‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Co-Host Vanna White Closes New Deal As Game Show Kicks Off Final Season With Pat Sajak

Nellie Andreeva
·2 min read
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After lengthy negotiations, Wheel of Fortune co-host Vanna White has extended her contract for additional two years to continue on the hit syndicated game show through the 2025-26 season.

The news comes as Wheel Of Fortune just kicked off Season 41 last week, which will be the last for longtime host Pat Sajak. By signing her new deal, White — whose existing contract is up at the end of the current 2023-24 season — will provide continuity. She will be working alongside Wheel‘s new host, Ryan Seacrest, who will take over for Sajak next fall. Wheel of Fortune has been renewed through Season 45.

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“I love Vanna White. I’ve known Vanna for a long time,” Seacrest said in an interview with Fortune this week. “We sat in important places next to each other. And I hope for nothing more than to be able to walk out on that stage and host with her.”

RELATED: ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ & ‘Jeopardy!’ Renewed For 5 Years With Big Increase At ABC Stations

In June, White also closed a new deal to return as host of ABC’s Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which, as Deadline reported at the time, involves a significant salary increase. Her contract extension for the flagship syndicated show is believed to involve a pay raise, too. A fan favorite, White has been revealing letters at Wheel’s signature puzzleboard since 1982. Amid uncertainty over her future beyond Season 41, she enjoyed a wave of support during her contract negotiations, which likely helped seal the deal for her to stay on.

New to the team this season is Alex Van Wagner, who joins Wheel of Fortune as director after the retirement of his predecessor Robert Ennis over the summer hiatus. Van Wagner has experience directing competition shows, scripted comedy, documentaries and sports across networks, syndication and cable. His credit list includes Shark Tank, The Voice, Holey Moley, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Is It Cake? and Ellen’s Game of Games.

Entering her third year as the Wheel of Fortune social media correspondent is Maggie Sajak. This season, she will introduce a new weekly sweepstakes called “Fan Fridays,” which will showcase that week’s fan-tastic prize while revealing a “Word of the Day” for Wheel Watchers Club members.

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