Vanna White Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Vanna White Net Worth (Money & Salary)


Vanna White Net Worth (Money & Salary)
October 30, 2024

What is Vanna White’s Net Worth and Salary?

With a net worth of $85 million, Vanna White is an American model, television personality, and actress. Her annual salary is reported to be $10 million. The next section elaborates that Vanna did not see a salary increase for 18 years, from 2005 to 2023; during this time, her salary remained at $3 million. Following the announcement of her co-host Pat Sajak’s retirement in June 2023 and the subsequent introduction of Ryan Seacrest as his successor, Vanna made it clear to the “Wheel” producers that she would only return if her salary rose from $3 million to $7.5 million. When combined with her other hosting duties on ABC shows, particularly “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” Vanna’s total salary for the 2025-2026 season amounts to $10 million.

As widely recognized, Vanna White has garnered fame and wealth through her long tenure as the hostess and puzzle board turner on the popular syndicated game show, “Wheel of Fortune.” Interestingly, Vanna’s net worth is actually $10 million greater than that of Pat Sajak, whose net worth is $75 million. This discrepancy can be partially attributed to her real estate investments made alongside her former husband, George Santo Pietro, who is a real estate developer and restaurateur. Although Vanna White earns $10 million annually from her “Wheel of Fortune” role, this is not her largest annual income source; she and Pat Sajak actually earn more from licensing their likenesses for casino slot machines than from the game show itself.

In June 2023, an announcement from Pat Sajak indicated his plan to retire from “Wheel of Fortune” at the end of the show’s 41st season. Subsequently, on June 27, 2023, Ryan Seacrest confirmed he would assume hosting responsibilities from Sajak.

Vanna White Salary

Currently, Vanna White’s compensation from “Wheel of Fortune” stands at $3 million per year, while Pat Sajak earns $15 million. It became public knowledge in June 2023 that Vanna’s salary had not been raised in 18 years since her contract negotiations in 2005. This revelation surfaced shortly after Pat’s retirement announcement.

Initially, it was reported that Vanna’s legal representative demanded a salary increase to at least 50% of Pat’s $15 million salary for her to return for the 42nd season with Ryan Seacrest as the new host. This would elevate her earnings from $3 million to $7.5 million annually. However, within a few weeks, one of Vanna’s representatives refuted the claim of a 50% demand, stating:

Asking for 50 percent of Pat’s salary is completely unreasonable and not justified. The negotiation seeks to secure wages equal to or exceeding his… Vanna was warned, ‘If you fight this, you will lose your job. You’re fortunate to have this role.’ Such comments, when repeated over time, can be hard to ignore. She’s genuinely a kind person who deserves far more.”

In June 2023, Vanna entered a different contract concerning her role as the host of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” which was reported to include a significant pay boost.

On September 19, 2023, it was made public that Vanna signed a two-year extension to continue her role on “Wheel of Fortune.” This new agreement, which ensures Vanna remains with the show until the end of the 2025-2026 season, reportedly included a “substantial” salary increase.

Vanna White’s Salary Per Episode

Regardless of where Vanna White’s salary finally settles, it can be objectively regarded as an excellent position. Take the taping schedule into account:

Wheel of Fortune tapes four days each month, with six shows scheduled per day. The taping occurs on two Thursdays and two Fridays. On recording days, both Vanna and Pat arrive around 8:30 am and

The shooting begins at noon. One group in the audience enjoys three shows before a lunch break. Following this, a second group arrives to see three additional tapings.

In summary, Vanna and Pat dedicate 48 days each year to their work and earn $3 million and $15 million annually, respectively. To break this down, Vanna White’s earnings amount to $62,500 for each workday, while Pat Sajak’s earnings reach $312,500 per workday.

However! As we will clarify in the following paragraph, Vanna White’s salary from Wheel of Fortune is not her highest annual income!

Casino Licensing Earnings

Surprisingly, Vanna White’s earnings from “Wheel of Fortune” do not constitute her largest annual revenue stream. She actually generates more income from licensing her image for casino slot machines than from the game show itself.

Wheel of Fortune was the first entertainment brand to receive a license for slot machine usage. The first Wheel of Fortune-themed slot machines appeared in Las Vegas casinos in 1996. They quickly became a massive success and were licensed to casinos worldwide. Within ten years, these branded slot machines had become the highest revenue-generating machines in many casinos, with an estimated 20,000 “Wheel” slot machines in operation globally. In Las Vegas alone, these machines bring in over $1 billion annually in gross revenue, and worldwide, they account for over $2 billion in revenue.

In return for licensing their likenesses for use on slot machines, both Pat and Vanna earn a minimum of $10 million each year, primarily stemming from base royalty payments along with various bonuses and appearance fees.

Total Annual Income

Adding everything together, Vanna White’s total income from her “Wheel of Fortune” salary and casino licensing revenues exceeds $15 million each year with ease.

Vanna White Net Worth (Money & Salary)

(David Becker/Getty Images)

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born on February 18, 1957, in Conway, South Carolina, Vanna Marie Rosich is the daughter of Joan and Miguel Angel Rosich. Her father, a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, and her mother, originally from Syracuse, New York, divorced when she was an infant, resulting in her father’s departure. Later, her mother married Herbert White, Jr., giving Vanna his last name. Herbert White was a real estate broker based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Growing up in North Myrtle Beach, she completed her education at North Myrtle Beach High School. She later relocated to Atlanta to study at the Atlanta School of Fashion and Design. While in college, she participated in the 1978 Miss Georgia USA pageant and ranked as the fourth runner-up.

When embarking on her journey to become a star, Vanna White left North Myrtle Beach with just $1,000 in savings. During her time in Atlanta, she worked as a waitress and model as she sought fame and success upon moving to Los Angeles.

In 1979, she relocated to Los Angeles with the goal of pursuing acting. On June 20, 1980, Vanna appeared as a contestant on “The Price is Right.” Here’s a clip from that episode:

Additionally,

In 1980, Vanna made an appearance in a film titled “Gypsy Angels,” though it remained unfinished and ultimately released in 1990.

During 1981, she had minor roles in the movies “Looker” and “Graduation Day.”

In 1982, Vanna faced financial difficulties and hesitated to ask her father for assistance with rent payments. To earn some money, she consented to pose for a set of lingerie photos for a photographer. As we will elaborate on shortly, those photos were featured in Playboy in 1987. Vanna later attempted to sue both Playboy and Hugh Hefner personally regarding the photos.

Playboy Lawsuit

In 1987, Vanna found herself in Playboy Magazine, surprising middle America. The photographs were actually taken back in 1982, just a few months before she secured her position on the Wheel, by a photographer unaffiliated with Playboy. Five years later, the photographer sold those images to Hugh Hefner and Playboy.

Upon discovering Playboy’s publishing plans, Vanna reached out personally to Hefner, whom she considered a friend, but was unable to convince him to refrain from publication.

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

Additionally, she filed a lawsuit against Hefner personally. Playboy contended that Vanna was aware of the magazine’s intentions to publish the photos and even desired for their release to coincide with her autobiography’s launch in bookstores. Ultimately, the lawsuit was dropped.

Years later, she reflected on the incident:

What I did was a mistake. When I initially moved to Hollywood, I felt too ashamed to ask my dad for rental assistance. I was young and eager to be independent. So, I did those lingerie shots, and from the moment I agreed to them, deep down I thought, ‘This isn’t right, but I refuse to ask my dad for help, so I’ll just proceed.’” — Vanna White

Wheel of Fortune

The concept for “Wheel of Fortune” originated with game-show innovator Merv Griffin during a family road trip in the mid-1970s, while he entertained himself by playing hangman. With collaboration from his production company’s executives, they modified Hangman into what would become “Wheel of Fortune.”

The game made its debut on January 6, 1975, with Chuck Woolery serving as the original host. In 1981, Woolery was replaced after requesting a substantial pay raise which Merv Griffin denied. When Woolery’s contract was not renewed, Merv opted for a local NBC Los Angeles weatherman named Pat Sajak as the new host.

The first hostess of Wheel of Fortune was Susan Stafford. Stafford was involved with the show from its inception in 1975 until her departure in October 1982 to pursue charitable work.

auditions were held to find her successor, attracting over 200 of Los Angeles’ most talented and beautiful models. Ultimately, the final decision was between two women: Playboy centerfold Vicki McCarthy and Vanna White. As it turned out, Vanna secured the role.

Vanna White made her debut as the regular hostess on December 13, 1982, and has maintained her position ever since.

Throughout her time on “Wheel of Fortune,” White has worn over 6,700 dresses without any repeats. She does not retain her wardrobe from the show; instead, the dresses are typically borrowed from designers and returned after filming concludes.

On May 24, 2013, during an episode of “Wheel of Fortune,” White was awarded a Guinness World Record for “most frequent clapper,” having clapped at least 3,480,864 times over the show’s 30 seasons as of January 31, 2013.

In addition, she has made guest appearances on various television shows, including “Just Shoot Me,” “Married With Children,” “The King of Queens,” and “The A-Team.”

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Sony Lawsuit

In 1993, after the airing of a commercial featuring a smiling robot turning letters on a game show, Vanna successfully brought a lawsuit against the Samsung Electronics corporation. She claimed that the company had used her likeness without her authorization. Remarkably, after multiple appeals, Vanna secured a victory in the lawsuit, resulting in an award of $403,000 in damages.

Vanna White Net Worth

(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

Personal Life

During the 1980s, Vanna had a relationship with John Gibson, a centerfold from “Playgirl” and a Chippendales dancer who later became an actor. At some point in the 1980s, they became engaged, but tragically, Gibson lost his life in a plane crash in 1986, before their wedding could take place.

In 1980, she made a brief return to South Carolina to support her mother during her battle with ovarian cancer, ultimately losing her mother to the disease.

In December 1990, Vanna wed George Santo Pietro, a restaurant owner from a wealthy Beverly Hills family. He opened his first restaurant in the early 1980s, followed by a successful sushi restaurant named Sushi-Ko, which became a favored spot for celebrities. They welcomed two children: son Nicholas in 1994 and daughter Giovanna, affectionately called Gigi, in 1997. However, White and Santo Pietro divorced in November 2002. Between 2004 and 2006, she was engaged to businessman Michael Kaye, but they did not marry.

Vanna began dating contractor John Donaldson in 2012 after being introduced by a friend at a barbecue. They maintain their relationship today, although they have never legally tied the knot. John is the founder of JDC Construction + Development Group, which has been constructing custom single-family homes and apartment complexes (ranging from 100 to 600 units) across Northern and Southern California since its establishment in 1992. Among their clientele are several wealthy individuals and celebrities, including Richard Dreyfus, Dan Aykroyd, and Martin Mull.

At the age of five, her grandmother introduced her to crocheting, a hobby she continues to enjoy. After mentioning her passion for crocheting on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” she was approached by Lion Brand Yarns, which collaborated with her to create her own yarn line called Vanna’s Choice.

As a benefactor of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she has contributed $1.8 million so far. Vanna intends to pursue further charitable efforts following her retirement from “Wheel of Fortune.”

Vanna White Salary

(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Real Estate

Vanna and George Santo Pietro once lived together at one point…

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The couple resided in a gated community known as The Mulholland Estates, where they were neighbors to Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty. In the gated community of Beverly Park, they later constructed a spec house measuring 15,000 square feet. They occupied this residence until their divorce in 2002. Following the divorce, both parties left the property, which they subsequently rented out for $175,000 monthly for several years. In 2017, they placed the house on the market with an asking price of $47.5 million. Additionally, they owned another nearby house, and in due course, sold both properties individually. The second lot fetched $22 million, while the main lot, which hosted Vanna’s mansion, was sold for $19.3 million in June 2020. Here’s a video tour of their previous mansion:

Vanna utilizes her earnings to invest in apartment complexes and has a penchant for flipping houses.

Her long-standing primary residence has been a mansion spanning 10,000 square feet, situated in the hills above Beverly Hills, which she acquired in the early 2000s for $3.4 million. Currently, this residence is estimated to be worth over $10 million.

In 2013, Vanna purchased a property in Sherman Oaks, California, for $1.125 million. She subsequently listed this home for rent at $20,000 per month in May 2020.

Vanna White Net Worth (Money & Salary)

The data covers the years 2023 and 2024, while forecast data is available for 2025 and 2026. Additionally, projections are expanded to include 2027 and 2028.

 



* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:

Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.

Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.

Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic.

Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Metropolitan, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories.

Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy.

Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg.

Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.

Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.

Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.

Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.

Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.

Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.


Vanna White Net Worth (Money & Salary)


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