered
The media personality is reportedly in a state of panic over the possibility of being replaced on her eight-figure-earning hosting job.
Vanna White joined the famous show "Wheel of Fortune" in 1982 as a co-host alongside television veteran Pat Sajak. Now, she is the new host, Ryan Seacrest's partner in progress.
Sources close to the show are stating that Pat's daughter, Maggie Sajak, stands out as a likely replacement for the 68-year-old. Maggie reportedly joined the show as its social correspondent in 2021, which means she is not a stranger to how things run on and off the screen.
Although insiders confirm that no offers have been put on the table yet, Maggie remains an attractive choice because she is younger and a more prudent option.
Maggie reportedly earns significantly less than Vanna's $10 million per year, and the show's producers view her as a way to cut costs. "It's no wonder Vanna is worried," the source noted.
Sources also reveal that her latest significant salary increase, which was negotiated after Pat's replacement, Ryan Seacrest, reportedly more than tripled her previous earnings.
Vanna's contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026, and the powers that be are not willing to sit down at the discussion table for any more increases.
Another insider explained to RadarOnline that the TV host was able to have things go her way the last time because the producers and the network were in a different position. However, now things may not work in her favor, and she is reportedly concerned because "what other gig pays $10 million for only 34 days of work?"
Yes, Vanna gets paid a sumptuous $10 million a year for appearing on set for a total of 34 days. Back in March, E! Online shared the version of events from Vanna's POV when she appeared on the Morning Show.
In her words, "We film about 34 days a year. That's it. But we film six shows a day. Come on, you could feel bad for me." Vanna did not get any sympathy for apparently having such a great time at her job, but the host shared that she does not see her days off as any form of vacation.
She also explained how the show producers made her job easier by switching from a manually controlled system to a high-tech environment that allows her to do fewer physical tasks while on set.
Vanna noted that the production team installed a laser system that works in conjunction with her hand motion to "light up" the letters and perform other functions.
Co-hosting the "Wheel of Fortune" for decades has earned the TV personality "a half-hour of family, and escape from much." She emphasized that the show leaves a positive trail in her path, and she enjoys "being part of that."
The South Carolina native proved she is still young at heart when she got her first-ever tattoo earlier in the year from her daughter, Gigi Santo Pietro. Vanna welcomed her daughter, Gigi, and her son, Nikko, with her ex-husband, George Santo Pierro, before their divorce in 2002.
The Blast reported that Vanna revealed she decided to get the pink-hued tattoo in her inner wrist so she could get a good look at it daily and think about her daughter. Although her daughter did the honors of giving her her first ink, Vanna clarified that it was 100% her choice to go through with the process.
The 68-year-old nervously settled for her daughter's favorite shade of pink after minutes of deliberation. During the process, she was surprised it did not hurt as much as she had pictured it in her head.
When her tattoo was finally revealed, Vanna cheered and, with a thankful heart, noted to her daughter that it was exactly what she had wanted.
Tattoos are not the only thing that elates the former beauty pageant contestant. The pace of her current relationship with John Donaldson also makes her smile.
The actress revealed during an interview that while they have not made things official by walking down the aisle, they maintain a deep level of commitment towards each other.
She described Donaldson as the masculine version of herself, who understands her person and vice versa. Vanna noted that they have been a couple for 12 years and often feel like they are a married couple.
"Do we have to get married? No, because we feel comfortable in our relationship. You know what I mean? I know that he's the one. He knows I'm the one," the author declared.
She continued that the topic of marriage rarely comes up in their conversations because they are aware of their feelings for each other.
The multi-talented personality also gives excellent advice, and Ryan attested to this when he began his role as Pat's replacement on the show.
The 50-year-old recalled that Vanna encouraged him to go out there and have a blast. Vanna reportedly educated him about the show and how it affords one the advantage to loosen up and be the best version of themselves.
"It has a little looseness to it. It doesn't have to be so strict and so formatted. It has those moments of real life and humanity," said the 68-year-old to the former "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" producer.
Ryan filled Pat's big shoes as the show's new host in 2024, taking over the baton from Pat, who had brought smiles to the faces of contestants on the beloved game show for four decades.
"Thank you for the very warm welcome. Hosting 'Wheel of Fortune' is a dream job. I've been a fan of this show since I was a kid watching it in Atlanta with my family," Ryan declared in his debut episode for the show's 42nd season, which premiered last September.
What does the future hold for Vanna White as 2026 approaches?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
34 minutes ago
- CNN
Texas town successfully carried out evacuations, raising questions about Kerr County response
Texas town successfully carried out evacuations, raising questions about Kerr County response Downstream from Kerrville, Texas, the town of Comfort successfully carried out evacuations, raising questions about Kerr County's response. CNN's Pamela Brown reports from Comfort, where a volunteer firefighter says the town's sirens and evacuations were crucial in getting people to safety. 01:34 - Source: CNN Automated CNN Shorts 11 videos Texas town successfully carried out evacuations, raising questions about Kerr County response Downstream from Kerrville, Texas, the town of Comfort successfully carried out evacuations, raising questions about Kerr County's response. CNN's Pamela Brown reports from Comfort, where a volunteer firefighter says the town's sirens and evacuations were crucial in getting people to safety. 01:34 - Source: CNN Netenyahu presents Trump with Nobel Peace Prize nomination letter Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented President Donald Trump with a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize at their dinner at the White House. 01:15 - Source: CNN Immigration enforcement swarms LA park Dozens of federal immigration agents in tactical gear accompanied by members of the California National Guard were deployed Monday to a mostly empty MacArthur Park in Los Angeles Monday morning. It's unclear if anyone was taken into custody during the operation, which sparked outrage among local residents and which Mayor Karen Bass called 'outrageous' and 'an attempt to spread fear.' An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson told CNN the agency does not comment on ongoing operations. 01:07 - Source: CNN Why did 'Love Island USA's' Cierra Ortega leave the villa Season 7 "Love Island USA" contestant Cierra Ortega left the show due to a "personal situation," according to the dating show. This comes after two social media posts began circulating online that appeared to show Ortega using a racial slur while contemplating cosmetic procedures she wanted to get, according to the Daily Mail. 01:36 - Source: CNN Remembering victims of the Texas floods CNN honors some of the victims of the devastating floods that hit central Texas, leaving the death toll surpassing 100, including at least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp that sits along the Guadalupe River. 02:01 - Source: CNN Community grapples with how floodings caught so many off guard Kerr County officials and the community are questioning how so many were caught off guard after devastating floods hit central Texas. CNN's Pamela Brown reports from Kerrville. 01:50 - Source: CNN Protesters in Kenya met with water cannons and tear gas Protests in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi erupted on Monday with police seen in video using tear gas and water cannons from armored trucks to disperse crowds. 01:07 - Source: CNN Volunteers line up to look for Texas flood victims Rescue volunteers in Center Point, Texas, are finding the belongings of missing children from the floods. People are also using heavy machinery to help clear debris. CNN's Isabel Rosales spoke with one volunteer who said he's trying to help bring closure to the victims' families. 01:43 - Source: CNN Camp Mystic girls evacuate from flood devastation Videos shared from a Camp Mystic nurse show campers evacuating on a bus while passing devastation from the floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas. 00:49 - Source: CNN Russian minister dies shortly after Putin fired him Former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit died by suicide on Monday, just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin fired him from the job, officials said. Asked by reporters for the reasons behind Starovoit's dismissal, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied this was due to a 'lack of trust,' but he did not give any alternative reason. 00:49 - Source: CNN Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano erupts Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted in Indonesia, sending a column of ash as high as 11 miles into the sky. Authorities placed the volcano on the highest alert level last month. 00:43 - Source: CNN
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Richard Simmons' bedazzled tanks sent to auction
Richard Simmons' personal items are set to hit the auction rooms. Bonhams Auction House in Los Angeles has revealed it's auctioning off more than 200 of the late TV fitness instructor's items, including bedazzled tank tops, branded VHS tapes and other memorabilia from his workout empire, TMZ reports. The collection celebrates Simmons' four-decade legacy. Among the star items hitting the block are his signature Sweatin' to the Oldies ensemble, worn during a 2012 Slimmons class; a bedazzled Hummingbird tank top worn at the 2013 MTV VMAs; a custom Pom Pom Ball tank from a 2011 appearance; and more than 100 other glittering tank tops and shorts, each estimated to fetch between $200 and $300 (£150 to £220). Fans can also bid on nostalgic Simmons-branded merchandise, including a portrait of Simmons and his dalmatians by Frank Cummings, estimated at up to $1200 (£880), and the original 'Slimmons' studio sign from his Beverly Hills gym, estimated at up to $700 (£510). The auction runs from 12-24 July, coinciding with what would have been his birthday, and marking a year since he died in 2024. Simmons passed away at the age of 76 on 13 July last year, at his Hollywood Hills home. His death was attributed to complications from falls and heart disease. According to multiple news sources, he was found unresponsive after falling the day before and not wanting to seek medical attention.
Gizmodo
an hour ago
- Gizmodo
The First Reactions to James Gunn's ‘Superman' Are Mostly Super
Fans are mere days away from seeing what James Gunn and the DC Universe have in store, and early word is super. Superman comes to theaters July 11, with early fan screenings happening July 8. In preparation, the social media embargo on press and influencers who've seen the film has now lifted, and the response is incredibly positive. Many praise the film for its unique take on the character and world. Others love new actors such as David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. But not everyone thinks it's an across-the-board home run. Here are just a few of the first reactions pouring in for James Gunn's Superman. #Superman soars. It's a non-stop joyride, packed with humor, action, and emotion. There's spectacle to spare, unbridled optimism, and a goofy unpredictability that ties everything together, even when there are a few minor issues. We've never seen DC like this, and it's great. — Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) July 8, 2025#Superman absolutely soars! An awesome achievement & hopeful balm, honoring past iterations (cinema & comics) while cutting its own path. Corenswet has that heroic shimmer. Hoult is delightfully diabolical. Brosnahan brims w/ vim & vigor. Krypto's adorbs. @Superman @warnerbros — Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) July 8, 2025#Superman made me so damn happy. The movie is loaded with exhilarating action set pieces and well-placed humor and levity, but the beating heart of the film is Superman's humanity, and his insistence on doing good and making the world a better place. David Corenswet brings such… — Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) July 8, 2025#Superman is a triumph for the new DC Universe. It's a comic book brought to beautiful live-action life, brimming with hope & fulfillment. It actually elicited tears of joy from me. It's a Superman for everyone. David Corenswet was born for Superman & Clark Kent. Loved it. — Brandon Davis (@BrandonDavisBD) July 8, 2025#Superman is a winner. I have complaints with the Marvel levels of CGI. But James Gunn has crafted a splashy colorful superhero film with tremendous characters. Mr. Terrific stole the movie for me. Corenswet and Brosnahan shine: I can watch an entire film on their chemistry alone — 𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 𝘿𝙤𝙩𝙨𝙤𝙣 (@JohnMovieWatch) July 8, 2025James Gunn's #Superman is the perfect superhero movie and a terrific start for the new DC Studios. It's big, bright, exciting, full of hope & it never loses its sense of wonder. Watching it felt like ripping open a comic book & feasting on its wild, chaotic imagination. Loved it!… — Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) July 8, 2025I loved Superman! James Gunn embraces the earnest, sometimes lovably corny side of comics and their super (ahem) fun concepts in a way that evokes Raimi's Spider-Man. Corenswet & Brosnahan have great chemistry and perfectly embody Clark & Lois. And Krypto's the best, obviously. — Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) July 8, 2025I wish I could watch #superman on repeat for a week. They *finally* gave me the Lois Lane I've been begging for. The world needs this movie & we can all learn so much from Superman. I laughed. I cried. The DCU has arrived. @JamesGunn knocked it out of the park. — Roxy Striar (@roxystriar) July 8, 2025I absolutely loved James Gunn's SUPERMAN. Big themes, but still pure joy. It put me in a great mood (which isn't often these days); it's the happiest I've walked out of a theater since Top Gun: Maverick #Superman — Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) July 8, 2025SUPERMAN: The closest thing we'll get to a live-action Saturday morning cartoon. The cast (esp David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan) is literally perfect. It's a shame it looks like that. Full review coming soon! — Hoai-Tran Bui (@htranbui) July 8, 2025The full review embargo lifts Tuesday afternoon, and io9 will be posting ours at that time. That'll give an even better reaction of what fans can expect when they see the film this week, leading into the opening weekend that DC has been aiming at for years. Let's not forget that it was just over three years ago that Henry Cavill returned as the Man of Steel in Black Adam. The end credits scene was thought to usher in the next wave of DC films. However, soon after, the balance of power did indeed shift at DC with James Gunn and Peter Safran taking charge. They parted ways with Cavill, and one of their first orders of business was to announce a Superman movie for 2025. This Superman movie. And now it's here. Do you tend to believe these social media reactions? They can, admittedly, be overwhelming one way or the other, which could sour some audiences. Let us know below and check back soon for much, much more from the world of Superman. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
