FUN FACTS
- Since its debut in 1983, Wheel of Fortune has awarded more than $180 million in cash and prizes to its contestants.
- In the 2008-2009 season, Wheel of Fortune awarded a record $10.1 million in cash and prizes to contestants.
- On September 11, 2006, Wheel of Fortune and its sister show Jeopardy! were the first syndicated shows to broadcast in High Definition.
- On October 14, 2008, newlywed Michelle Loewenstein became the biggest winner on Wheel of Fortune, winning $1 million. Until then, “The Bold and the Beautiful” star Jack Wagner and his partner Christine Denos of San Jose, Calif., were the big winners with $142,550 in cash and prizes during “Soap Stars Week” in 2006. Wagner donated his share to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
- Wheel of Fortune’s original name was “Shoppers Bazaar” and included a wheel that was much bigger and had loud lights and carnival sound effects.
- More than 10,000 people try out each year and fewer than 600 lucky Wheel Watchers are selected to appear on the show.
- Since 1988, Wheel of Fortune has taped in 56 locations, in 25 different cities, in front of live audiences of more than 350,000 fans.
- In 1992, the “Guinness Book of World Records” listed Vanna White as the world’s most frequent clapper. Vanna puts her hands together for contestants some 28,080 times a season — an average of 720 times per show.
- The puzzle board contains 52 touchscreen monitors, 12 across in the top and bottom rows and 14 across in the two middle rows.
- The wheel and surrounding “home base” weigh 4,000 pounds.
- Over 90 million Americans have never known a world without Wheel of Fortune.
