What to Expect From Ryan Seacrest's 'Wheel of Fortune'
It's official: Ryan Seacrest will take over for Pat Sajak when the longtime Wheel of Fortune host steps down from his post after the 2023-24 television season. Sajak announced his retirement earlier this month, sharing on Twitter, "Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it'll keep the clickbait sites busy!)”
What will Season 42 of Wheel of Fortune look like? Here's everything we know so far.
Related: Pat Sajak Talks 'Realistic' Life Plans After Retirement
Who will host Wheel of Fortune Season 42?
Famous workaholic Ryan Seacrest will take over for Pat Sajak on Season 42.
“I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” Seacrest said in a statement. “I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them. Pat, I love the way you’ve always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease. I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition."
Seacrest is no stranger to fronting a show. He's co-hosted American Idol since its inception; chatted up guests on Live! With Kelly and Ryan from 2017 until just this year; and has been handing over his New Year's Eve plans to ABC since 2005.
In addition to serving as host on Wheel of Fortune, he'll also act as a consulting producer on the show (his producing resumé includes Keeping Up With the Kardashians, so for better or worse, you know the man can make a hit).
How will Wheel of Fortune change under Ryan Seacrest?
If there are going to be any changes to the Wheel of Fortune tone, set or format under Seacrest's leadership, they haven't been announced. For now, you can expect Season 42 to include a wheel for spinning, vowels for buying and puzzles for solving. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Will Vanna White be on Wheel of Fortune Season 42?
Vanna White, who has been flipping letters on Wheel of Fortune for more than four decades, is not confirmed for Season 42 but reportedly intends to stick around. According to Puck, she's currently renegotiating her contract and asking for a pay raise. The outlet reports that White makes $3 million a year (a fifth of Sajak's salary) and hasn't received a pay bump in 18 years (although she has gotten bonuses along the way).
Despite White's fate being up in the air, Seacrest made reference to her in his statement. "I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White," he said.
Related: Find Out Vanna White's Net Worth in 2023
When is Pat Sajak's last episode?
We don't know the exact date of Sajak's last episode, but he's likely to give the wheel one final spin sometime in late spring 2024. (For reference, Season 40 ran from Sept. 12, 2022 through June 9, 2023.)
When will Ryan Seacrest start hosting Wheel of Fortune?
Ryan Seacrest will start hosting Wheel of Fortune in 2024 when Season 42 premieres.
What year will Wheel of Fortune Season 42 come out?
Season 42 will premiere in 2024. Meantime, the show has one more season (41) with Pat Sajak at the wheel. The iconic host's final episodes will start airing in September 2023.
Next, Ryan Seacrest's Net Worth in 2023 Proves He Really Is the Host With the Most