For months, I was ready to go to WAR on Vanna White’s behalf. Back in June, we learned that Vanna hired a new lawyer to negotiate a new contract with Wheel of Fortune. The reason why Vanna was suddenly bringing in some big guns was because the woman didn’t have a pay raise for 18 years, and she was making significantly less than Pat Sajak. Sony – who owns WoF – played hardball for months, and Vanna was apparently concerned that the executives viewed her as replaceable, especially with Sajak’s retirement. Then, last month, Vanna finally got a new contract with a significant pay bump. She will be on WoF through the 2026 season now. Well, Vanna chatted with People Magazine in this week’s issue and Vanna wants to keep things as low-drama as possible.
She didn’t read all of the online rumors about her pay negotiations: “It was because people just have rumors. Everything is so blown out of proportion, not just with my stuff, with everybody’s stuff.” But White considers herself as “a strong person,” who wouldn’t let the rumors get to her. “I’m not going to do anything I don’t want to do or that I don’t believe in. My mother taught me that at a young age and I’m sticking to my guns.”
Her advice to women: “I would tell them to follow your heart and really don’t do anything you don’t want to do. Don’t let anybody talk you into doing anything you don’t want to do. You have that instinct inside you, we all do. You listen to that instinct inside of you. It never is wrong.”
She did think about leaving WoF: While White admits she contemplated leaving Wheel of Fortune when Sajak, 76, decided to exit, “I’m just so happy that I have signed for two more years,” she says. “I have this next year with Pat, and then I have two years after that, so I will be part of Wheel of Fortune, at least through 2026.”
What Vanna asked for: In July, a report surfaced stating that White’s lawyer asked Sony Pictures Television for 50 percent of Sajak’s salary — but a source with knowledge of White’s negotiations denied that figure to PEOPLE. “Fifty percent of Pat’s salary is so outrageous that no one in their right mind could say that it’s fair,” the source said. “The negotiation is asking for much more than 50 percent of his salary. It’s asking for the same pay — if not more.”
She’s looking forward to working with Ryan Seacrest: “I know Ryan — he is professional, he’s good at what he does, he’s kind. I think it’s going to be good. He’s such a nice guy and he loves what he does. He said, ‘Look, I am not replacing Pat. I’m not going in to try to fill Pat’s shoes. No one can ever replace him.’ He says he’s coming in to do a good job and to keep the show going, and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
My take is that Vanna White is a nice, easy-going person who probably can’t negotiate her way out of a paper bag, so that’s why she hired some heavy-hitters to negotiate on her behalf. Which was smart of her, and she was able to stay in her pleasant little zone of quilting, crocheting and decorating and she kept her hands clean. It also sounds like she wanted to stay on WoF for as long as possible, but Sony would only extend her contract through 2026.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
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- Vanna White at the 44th Daytime Emmy Awards – Arrivals, Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, CA 04-30-17,Image: 512792646, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS- Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Martin Sloan / Avalon
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- LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 20: Vanna White attends the 29th Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel on May 20, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.,Image: 693447469, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Vanna White, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer / Avalon
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- Long Beach, CA – Celebrities attend the official naming ceremony for the new cruise ship Carnival Panorama at Long Beach Terminal on December 10, 2019 in Long Beach, California. Vanna White made an appearance as the “Godmother for the new Carnival Panorama.” Pictured: Vanna White BACKGRID USA 10 DECEMBER 2019 BYLINE MUST READ: Parisa / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Long Beach, CA – Celebrities attend the official naming ceremony for the new cruise ship Carnival Panorama at Long Beach Terminal on December 10, 2019 in Long Beach, California. Vanna White made an appearance as the “Godmother for the new Carnival Panorama.” Pictured: Vanna White BACKGRID USA 10 DECEMBER 2019 BYLINE MUST READ: Parisa / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
The day Vana isn’t asked back is the day WOF dies.
If she truly decides to leave on her own – and gets a public huge ass golden parachute as a thank you for everything you have done – it will live on. But only if they make things right.
Women remember.
100% agree.
Wow. Don’t do anything you don’t want to do. Words spoken by a person wealthy enough to do just that. What about those who live paycheck to paycheck, who have children to raise with no family to ask for help. You do whatever you need to do to survive, staying in a job you hate because the money is good with health and dental? You bet.
right on
Only people like her get to say that. I will piggyback her advice and say “don’t do anything you don’t want to do for peanuts”. If it’s something you really don’t want to do make sure its worthwile.
Example and job advice: I took a low paying part-time job (fashion assistant but really night/weekend security) because it was easy and with amenities. Once a new manager came she started talking raises. But first she changed the job. So I left. You want me to constantly be moving on the hope of a raise. When the other guy said they havent had a raise in 12 years. I left July 2023 and my new part-time job is driving kids a few hours a week for $30+ an hour as of july 2023. No benefits but no problem. It’s a national company so If I decided to move for the winter I can. If you want benefits simply apply to drive a school bus a few hours a day. I would rather stick to Merchandising but I like having a part-time job. However I’m not being taking advantage of free.