6 Biggest ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Winners Ever as Season 43 Keeps Delivering Massive Payouts

Chad Cabanilla secured his place among Wheel of Fortune’s biggest winners during the Season 43 Spring Forward Champions Tournament in April 2026. The flight attendant became the tournament’s first contestant to win across four consecutive days and appeared in five games overall. While he solved just one Bonus Round puzzle, a collection of six vacation prizes helped boost his total winnings to $183,723 and earn him a spot on the show's all-time top 10 leaderboard.

Orange County teacher Laura Trammel delivered one of Wheel of Fortune’s most memorable wins in Season 38. Before her Bonus Round, host Pat Sajak teased the high stakes, telling her, “There’s $100,000 out there and this week, there’s a home out there.” Trammel then solved the puzzle, “I Caught A Glimpse,” and won a Jimmy Buffett-inspired Margaritaville home in Florida, helping her reach an impressive $398,690 total.

Sarah Manchester made Wheel of Fortune history in Season 32 when the Silver Spring, Maryland, math teacher correctly solved the Bonus Round puzzle, “Loud Laughter.” The answer sparked exactly that reaction as she realized she had won the coveted $1 million prize. Manchester’s achievement drew an enthusiastic celebration from both her family and the studio audience, pushing her total winnings to $1,017,490.

Michelle Loewenstein etched her name into Wheel of Fortune history during Season 26 in 2008 by becoming the first contestant to win the show's $1 million prize. The Santa Monica florist secured the milestone after correctly solving the Bonus Round puzzle, “Leaky Faucet,” and selecting the envelope containing the top reward. As the excitement erupted, Pat Sajak joked, “You’re gonna go shopping for that dog,” prompting an ecstatic Loewenstein to rush over and hug Vanna White.

During Season 30 in 2013, Autumn Erhard turned a fortunate Wild Card spin into a life-changing victory. The California animal pharmaceuticals sales representative used the extra consonant she had earned earlier in the game to help solve the Bonus Round puzzle, “Tough Workout.” Her win made her only the second contestant in the show's history to walk away with the coveted $1 million prize, securing a memorable place in Wheel of Fortune history.

In Season 43 of Wheel of Fortune in 2025, Christina Derevjanik set a new all-time winnings record for the show. Her record-breaking moment came when she correctly solved the Bonus Round puzzle, “Pack of Coyotes.” After successfully carrying the One Million Dollar wedge into the final round and choosing the right envelope, she boosted her winnings to an astonishing $1,035,155, setting a new benchmark for future contestants.