Vanna White Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Vanna White’s Net Worth and Salary?

Vanna White is a renowned television personality, model, and actress in the U.S., boasting a net worth of $85 million. Her current salary stands at $10 million. As outlined in the following section, Vanna’s salary remained unchanged for an 18-year period from 2005 to 2023, during which she earned only $3 million annually. When her co-host, Pat Sajak, announced his retirement in June 2023 and Ryan Seacrest was subsequently chosen as his successor, Vanna informed the producers of “Wheel” that she would not return unless her salary increased from $3 million to $7.5 million. Including earnings from other ABC shows, notably “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” Vanna’s total salary through the 2025-2026 season amounts to $10 million.

As you are likely aware, Vanna White has gained fame and wealth as the long-time hostess and puzzle board turner for the syndicated game show “Wheel of Fortune.” Surprisingly, her net worth is $10 million higher than that of her co-host, Pat Sajak, whose net worth is $75 million—a disparity partly due to real estate ventures she undertook with her former husband, George Santo Pietro, a developer and restaurateur. Although Vanna earns $10 million yearly from “Wheel of Fortune,” this income is not her largest revenue source each year. In fact, both Vanna White and Pat Sajak earn more annually from licensing their likenesses to casino slot machines than they do from the game show itself.

Announcing his intent to retire from “Wheel of Fortune” after the show’s 41st season, Pat Sajak made the news in June 2023. A few days later, on June 27, Ryan Seacrest confirmed he would take over hosting responsibilities from Sajak.

Vanna White Salary

Vanna White’s annual compensation from “Wheel of Fortune” is $3 million, while Pat Sajak earns $15 million. In June 2023, it came to light that Vanna’s salary had not been adjusted in 18 years since her contract renewal in 2005. This revelation followed Pat’s announcement of retirement.

Initially, reports indicated that her lawyer had requested Sony to raise Vanna’s salary to at least 50% of Pat’s $15 million before she would agree to return for the show’s 42nd season with Ryan Seacrest. This would elevate her salary from $3 million to $7.5 million per year. However, shortly afterward, a representative for Vanna stated they never proposed the 50% adjustment, elaborating:

“The suggestion of 50 percent of Pat’s salary is absurd; no reasonable person could consider this fair. The negotiation seeks significantly more than 50% of his salary—it aims for equal pay, or even more… Vanna was warned, ‘Fight this, and you’ll lose your job. You’re fortunate to have this position.’ Over time, when you’re told this, it becomes your belief. She’s genuinely a nice person who truly deserves more.“

In June 2023, Vanna signed a separate contract tied to her hosting role on “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” reportedly bringing her a considerable pay raise.

On September 19, 2023, it was announced that Vanna had signed a two-year extension to continue with “Wheel of Fortune.” This new agreement ensured her presence through the 2025-2026 season and was reported to have substantially raised her salary.

Vanna White’s Salary Per Episode

Regardless of the final figures, Vanna White’s compensation is undeniably lucrative. Take into account the taping schedule:

“Wheel of Fortune” records four days each month, producing six shows daily, specifically on two Thursdays and two Fridays. On these days, both hosts arrive by 8:30 a.m. and commence filming at noon. A single audience views three shows, followed by a lunch break, after which a second audience watches an additional three tapings.

In essence, Vanna and Pat each work 48 days annually to earn $3 million and $15 million per year, respectively. Breaking it down, Vanna’s earnings amount to $62,500 per workday, while Pat makes $312,500 per workday.

However, as detailed in the next section, Vanna White’s earnings from “Wheel of Fortune” do not represent her largest yearly income!

Casino Licensing Earnings

Surprisingly, Vanna White’s income from “Wheel of Fortune” isn’t her primary source of annual revenue. In fact, she earns more from licensing her likeness to casino slot machines than from the game show itself.

“Wheel of Fortune” was the first entertainment brand to receive licensing for slot machines, with the inaugural machines appearing in Las Vegas casinos in 1996. These machines quickly gained immense popularity and were licensed globally. Within ten years, they ranked as the highest revenue-generating slot machines in numerous casinos. Today, there are around 20,000 “Wheel” slot machines worldwide, generating over $1 billion annually in gross revenue in Las Vegas alone and over $2 billion globally.

For allowing their images to be used on these slot machines, both Vanna and Pat earn a minimum of $10 million each year, primarily through a base royalty payment, along with various bonuses and appearance fees.

Total Annual Income

Adding everything together, Vanna White’s combined income from her “Wheel of Fortune” salary and casino licensing can easily surpass $15 million annually.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born on February 18, 1957, in Conway, South Carolina, Vanna Marie Rosich is the child of Joan and Miguel Angel Rosich. Her father originated from Ponce, Puerto Rico, while her mother was born in Syracuse, New York. Following her parents’ divorce when she was an infant, her father eventually left the family. Her mother later remarried Herbert White, Jr., from whom Vanna took her last name. Herbert White was a real estate agent and broker based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Raised in North Myrtle Beach, Vanna completed her education at North Myrtle Beach High School before relocating to Atlanta to study at the Atlanta School of Fashion and Design. During her college years, she participated in the Miss Georgia USA pageant in 1978, finishing as the fourth runner-up.

When she set off from North Myrtle Beach to chase her dreams of stardom, Vanna had only $1,000 in her possession. While in Atlanta, she worked as a waitress and modeled, persevering through her early days in Los Angeles as she sought fame and success.

In 1979, she made her move to Los Angeles to pursue acting. On June 20, 1980, Vanna participated as a contestant on “The Price is Right.” Here’s a clip from that episode:

That same year, she appeared in a film titled “Gypsy Angels,” which, interestingly, did not reach completion and only saw a release in 1990.

In 1981, she landed minor roles in movies like “Looker” and “Graduation Day.”

Facing financial difficulties in 1982, Vanna refrained from asking her father for rent assistance. To earn some money, she agreed to model for a series of lingerie photographs, which would eventually be published in Playboy in 1987. Vanna would later file an unsuccessful lawsuit against both Playboy and Hugh…Hefner viewed the photos personally.

Playboy Lawsuit

To the astonishment of middle America, Vanna featured in Playboy Magazine in 1987. The photos were captured in 1982, just prior to her securing the Wheel gig, by a photographer who had no association with Playboy. Five years later, the photographer sold those images to Hugh Hefner and Playboy.

Upon discovering Playboy’s intention to publish the photos, Vanna reached out directly to Hefner, whom she regarded as a friend. However, she was unable to convince him against their publication.

Following the release of the photos, Vanna initiated a lawsuit against Playboy for $5.2 million, asserting that the images were never meant for widespread circulation and that their release would “tarnish her image as a modest, wholesome, attractive and innocent all-American girl.”

Additionally, she personally sued Hefner. The magazine contended that Vanna was aware of their plans to release the photos and even wished for them to coincide with the release of her autobiography. The lawsuit was ultimately dropped.

Years later, she would reflect:

“I did something I shouldn’t have done. When I first moved to Hollywood, I was too embarrassed to ask my dad for rent money. I was young and I wanted to do it on my own. So, I did these lingerie shots, and from the moment I said I would do them, I thought, ‘I shouldn’t be doing this, but I’m not going to ask my dad for money, so I’m just going to do it!’” – Vanna White

Wheel of Fortune

The concept of “Wheel of Fortune” was birthed by game-show mastermind Merv Griffin during a family road trip in the mid-1970s, inspired by his days of playing hangman. Collaborating with executives at his production company, they modified Hangman to craft what later became “Wheel of Fortune.”

On January 6, 1975, the game made its debut, initially hosted by Chuck Woolery. Woolery was replaced in 1981 when he requested a significant pay increase that Merv declined. After ending Woolery’s contract, Merv appointed a local NBC Los Angeles weatherman, Pat Sajak, as the new host.

The original hostess for Wheel of Fortune was Susan Stafford, who remained on the show from its inception in 1975 until October 1982 when she departed to pursue humanitarian work.

A search for her successor led to an audition where over 200 of Los Angeles’ most talented and attractive models vied for the position, narrowing it down to two candidates: Playboy centerfold Vicki McCarthy and Vanna White. As history shows, Vanna secured the role.

Vanna White officially took over as the show’s regular hostess on December 13, 1982, and has consistently held that role since then.

During her time on “Wheel of Fortune,” White has sported more than 6,700 unique dresses with no repeats. She does not retain her wardrobe from the show, as many of her dresses are borrowed from designers and returned after taping.

On May 24, 2013, White received a Guinness World Record during an episode of “Wheel of Fortune.” Her record is for the “most frequent clapper,” achieving at least 3,480,864 claps across the show’s 30 seasons as of January 31, 2013.

She has made guest appearances on several television programs, including “Just Shoot Me,” “Married With Children,” “The King of Queens,” and “The A-Team.”

Sony Lawsuit

In 1993, Vanna triumphantly sued Samsung Electronics over a commercial that included a smiling robot turning letters on a game show. White claimed the company had used her likeness without authorization. Remarkably, after multiple appeals, Vanna won the lawsuit, receiving $403,000 in damages.

Personal Life

In the 1980s, Vanna was in a relationship with “Playgirl” centerfold and Chippendales dancer-turned-actor John Gibson. They became engaged at some point during that decade; however, tragedy struck when Gibson died in a plane crash in 1986, prior to their wedding.

During the summer of 1980, she returned to South Carolina temporarily to support her mother in her battle against ovarian cancer, but unfortunately, her mother succumbed to the illness.

On December 1990, Vanna wed restaurant owner George Santo Pietro, who hailed from a wealthy Beverly Hills family and opened his first restaurant in the early 1980s. He later founded a renowned sushi establishment known as Sushi-Ko, which became a favorite among celebrities. The couple welcomed two children, son Nicholas in 1994 and daughter Giovanna, affectionately nicknamed Gigi, in 1997. Vanna and Santo Pietro’s marriage ended in divorce in November 2002. From 2004 until 2006, White was engaged to businessman Michael Kaye, but they never tied the knot.

As of 2012, Vanna has been in a relationship with contractor John Donaldson, whom she met at a BBQ hosted by a friend. They are still together today, even though they have never formally married. John is the founder of JDC Construction + Development Group, established in 1992, which specializes in building custom residences and multi-family units (ranging from 100 to 600) throughout Northern and Southern California. JDC has constructed homes for several affluent individuals and celebrities, such as Richard Dreyfus, Dan Aykroyd, and Martin Mull.

Teaching her how to crochet at the age of five, her grandmother instilled a passion that Vanna has maintained throughout her life. Following a segment during the “Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” where she expressed her love of crocheting, Lion Brand Yarns reached out and partnered with her to launch her own yarn line called Vanna’s Choice.

White supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, having contributed $1.8 million to the organization thus far. She intends to continue her charitable endeavors after retiring from “Wheel of Fortune.”

Real Estate

At one time, George Santo Pietro and Vanna resided in a gated community known as The Mulholland Estates, neighboring notable figures Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty. They eventually constructed a 15,000-square-foot spec house within the gated Beverly Park community, occupying the residence until their divorce in 2002. Post-divorce, they vacated the home, which they rented out for $175,000 per month for several years. In 2017, they placed the house on the market for $47.5 million and also owned another nearby property, both of which were sold separately. The secondary lot fetched $22 million, while Vanna’s mansion sold in June 2020 for $19.3 million. Here’s a video tour of their former home:

With her earnings, White invests in apartment buildings and has a penchant for flipping houses. Her long-standing primary residence is a 10,000 square-foot manor situated in the hills overlooking Beverly Hills, a property she purchased in the early 2000s for $3.4 million. Presently, this home is estimated to be worth more than $10 million. Additionally, in 2013, Vanna acquired a property in Sherman Oaks, California, for $1.125 million, which she listed for rent at $20,000 per month in May 2020.