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

'Wheel of Fortune' fans left frustrated as another contestant loses $40,000 to a tricky puzzle

"Well, a strong player tonight in the main round, but not in the bonus round. Maybe we will have a Winner tomorrow," a fan reacted.
UPDATED JAN 20, 2026
Vanna White and contestant Callie on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Cover Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)
Vanna White and contestant Callie on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Cover Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)

Prizes offered to contestants in the bonus round on "Wheel of Fortune" include cash, exotic vacations, and even a brand-new ride. However, there haven't been many winners in the final round this year, and viewers are growing less interested due to the disappointing trend. One more loss in a recent episode further tested the patience of loyal fans. After earning $30,670, contestant Callie made it to the final round, but unfortunately, she missed out on the opportunity to win a car since she was unable to solve an unusual puzzle.

Ryan Seacrest and contestant Callie on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)Ryan Seacrest and contestant Callie on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)

Callie aced the First Round, called Before and After, by solving "Sleeping Beauty Salon" and taking the lead with $3,300. During the Mystery Round called, Most Likely To, she continued her winning streak, landing on the Mystery Wedge and successfully solving "Be late for their own wedding" for $10,000, bringing her total to $18,000. While solving the Triple Toss-Up - Word Play worth $2,000, with a bonus of $10,000 for solving all three. Cali correctly guessed the third ("You are winding me up") and won $2,000. She emerged as the big winner of the night with $30,670 and went straight into the Bonus Round.

Contestant Callie's family on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)
Contestant Callie's family on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)

The host, Ryan Seacrest, congratulated her on her performance so far, while she introduced her husband and sister, who are cheering her on. Callie then moved on to the bonus prizes, aiming for either $100,000 or a new car. She chose the category "Phrase" and was provided with the standard letters, "R, S, T, L, N, and E." Callie then chose additional consonants, "P, H, C," and the vowel O. The puzzle board then showed, "_, _, O, _, N, _, _, N, E, _, _, O, _."

Vanna White and contestant Callie on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Cover Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)
Vanna White and contestant Callie on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)

With 10 seconds on the clock, she attempted to solve the puzzle but was unable to do so. Despite her strong performance throughout the game, she couldn't guess the phrase, "I found a new job." Even though she didn't win the $40,000 cash prize and the car, Callie's total winnings of $30,670 were commendable. Meanwhile, fans went on to express disappointment with the losing streak, "Now, that’s 3 times in a row to a puzzle in the bonus round with the letter J that none of the contestants wanted to pick at all," @jeffreychen3069 commented. "Well, a strong player tonight in the main round, but not in the bonus round. Maybe we will have a Winner tomorrow," @Animegamespublishing complained. 

Vanna White and contestant Callie on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)
Vanna White and contestant Callie on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)

"Absolute garbage episode!!! I so want to know right now!!! Why do we keep getting more and more bonus round losers than winners?! Big finger for 'Wheel of Fortune!!'" @zaidarodriguez8455 chimed in. "How will it feel if season 43 had the most losers?!" @AK-oo5cj added.

Ryan
Ryan Seacrest and contestant Callie on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)


You can watch the disappointing moment here

More on Market Realist:

'Wheel of Fortune' player dedicates her $45,000 win to her mother-in-law in sweet TV moment

'Wheel of Fortune' fans are unhappy with the kind of prizes being offered to bonus round winners

'Wheel of Fortune' contestant's wife can't hold back tears as he won $60,000 in bonus round

RELATED TOPICS WHEEL OF FORTUNE
MORE ON MARKET REALIST
A Michigan couple’s viral membership photo struck a chord online as shoppers shared decades-old stories featuring their kids and even pets.
Mar 16, 2026
A shift to electronic payments is slowing refunds for some filers, even as the IRS grapples with staffing cuts and a heavy tax season workload.
Mar 16, 2026
The warehouse retailer is urging customers not to consume these ready-to-eat meals sold earlier this month
Mar 16, 2026
The product was distributed in several but no illness has yet been reported.
Mar 14, 2026
While most people disagreed with what the mall did, there were some who understood the reason.
Mar 14, 2026
People are seemingly having a hard time saving apart from their retirement funds.
Mar 14, 2026
“These people are working and contributing and helping to reduce the debt and deficit,” an economic expert said.
Mar 14, 2026
As per a provision in US laws, the IRS had no right to levy penalties in the pandemic years.
Mar 14, 2026
The US had sanctioned Russia heavily over its military exercise in Ukraine.
Mar 14, 2026
While gas prices have jumped, diesel prices have skyrocketed across the country, averaging at $4.78
Mar 13, 2026
Last year, Buffett stepped down as the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
Mar 13, 2026
Many who feel financially behind are embracing “financial nihilism,” placing bets on high-risk options instead of traditional investing.
Mar 13, 2026
It was one of the rarest instances in the show in which a contestant had won two cars in one episode
Mar 13, 2026
Housing search data flags a shift in buyer sentiment as Californians look beyond Las Vegas for cheaper housing.
Mar 13, 2026
The company is doing whatever it can to stay ahead of its competitors in the field of AI.
Mar 13, 2026
Industry leaders warn that the Iran conflict could push fertilizer costs higher and eventually drive food inflation.
Mar 13, 2026
This could lead to domestic migration of the wealthy from the state before the law takes effect
Mar 13, 2026
Karoline Leavitt says it won’t affect married women, but critics argue name-change documentation could create new barriers.
Mar 13, 2026
As regulators tighten rules and refineries shut down, the Golden State, also known as the ‘fuel island’, grapples with extremely high gas prices.
Mar 12, 2026
The answer isn't clear yet, but early signs point to his policy backfiring in a bad way.
Mar 12, 2026