Pat Sajak’s Final Appearance on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ to Air This Week

Pat Sajak and model Vanna White cut cake at the 25th anniversary celebration of the television game show "Wheel of Fortune" at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Sept. 27, 2007. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

After serving as the host of “Wheel of Fortune” for 41 seasons, Pat Sajak will be stepping down from his role on the popular game show this week. The 77-year-old’s final episode is scheduled to air on June 7, coinciding with the program’s finale.

Mr. Sajak, who began hosting the long-running show in 1981, announced his retirement last year, calling his more than 40-year run on the show “a wonderful ride.”

“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in June 2023. He added, “I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all.”

To celebrate his time on “Wheel of Fortune,” Mr. Sajak’s 29-year-old daughter, Maggie—who joined the show as a social correspondent in 2021—interviewed the television personality for a special four-part series, which debuted on Monday.

“Today kicks off the first of Maggie’s exclusive 4-part interview series with Pat, Thanks For The Memories, in honor of her dad’s final week as host of Wheel of Fortune,” the show’s official Instagram account shared in a June 3 post. “You won’t want to miss it: There are a few tears and, if you know Pat, more than a few laughs. 41 seasons and 8,000+ episodes went by just like that!”

Embarking on a New Season

Emmy-winning television presenter Ryan Seacrest, known for his work on “American Idol,” will take over as the host of “Wheel of Fortune,” when the show resumes for its 42nd season in September.

In a statement shared shortly after Mr. Sajak revealed his departure, the radio personality said he was “truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary” game show host.

“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,” the 49-year-old penned on X.

“Pat, I love the way you’ve always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease. I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition,” he continued, noting that one of the first jobs he ever held was hosting the short-lived game show called “Click,” which premiered in 1997 and ran for two seasons.

“So this is truly a full circle moment for me and I’m grateful to Sony for this opportunity,” Mr. Seacrest said. “I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White.”

CBS Media Ventures, distributor of “Wheel of Fortune,” which is produced by Sony Pictures Television, confirmed in a September 2023 news release that Ms. White will continue co-hosting the beloved program, indicating that the 67-year-old had extended her contract for an additional two years, through the show’s 2025-2026 season. It has yet to be announced whether or not Ms. White will continue in her role after season 43 of “Wheel of Fortune” concludes.

“When we started @WheelofFortune who could have imagined we'd still be at it 41 seasons later?” Ms. White wrote on X. “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!”

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Renewed

“Wheel of Fortune,” which sees contestants compete to solve hidden words and phrases by guessing letters in an attempt to win cash prizes, was created by entertainment mogul Merv Griffin, who also conceived “Click” and the quiz competition show “Jeopardy!”

“Wheel of Fortune” debuted as a network daytime series in January 1975. The original hosts—Chuck Woolery and model Susan Stafford—presided over the game show until their departure in 1981 and 1982, respectively. In 1983, the current iteration of “Wheel of Fortune” aired as a nightly syndication, with Ms. White stepping in as co-host following Ms. Stafford’s exit.

In January of last year, CBS Media Ventures revealed that “Wheel of Fortune”—along with “Jeopardy!”—had been renewed for five more seasons through the 2027-2028 season.

According to the broadcast company, the two programs are the most-watched shows in syndication. “Jeopardy!” sits in first place, averaging nine million weekly viewers, with “Wheel of Fortune” coming in at a close second, averaging a little over eight million viewers each week.

“Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! are the crown jewels of syndication, drawing larger audiences than almost every prime-time broadcast show,” Steve LoCascio, the former president of CBS Media Ventures, said at the time. Mr. LoCascio retired last August after working with the company for more than three decades.

“This new deal is a testament to the power of these shows and the power of broadcast television,” he added. “Viewers and advertisers alike love these shows, and we are excited that this deal continues the legacy of these brands for years to come.”