‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Vanna White’s interview taking a jibe at co-host Pat Sajak resurfaces amid ugly battle with ABC show’s execs
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The popular gameshow ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Pat Sajak's retirement announcement brought about a flood of criticism against the show. Moreover, Vanna White became one of these critics after Ryan Seacrest was announced as Sajak’s successor.
In an interview back in 2019, Vanna White reportedly slammed Pat Sajak stating that she “worked a lot harder” on the show than him. Despite her significant contribution to the show's popularity, White never felt confident enough to demand fair pay until now. Salary talks for White have reportedly turned ugly with the executive producers. Her lawyer is negotiating deals for both ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’ and the long-running syndicated show. However, negotiations for the syndicated program have halted due to the Writers Guild of America strike.
Why did Vanna White slam Pat Sajak?
In a resurfaced 2019 Esquire interview, the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ star discussed the challenges of her job compared to the other host. She mentioned “walking thousands of miles” in her heels while Sajak stood behind his podium. Despite admitting to working “a lot harder”, she humbly acknowledged that she doesn't consider herself better than her long-time friend and did not aspire to become the host. She emphasized, “I’ve walked thousands of miles. And he didn’t have to do that. In my heels, no less.” She continued, “I’m not any better than anybody else. I mean, yes I am running the show, which is kind of scary. But I don’t think of it as being empowered, in a way.” She also added, “I think I’m equal to everybody. We have 150 staff and crew. It’s not just me up there. There are 150 of us that put the whole show together. So we all have our roles to play.”
Vanna White’s salary battle
Vanna White has set clear terms for her continued involvement in the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ franchise. She emphasized to ABC's top executives that after Pat Sajak's retirement in 2024, she expects her compensation to be equal to what he would have received, according to People. Over the past 18 years, White has earned around $3 million annually without any pay increases. She wants the money allocated for Sajak’s salary to be used to raise her wages instead. Currently earning $15 million a year, Sajak’s salary is considered excessive, and White’s negotiation seeks equal pay or potentially even more. As Sajak’s dedicated co-host since 1982, White believes her contribution to the show warrants fair recognition and compensation.