The Shocking Truth Behind Vanna White's Sudden Absence from ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Revealed: Salary Negotiations Take a Surprising Turn!

Vanna White will be absent from several upcoming episodes of Wheel of Fortune due to reasons unrelated to her ongoing contract negotiations. According to Puck News, White, 66, contracted COVID-19 in late July during the filming of the show's "Teachers Week" block of episodes, scheduled for broadcast in October.

White, the regular letter turner for several shows scheduled to air this fall, was temporarily replaced by Bridgette Donald-Blue. Donald-Blue, an esteemed elementary school teacher in Los Angeles who received the 2023 California Teacher of the Year award, has been invited to take over White's role for the week, as reported by Puck News.

This rare occurrence marks only the fourth time in White's 41-year tenure as the letter turner that she will miss tapings of the show. The previous instances include when Susan Stafford temporarily replaced White in 1986 following the tragic death of White's boyfriend, John Gibson, in a plane crash. In 1991, Tricia Gist filled in for White for a two-week period when she went on her honeymoon with her former husband, George Santo Pietro. Later that year, Gist stepped up again as White fell ill. White and Pietro ultimately separated in 2002.

White's absence from the upcoming season 41 episodes is particularly notable because it follows reports of her negotiations for a higher salary once longtime host Pat Sajak, 76, steps down at the end of the season. It has been reported that White has not received a raise in 18 years, while Sajak currently earns $15 million annually compared to her $3 million. She is allegedly requesting a salary of $7.5 million per year. Sajak announced his retirement as the host of Wheel of Fortune in June, after more than 40 years in the role, taking over from Chuck Woolery in 1981.

Sajak announced in a statement in June, expressing that the time has finally arrived. He revealed that the upcoming 41st season in September will mark his final stint on the show. Sajak expressed gratitude and hinted at sharing more thoughts in the following months. White, who became a part of the game show in 1982, has been a longstanding presence alongside Sajak. In 2019, she temporarily took over as the host when Sajak underwent emergency surgery for a blocked intestine.

In December 2019, White exclusively shared his mixed emotions of nervousness and excitement about filling in for Pat while he was away. Hosting the show had never crossed his mind before, but he willingly stepped in and took on the role because of his familiarity with the show and the belief of the executive producer that he was the perfect fit. However, in June, after Sajak confirmed his departure, reports surfaced that the higher-ups at Sony were considering eliminating White's role once Sajak's final episodes air in September 2024.

According to a report from Us in June, there is no risk to White's future. A source close to the production confirmed that the rumors of Vanna being eliminated from Wheel of Fortune after Pat's retirement are not true. The source also mentioned that negotiations with Vanna are currently ongoing. Ryan Seacrest, who will be taking over as Sajak's successor, expressed his excitement to work with White. In a statement from June, Seacrest, 48, stated, "I am eagerly looking forward to continuing the tradition of spinning the wheel and collaborating with the talented Vanna White."