Wheel Of Fortune stalwart Vanna White is finding it so difficult to continue without her co-star and longtime leading man Pat Sajak that she may leave before her contract is up.
The legendary 67-year-old turned things around alongside Sajak, 77, for four decades until his recent retirement, and now co-hosts the game show alongside his replacement, Ryan Seacrest.
But a source told DailyMail.com that White is finding it so difficult to “see fit” with the American Idol host, 49, that she is considering leaving the show before her two-year contract ends in 2026.
“Vanna will be leaving the show when her contract ends, but there’s a part of her that wants to leave sooner,” a show source said. ‘It’s very difficult to do this without Pat.
“She just doesn’t gel with Ryan like she did with Pat, and no one expected her to. There’s just no way she can do it.
Wheel of Fortune darling Vanna White is having a “tough” time on the show following the departure of her co-host Pat Sajak, insiders claim.
White, 67, signed a two-year deal to continue co-hosting Wheel Of Fortune until 2026 alongside Ryan Seacrest, 49, following the recent departure of Sajak (pictured with Sajak).
They continued: ‘Vanna feels like she has put in her time. She dedicated her entire life to this program and had an incredible career while she earned a fortune.
‘She knows the show needs to go in a different direction and appeal to a younger demographic. She wants the show to go on.
“This will require a younger host, someone who can be to Ryan what she was to Pat.”
In a newly released promo for season 42 of Wheel Of Fortune, Sajak officially handed over hosting duties to Seacrest, emphasizing how lucky he was to work alongside White.
“You’ll never find a better job and you’ll never find a better co-host,” he told Seacrest in the video. presented in variety.
White and Seacrest have already filmed two episodes of the upcoming season, which premieres in September.
This comes after White became embroiled in a contractual dispute with Wheel Of Fortune bosses over her future pay when Sajak first announced she was stepping down.
White was reportedly paid $3 million a year and hadn’t had a pay raise in 15 years, while Sajak took home a whopping $15 million, according to TMZ.
But sources claim White is struggling to “see fit” with Seacrest, 49, (left)
Prior to Sajak’s departure, White was embroiled in a dispute over her salary, as it was revealed that she had not received a raise in 18 years and earned $12 million less than Sajak, 77, per year.
Longtime American Idol host Seacrest has already filmed two episodes for season 42 with White
Salary talks came to an end after executives offered White a “substantial raise” to remain with the team through the 2025-2026 season.
“Wheel wants the transition between Pat and Ryan to be seamless and having Vanna there would be wonderful to make that all happen,” a source told DailyMail.com at the time.
“They want his next contract to be his last, so there will be a little more maneuverability to change things in a few years when they look for his replacement.”
Sajak, who hosted 7,942 episodes of the series’ late-night edition since 1982, announced his departure last June.
Following the shocking news, Seacrest confirmed that he would be taking the reins of the long-running game show.
Speaking of White, Seacrest said MY! News at the time: ‘Of course, standing next to Vanna, she’s a legend. She is an icon. We spent a little time filming some promos for the upcoming season, and she’s down to earth. She is exactly what you would expect.
“It’s so exciting to think about being on that set. I’ve watched the show for so many decades. I’m a fan of the show and the game is the star.”
White, pictured with Sajak, 77, in season 10, “wants to leave before” 2026, when her contract ends, as she finds it “difficult” without him.
The famous TV tandem’s time on the game show has spanned nearly 8,000 episodes, with White crying on their final show (pictured), which aired last week on ABC.
He echoed his sentiments on his social media at the time, writing: “I am truly honored to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak.
“I can say, along with the rest of America, that it has been a privilege and a pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel at home with them.”
Seacrest ended his statement by saying he is optimistic about working with White.
“I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White.”
In an emotional video published on Youtube Earlier this month, White spoke candidly about the four decades he worked alongside Sajak.
“I don’t know how to put into words what these last 41 years have meant to me, but I’m going to try,” he said.
The clip included a montage of the tandem’s work on the show, which has spanned around 8,000 episodes since White joined the show in 1982.
“When I started, I was very green,” he said. “You made me feel so comfortable and so safe, Pat; you made me who I am, you really did.”
She also noted that she and Sajak have been family friends off-camera before adding, “We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve celebrated. Oh my goodness, what an incredible, unforgettable journey we’ve had. And I’ve enjoyed every minute with you.”
She continued: ‘As this chapter of our lives comes to a close, I know you will still be around. You are like a brother to me and I consider you a true friend for life, whom I will always adore. I love you, Pat.’
The tribute concluded with a clip of White blowing a kiss and hugging his longtime colleague.
White is the mother of two children with her ex-husband George Santo Pietro: son Nikko, 29, and daughter Giovanna, 26; while Sajak is the father of son Patrick, 33, and daughter Maggie, 29, with his wife Lesly Brown, 59.
Maggie had auditioned for her father Pat’s position as host of the show, but ABC decided to go with experienced reality TV host Seacrest.
Sajak and White had an impressive career together and established themselves as one of television’s most beloved game show couples, even being recognized with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Sajak began hosting the daytime series in 1981, and left that edition to host his own late-night series in 1989. The daytime edition was canceled in 1991.
He won three Daytime Emmy Awards for his performance and in 2011 received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on the television show.
White was one of three replacements for former Wheel Of Fortune host Susan Stafford, who left in October 1982 and became the regular host just two months later in December.
Seacrest said he was “truly honored” to work alongside the “great Vanna White” in a social media post when he announced his new job a year ago.
In the newly released promotional video in which Sajak officially handed the microphone to Seacrest, he thanked his fans, whom he referred to as “family.”
“It has been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade, and I have always felt that with privilege came the responsibility of maintaining this daily half hour as a safe place for the family.” “Fun, no social problems, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope, just a game,” she said.
“But gradually it became more than that,” Sajak continued, “a place where children learned their letters, where people from other countries honed their English skills, where families gathered, along with friends, neighbors and entire generations.” What an honor to have played even a small role in all of that. Thank you for allowing me into your lives.’
In addition to being the iconic co-host of Wheel Of Fortune for the past four decades, White, a former 1978 Miss Georgia USA contestant, has acted in minor roles and appeared as herself in films and television.
