Given how long Sajak and White have worked together, many viewers have wondered over the years whether or not the pair was ever romantically involved. It’s a question that White finally answered. Here’s a brief history of the hosts’ time on the show and their unique relationship.
Joining ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Pat Sajak joined Wheel of Fortune in December of 1981. A year later, Vanna White was also made part of the cast. She made it to the final round of casting over more than 200 other women who hoped to become the future letter flipper. Ultimately, White won out over Summer Bartholomew and Vicki McCarty, the other top choices for the role of hostess.
After testing each of the women on real episodes of the show, the producer decided that White was the one who activated the letters best of all the candidates. She quickly became very popular among viewers, particularly young adults. Many of her fans were interested in her dazzling show wardrobe. The phenomenon, known as “Vannamania,” swept through the United States, earning the new star numerous additional jobs outside of Wheel of Fortune.
Nearly 40 years together
For the next 40 years, White and Sajak would work intimately together as host and hostess of Wheel of Fortune. While they generally stuck to the same roles throughout this time, there were a few instances where they would swap, most notably in November 1996 when Sajak had laryngitis.
Despite their many years together, in 2020 Sajak admitted that he initially didn’t want White to be cast as the hostess. He said, “Not that she wasn’t lovely and wonderful and personable and all that. But she was the most nervous, by far, of any of them.”
White obviously proved him wrong and has done a wonderful job. It helped that the pair seems to have such incredible chemistry together. It’s this very chemistry which has caused many fans to question just what kind of relationship White and Sajak had outside of filming.
Friends or more?
It is well known that White and Sajak get along well – extremely well, in fact. According to White herself, they rarely disagree on anything except whether ketchup should be put on a hot dog. Yet despite their closeness, White has emphasized that they really are just best friends and there is nothing romantic going on between them. The closest the two have come to being involved was when they played a prank on their audience.
“Years and years ago, we did an April Fool’s joke,” White recalled. “I don’t know that we said we were married, but we said something about being together, and we received toasters…” Sajak added later that it took years for people to stop sending the “married couple” Crockpots.
So although the renowned Wheel of Fortune stars have been together, in a work sense, for longer than most couples, they are not, and have never been, in a romantic relationship.
Nearly 20 years without a raise?
Soon after Sajak announced his retirement, fans were stunned to learn that Vanna White has not gotten a pay raise in 18 years. This surprising revelation comes from Puck reporter Matthew Belloni, who says that White, 66, has hired an aggressive lawyer to negotiate a raise as her current deal concludes at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Puck’s report states that White currently earns $3 million annually, while Sajak earns five times more than that. While some argue that Sajak is the host while White is a co-host responsible only for revealing letters on the board, Puck asserts that White engages in significantly more publicity for the show than Sajak. Sony, the show’s production company, declined to comment on Puck’s findings.
Whoopi Goldberg from The View expressed interest in taking over Sajak’s role, and several other notable names, including Ryan Seacrest and Sajak’s daughter Maggie, were mentioned as potential candidates.
Seacrest was named the new host of ‘Wheel’
The New York Times and other media outlets reported on June 27 that Ryan Seacrest will take over as the host of Wheel of Fortune. The news comes just two weeks after Sajak’s announcement. Seacrest, 48, is a talk show veteran himself, having hosted and produced many other programs including American Idol and Live with Kelly and Ryan.
“I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” Seacrest said in a statement. “I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them.”
Seacrest will also act as a consulting producer on the show.
Ex-Model Opens Up About Addiction and Homelessness: ‘I’m in a Lot of Pain’
Loni Willison, once a sought-after fitness model gracing the covers of numerous magazines, now finds herself living on the streets, often seen rummaging through dumpsters in California.
The 40-year-old, whose life took a drastic turn after her divorce from Baywatch star Jeremy Jackson, recently spoke candidly about her struggles. According to Loni, her downward spiral began after her tumultuous marriage ended in 2014.
In an interview with X17 Online in May 2023, Loni pointed to her ex-husband as a major factor in her collapse, accusing him of abuse. “My ex-husband. Getting married. At least I got divorced,” she remarked when asked about the cause of her homelessness. “He set everything up to do this to me.”
Loni and Jeremy married in 2012, but their relationship ended two years later, which left Loni grappling with mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety. Her struggles were compounded by addiction to alcohol and crystal meth, ultimately causing her to lose both her career and her home.
Despite receiving offers of help, Loni has turned them down, preferring to maintain her independence. She has been quoted saying, “I don’t need help. I have everything I need.”
Speaking to X17 Online, Loni revealed she is in constant pain, adding that she can’t live indoors due to a strange and intense physical reaction to electricity. “I was electrocuted every day for nearly a year, and now I can’t be near appliances or anything with electricity,” she explained. “I think because I pick up on electricity, I also pick up on chemicals, metals, and other materials. My body filters that stuff.”
She also mentioned the possibility of needing a detailed medical examination to understand the full extent of the issue. “It’s pretty intense,” she said.
In addition to her physical pain, Loni’s appearance has drastically changed. She has lost some of her upper front teeth and often wears worn, dirty clothes as she navigates life on the streets.
Loni’s ex-husband, Jeremy, has faced his own struggles. In 2017, he was sentenced to 270 days in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to a stabbing incident in Los Angeles. He has also battled addiction.
As for Loni, life remains a daily challenge. She struggles to make ends meet, relying on a shopping cart to carry the few belongings she still has, including food. The once-beautiful blonde model is now a far cry from her former self, barely recognizable amidst the hardship she endures.
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