- After 40 years as the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak has announced his retirement from the long-running game show.
- Oddsmakers have released betting odds on who will be the next host of the Wheel of Fortune.
- Vanna White has leading odds to become the third-ever host of the game show since its debut in 1975.
Early evenings are going to look much different on NBC soon. The longtime host of the Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak, has decided to step down following the 41st season. His co-host, Vanna White, has opened as the betting favorite to be the next host at +300 odds.
Leading online betting site, BetUS, is accepting bets on the next host of the Wheel of Fortune. Currently, there are 17 personalities available to bet on at BetUS. Tom Brady, Snoop Dogg, and Jim Carrey are a few names that you can back to be the next Wheel of Fortune host.
Brady faces the longest odds, as the former NFL quarterback has listed at +8000 to be hired to host Wheel of Fortune. Carrey and Snoop Dogg have better odds than Brady, but still unlikely at +5000 and +3000, respectively.
As you move to the top of the odds, this is where you will find some realistic options. White, who was hired as co-host alongside Sajak in 1982, is at the top of the odds board at BetUS. American Idol host, Ryan Seacrest, has the second-best odds at +400.
At 66 years of age, White would not be a long-term solution as host of the game show. However, it might make sense to hire White as a part-time host for at least a season or two before introducing a more permanent fixture.
Pat Sajak Retiring As Host of Wheel of Fortune
There are no indications that Sajak was pushed out of his gig as the host of the Wheel of Fortune. This is simply a 76-year-old that is ready to call it quits after 41 seasons.
Sajak’s retirement follows the passing of Jeopardy’s Alex Trebek in 2020. With Trebek and Sajak both absent from the nightly game show schedule, television sets around the United States will never look the same again at 7:00 p.m.
Thank you to the best host in the biz. Wheel of Fortune would not be what it is today without you, Pat. Looking forward to Season 41 being better than ever! https://t.co/KPcbTQhE9x pic.twitter.com/0uQuXG2Jfr
— Wheel of Fortune (@WheelofFortune) June 12, 2023
Prior to Sajak, Chuck Woolery hosted Wheel of Fortune from 1975 to 1981. Susan Stafford was in White’s role as the letter-turning co-host with Woolery. A contract dispute between NBC and Woolery ultimately resulted in his demise on the show.
Woolery wanted his weekly pay to increase from $5,000 to $10,000, but the television network would not budge. Meanwhile, Stafford stated that she had bigger aspirations for her career than working on the Wheel of Fortune.
NBC turned to a weatherman and model to replace Woolery and Stafford. Before his 40-year reign on the Wheel of Fortune, Sajak worked as a meteorologist in Nashville and Los Angeles in the 1970s. He also tried his hand as a late-night talk show host, but found his footing as the host of Wheel of Fortune.
Sajak has hosted a total of 7,748 episodes of the Wheel of Fortune during his illustrious career on the game show. Before officially retiring, Sajak still has some shows to add to his total. He will film one more season beginning in September before passing the torch to someone else.
Maggie Sajak Has Filled In As Replacement Host Before
Across the last few years, Pat’s daughter, Maggie, has replaced her father and White on episodes that they were unable to film. In 2020, Maggie co-hosted the game show, while White assumed the hosting duties in place of Pat.
Currently, the Princeton law school student works as the Social Correspondent on the Wheel of Fortune. Last month, the 29-year-old stepped in to turn the letters for White. She was away filming episodes for Celebrity Jeopardy. She made her first appearance on the game show in 1996 as a 1-year-old.
At +500, Maggie has the third-best odds to be the next host of the Wheel of Fortune game show on NBC. With a year remaining of law school, the timeline might line up perfectly for her.
White The Most Logical Choice
Sajak and White joined the Wheel of Fortune cast at the same time in 1982. They have been synonymous with one another for decades now.
White has over 7,000 episodes of experience on the show. She knows the ins and outs of the show, and presumably gets along with producers and management. Additionally, White has experience hosting the show and would make for the perfect fit.
If White is interested in the job, it is likely that NBC will hand her the keys. However, could Pat’s announcement prompt her to think about her own future on the show? That is one thing to consider.
Currently, White has not indicated that she is ready to retire. White and Maggie appear to be a good team together hosting the Wheel of Fortune. White as the host and Maggie as the co-host is possibly a duo to look out for.
Oddsmakers tend to agree, as White is the betting favorite to get the job. Following White, Seacrest, and Maggie, there are some recognizable names in the mix for hosting duties. Wayne Brady (+600), Terry Crews (+800), and Steve Harvey (+900) round out the Top 6 odds at BetUS.
All three have hosting experience, with Brady popular for Let’s Make a Deal; Crews is the host of America’s Got Talent; while Harvey has been the host of Family Feud since 2010.
