High school teacher has wild reaction after winning huge prize money in stunning ‘Wheel of Fortune’ moment

Renee Jones, a high school teacher from Atlanta, had a bumpy start to her 'Wheel of Fortune' journey
PUBLISHED SEP 14, 2025
Screenshot of Ryan Seacrest and Renee Jones from 'Wheel of Fortune' (Cover Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)
Screenshot of Ryan Seacrest and Renee Jones from 'Wheel of Fortune' (Cover Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)

Renee Jones's emotional reaction on a September 2024 episode of ‘Wheel of Fortune’ is one for the books. Contestants often get excited about winning big, but Jones' reaction after solving the Bonus Round puzzle was unforgettable. A high school teacher from Atlanta, Jones let it all out, screaming with glee as she celebrated her massive win with host Ryan Seacrest. Her Bonus Round solve won her an additional $50,000. What made her win more memorable was the incredible comeback she had on the show.  

According to Market Realist, Jones had a bumpy start; however, she quickly recovered, earning $5,150 in cash as she competed against Joshua Porter from Jarrell, Texas, and Kari Scheer from Goddard, Kansas. Initially, Scheer was leading the game in the PR Round and had won a trip to the Oceans at Divi Little Bay in St. Maarten, worth $9,500. However, towards the Triple Toss Up and the Speed Round, Jones left everyone startled, solving the puzzles effortlessly. With her captivating gameplay, Jones earned $16,650 in cash, emerging as the winner. Meanwhile, Scheer was the runner-up, returning home with $15,550. Heading to the Bonus Round, Jones chose 'Phrase' as her category. 

After she spun the wheel and picked up the Golden Envelope, Jones was presented with the standard letters R, S, T, L, N, and E. She went on to choose H, P, M, and A as her additional letters for the four-word puzzle. Her guesses were on spot, and the puzzle on the board now read: "THAT’S THE  _ H _ LE  _ _ EA." Her 10-second timer began as Seacrest wished her good luck. But even before the timer started, Jones seemed to have guessed the idea. "That's the whole idea," she answered with a smile. "That's right!" Seacrest exclaimed, and Jones shrieked in celebration. 


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Wheel of Fortune (@wheeloffortune)


 

As Jones clapped and jumped, celebrating her win on stage, Seacrest opened the Golden Envelope, revealing she had just won an additional $50,000. "Woo! Oh my God!" the Atlanta high-school teacher screamed and hugged Seacrest. With her Bonus Round prize, Jones took home a total of $66,000. 'Wheel of Fortune' fans took to the comments section to congratulate Jones on her win. "Way to go, Renee! You did a great job tonight! Another easy puzzle! Plus $50,000 won tonight!" one user wrote. "We miss u, teacher of the year 2020," another user, a former student of Jones, commented. "Not my old teacher of one year," another student wrote. “Congratulations renee on winning $50,000 for a total of $66,650 well done,” a fourth user commented, while a fifth wrote, “Renee, I can't hear you! Here is $50,000!! Congratulations on your big win!!” 

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

'The Pitt' star Shawn Hatosy dropped a major hint on a potential spinoff featuring his character and the night shift
20 hours ago
'Fire Country' is inspired by the California fire department, but its actual shooting spots are quite surprising.
22 hours ago
Production designer shares what each house in 'Your Friends & Neighbors' represents and where exactly fans can find it.
1 day ago
After Jessica Jones, two other major characters from ‘The Defenders’ will possibly return to NYC in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3.
1 day ago
A longtime cast member's future hangs by a thread as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 22 nears its finale.
1 day ago
Andrew 'Coop' Cooper is cleared of murder in 'Your Friends & Neighbors' Season 1, but in Season 2, he returns to more risky and criminal habits.
1 day ago
‘The Chosen’ reaches its most intense chapter yet as Season 6 sets premiere date, with a bold release plan and a big-screen twist ahead.
1 day ago
Season 2 of ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ deals with darker themes as Coop continues to push his luck, and Jon Hamm gives a major update.
1 day ago
While no official date has been set for 'The Pitt' Season 3, reports suggest that it will premiere next year, without this fan-favorite character.
1 day ago
'The Pitt' has already been renewed for a third season by HBO Max and is currently in the writing stage.
2 days ago