ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / ECONOMY & WORK

Pat Sajak ‘robs’ Wheel of Fortune players on his final episode. He had something better for them

Sajak who cut a round to make up time for his farewell speech, made things sweeter for the contestants
UPDATED JAN 6, 2025
Pat Sajak at a basketball game (Cover image source: Getty Images | Photo by Allen Berezovsky)
Pat Sajak at a basketball game (Cover image source: Getty Images | Photo by Allen Berezovsky)

In June 2024, the longtime Wheel of Fortune host, Pat Sajak, signed off for the last time. Sajak, 77, led the show for 41 long years and refused to go out quietly. The iconic host who had to make time for his parting speech sweetened the deal for the three contestants who he said were getting robbed. 

 Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak | Getty Images | Photo by Greg Fiume
Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak (Image source: Getty Images | Photo by Greg Fiume)

Following the toss-up round, Sajak explained that the episode was not going to be a normal one as it was his last. He held court with the three contestants Tammy, Nino and Adrienne, and told them that they were going to cut a round. "We're going to cut out a round, which kind of robs you, people," Sajak told the confused contestants.



 

However, Sajak went on to say that he was going to make up for it by spinning the wheel and adding an extra $1000 to whatever he lands on, for the contestants. On his first spin, the wheel landed on $1,000, bringing the total for the contestants to $2,000.

Host Pat Sajak performs during taping of the NFL Players Week 10th Anniversary on Wheel Of Fortune | Getty Images | Photo by Doug Benc
Host Pat Sajak performs during taping of the NFL Players Week 10th Anniversary on Wheel Of Fortune (Image source: Getty Images | Photo by Doug Benc)

Sajak wasn't done yet, "You know what? It's not my money. Let's give them all $5,000," he added.  "Little Jimmy's surgery can wait," the host exclaimed as the contestants burst out laughing.

Sajak’s final episode ended with Adrienne Bean, a Memphis, Tennessee, resident winning her bonus round and taking home nearly $90,000. 

Sajak's final episode was emotional from the very beginning as it started with a flashback from his first episode in 1981. Sajak also delivered an emotional goodbye speech at the end of the show. 



 

"Well, the time has come to say goodbye," he said to end his four-decade-long run at the game show.  "I have a few thanks and acknowledgments before I go, and I want to start with all watching out there," Sajak said at the beginning of his lengthy, gracious speech.

He went on to thank the millions of viewers who watched the show for so long.  He shared that he was honored to be even a small part of his viewers' lives.  

He also thanked his co-host, Vanna White. "Vanna is as sweet and as unassuming as she seems. I want to thank her for her lovely goodbye on yesterday's show," Sajak said. 



 

He shared that he would miss working with her and the nightly closes. He also promised the viewers that they would be seeing more of him during the summer re-runs.

"That's it! Thank you all so very much, and goodbye," He concluded. In honor of Sajak, the show uploaded the full episode on YouTube for everyone to share the special moment. 

Following Sajak's departure, Ryan Seacrest took over the hosting duties. Seacrest, who was just seven years old when Sajak began hosting the game appeared in the new promo for the show alongside White. 



 

While Sajak's run as the iconic game show host has come to an end, fans are excited to see him in a new gig. Sajak is set to appear in a Hawaii stage production of a show called "Prescription: Murder,"  Deadline reported.

This article originally appeared 2 months ago.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The guest's mother had initially advised her father against purchasing it but he did it anyway.
8 hours ago
The entreprenuer knew he had an ace up his sleeve and he played it to perfection.
10 hours ago
Thankfully, the contestant was up for the task and was able to silence any doubters on the show.
12 hours ago
Things could have been real messy had the host not reacted in time and prevented the setback.
14 hours ago
The product had its doubters, but, in the end, the entrepreneurs were able to make a lasting impact.
1 day ago
Things were not looking too good at one point as most of the sharks had backed out... until the end.
2 days ago
A number of episodes with the icon reprising his role as host will be released this year.
2 days ago
She had only believed that her items were worth a thousand bucks and that was not the case.
2 days ago
The host wasn't expecting such unusual answers to be among the top options.
2 days ago
He was able to get the puzzle right just in the nick of time in order to win a significant amount of cash.
2 days ago
The host seemed pretty confident that the answer was in no way going to be correct.
3 days ago
The history attached to the flag is tragic, and it personally affected the guest.
3 days ago
The product was unique and could help millions of new mothers around the globe.
4 days ago
Viewers believe that the game show sometimes doesn't allow participants to win multiple prizes.
4 days ago
Harvey was clearly annoyed by the answer and refused to buy any explanation.
4 days ago
After his impressive 74 winning streak, Ken Jennings has been hosting the show since 2022 with a $4 million paycheck.
4 days ago
Drew Carey was supposed to look scary, but the host ended up being funny and awkward.
4 days ago
Steve Harvey mocked Snoop Dogg over his choice and went on to roast the rapper more.
4 days ago
It seemed like she was going to lose her chance of winning, but that was not the case after all.
4 days ago
The host is clearly not a fan of hyping up answers that he doesn't personally approve of.
5 days ago