Vanna White has been co-hosting Wheel of Fortune since the 80s, but it’s claimed she’s not has a pay rise for nearly two decades.
White, 66, joined the game show back in 1982 and is an absolute legend of it - I mean, Nelly literally referenced her in his 2000 hit ‘Ride Wit Me’.
Earlier this month, 76-year-old Pat Sajak announced he would be retiring at the end of season 41 (set to premiere in September).
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And now White’s lawyers are reportedly behind her, hungry to get her a well-deserved raise.
Puck reported that White has hired an ‘aggressive new lawyer’ following Sajak's announcement, to negotiate her deal to stay after her current one ends at the end of the 2023-24 season.
It's claimed that White currently makes $3 million a year for Wheel of Fortune - but that’s nothing compared to Sajak.
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Multiple sources have reported that he makes a whopping five times as much as her. Although it must be mentioned White has reportedly received some bonuses too, but still, five times as much.
Some have argued that the pay difference has some relevance in that Sajak is the host and White’s ‘just’ the co-host who reveals letters by tapping away at a screen (bring back the days where she used to turn the letters over).
But Puck claimed that White is the one doing ‘way more’ publicity for Wheel of Fortune than the actual show’s host does.
Sajak has been hosting the program since 1981 and his retirement will see him leaving Wheel of Fortune in 2024.
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After working together for more than 40 years, White paid tribute to Sajak after he announced his retirement.
Quote-tweeting him on Twitter, she wrote: “When we started @WheelofFortune who could have imagined we’d still be at it 41 seasons later? I couldn’t be happier to have shared the stage with you for all these years with one more to come. Cheers to you, @patsajak!”
With a lot of talk seemingly taking place over White’s future with the show, it’s not known if she could stay in the same co-host role or actually take over for Sajak - or if her contract will be extended at all.
And there’s a lot of speculation over who it could be that takes on that responsibility.
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Live on-air, The View’s Whoopi Goldberg has expressed her interest in the role and Bloomberg reported that Ryan Seacrest could be a possibility.
There’s even talk that Sajak’s own daughter, Maggie, might replace him. But until we have confirmation from the big bosses, there's no way in telling who it may be.
UNILAD has reached out to Sony for comment.
Topics: Film and TV, Celebrity
Jess Battison