‘Wheel of Fortune’: Vanna White Lawyered up to Negotiate Her First Raise in 18 Years After Pat Sajak Announced His Retirement

With Pat Sajak leaving Wheel of Fortune, his longtime co-host Vanna White is ready to raise her value on the long-running game show.

A new report alleges Sony failed to give White a raise for almost 18 years; she has now reportedly lawyered up to renegotiate her contract for the 2023-24 season.

Three separate sources claimed to Matt Belloni’s Puck News that White hasn’t received a raise for her Wheel role in nearly two decades. She currently makes about $3 million per year, while Sajak earns almost five times that amount. She reportedly hired a lawyer to negotiate her future on the gameshow, and she’s pulling out all the stops.

According to Puck, White is working with Bryan Freedman, who has represented Tucker Carlson, Chris Cuomo, and disgraced TV producer Mike Richards. Freedman is allegedly arguing possible gender discrimination in the discrepancies between the co-hosts’ salaries.

While White is fighting for a raise on Wheel, Sony has offered her a raise on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, bringing her pay up to $66,000 per episode, a 20 percent increase from the $55,000 she was previously making, per Puck. Still, Sajak makes almost $300,000 per episode, an amount that includes his bonus.

Belloni writes, “Any increase White negotiates for the primetime show would presumably be used as precedent to get White closer to Sajak on her deal for the syndicated show. Or so she hopes.”

As Puck sources pointed out, White actually spends more time on the Wheel set than Sajak, and she does more publicity for the show. The report also noted that Sony’s own research found White helps attract Wheel viewers, specifically the show’s older, female demographic.

White has been co-hosting Wheel since 1982; Sajak joined her one year later. With Sajak’s impending exit from Wheel after its upcoming season, some at Sony have even suggested slashing White’s role entirely, according to Puck, although Belloni notes the scenario is unlikely. Sources claimed that the studio is hoping to sign a big name to replace Sajak, who might not need a co-host.

Ryan Seacrest is rumored to be in the running, but everyone from Andy Cohen to Whoopi Goldberg has expressed interest in the opportunity.

Still, White has a fighting chance to replace Sajak in his retirement.

Wheel of Fortune airs on weeknights at 7:30/6:30c. Find local listings on the Wheel of Fortune website.