Vanna White doesn’t seem likely to say goodbye to Wheel of Fortune, but that seems only if she gets what she is demanding.
Speculation has been swirling regarding White’s future with the popular game show after the news that Pat Sajak was retiring after 41 seasons, followed up by confirmation that Ryan Seacrest will take over hosting duties.
The legendary game show co-host has threatened to quit if she does not receive more than double her $3 million salary to get closer to the $15 million annual pay of outgoing host Pat Sajak, TMZ reported Thursday. She has said to be pulling down the same salary since 2005.
Earlier this month, Sajak announced that he’ll retire after his upcoming 41st season. White has been at his side since 1982. She hosted the show temporarily in 2019 while Sajak recovered from surgery.
Amid the announcement that Ryan Seacrest will succeed Sajak, White reportedly retained Bryan Freedman, who is mostly known to be helping Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson with their breakups from CNN and Fox News.
Entertainment Weekly reported that the co-host “is currently in negotiations” and “no deal has been reached.”
Freedman is playing zero games as he is demanding half of what Sajak pulls in, roughly $7.5 million, TMZ reported. But Sony Pictures Television Studios, which produces the show, has balked during what one source described as “difficult negotiations.”
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White has characterized her salary fight as a “statement” for all women, a source told TMZ.
In the meantime, Ryan Seacrest will be learning the ropes from Pat and keep the series going with Vanna.
“I look forward to learning everything I can from [Pat] during this transition,” he wrote on Instagram, in part. “I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White.”
