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' contestant loses $50,000 after puzzle board leaves her clueless

"That puzzle was not fair. But you know what is fair? Walking away with $47,000 in cash and prizes. She did great," a fan reacted.
UPDATED FEB 4, 2026
Vanna White and contestant Jerria on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Cover Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)
Vanna White and contestant Jerria on 'Wheel of Fortune' (Cover Image Source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)

Things on "Wheel of Fortune" could be going well for a contestant throughout the episode before taking an unfortunate turn in the Bonus Round. Jerria, for instance, did really well and earned a $47,298 cash prize along with two exotic trips to amazing destinations. However, her winning streak abruptly ended during the Bonus Round when the puzzle board had no clues left except for two letters. After Jerria lost $50,000, a disappointed Ryan Seacrest said, "I mean, you needed more letters to get to it."

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

Jerria dominated the game show from the beginning by winning $2,000 during the Second Toss-Up round. In round 1, "Act Your Age," she correctly solved the puzzle "25 and ready to thrive" and won a trip to Cape Town, South Africa, valued at over $10,000. Her total winnings in this round reached $27,148. During the prize puzzle round, "Song and Artist", Jerria solved the puzzle "Rio by Duran Duran" and won another luxurious trip to Brazil, including a stay at Kasas Brankas Boutique Hotel and Spa and a private boat tour. Her total winnings increased to $41,998, and then she accumulated more earnings by correctly solving the Triple Toss-Up puzzle and the Final spin.

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

Jerria easily moved to the bonus round, where she introduced her husband, Russell, and son Little Russell Jr., who were cheering her on. Jerria chose the "Food and Drink" category and received the standard letters "R, S, T, L, N, and E." She then chose "C, M, H, and O" as additional letters. The game reached a turning point at this moment. Jerria was left confused and puzzled because the board showcased no extra clues, and all that she could see was "_,_,_,_,_,_,_,L,E." 

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

She fumbled as Seacrest pointed out, "Vanna’s not moving, which is a sign there are no more clues." "Crab boil," Jerria vaguely attempted. She ultimately ran out of time and was unable to solve the puzzle. The correct answer was "Fuji Apple". Fan touted it as bad luck, "She did awesome even though she didn't win the final puzzle," @kathyweber6844 congratulated. "Jerria, you played very well tonight!! $47,298 is impressive," @sammylerman7136 lauded. 

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

"Jerria already won 47k tonight in the main round. She played really well with two trips. The A should have helped, and the F as well," @Animegamespublishing chimed in. "That puzzle was not fair. But you know what is fair? Walking away with $47,000 in cash and prizes. She did great, even if she lost in the bonus round. Well done!" @Garrison_the_Barbarian added. "Those Letters That She Pick C M H & O Are Not In The Puzzle Board And $50,000 Loss!" @elijahjohnsaladaga008 pointed.

You can watch the disappointing moment here.

More on Market Realist:

'Wheel of Fortune' viewers convinced player lost $100,000 over unfair puzzle: "I've got beef with..."

'Wheel of Fortune' player loses car after failing to solve a tough puzzle: 'It took me a while'

'Wheel of Fortune' contestant wins bonus round after 'insane' string of bad luck had fans on edge

RELATED TOPICS WHEEL OF FORTUNE
MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The billionaire also predicted that other companies would follow suit in the future.
1 hour ago
His comments have led to several Americans calling him out for not reducing beef prices.
1 hour ago
Billionaires grew their wealth by an incredible 22% in the last year as regular Americans struggled.
1 hour ago
Americans in a Reuters/Ipsos poll identified the cost of living as the primary factor influencing their votes in the upcoming midterms.
3 hours ago
This will be damning for the DHS, which is already under immense pressure from the public.
20 hours ago
Experts believe that it has to do with getting a sense of momentary control.
22 hours ago
It seemed like the contestant was heading towards defeat, but his luck soon turned around.
22 hours ago
The company says it has taken action to protect its rights as an importer to seek duty refunds.
1 day ago
The payout was driven by the company’s financial strength and strong underwriting performance.
1 day ago
Trump made this claim during his lengthy State Of The Union address earlier.
1 day ago
Research predicted that in the consumer sector, "AI personalization strategists" and "AI supply-chain analysts" jobs are expected to emerge.
1 day ago
The product might contain germs as the pasteurization process was not done properly due to a equipment troubleshooting error
1 day ago
The contestant came as close as possible to winning big, but had her heart broken in the end.
1 day ago
Trump failed to address the affordability issue that voters care most about.
1 day ago
He said that society is not quite ready for the pace at which AI is currently displacing workers.
2 days ago
The recall affected products that were sold to customers in four states and in Canada.
2 days ago
Those opposed to the changes believe Trump is politicizing the health of children.
2 days ago
Bessent said that the proposition would be rolled out “in the coming weeks and months,” as a tool for working-class Americans left behind.
2 days ago
“It’s a bad idea. We are very alarmed,” a financial source stated about the proposed move.
2 days ago
A post on X could move trillions of dollars due to the power that retail investors hold
2 days ago