Pat Sajak, who just announced his plans to retire as the host of Wheel of Fortune recently, captured the spotlight by unveiling his intriguing new endeavor. Emily Stack Davis, a spokesperson for Hillsdale College, revealed in a statement to USA Today that the 76-year-old planned to dedicate a portion of his retirement to serving as the chairman of the Board of Trustees for Hillsdale College in Michigan, an institution that he has been involved with since 2019.
“For decades, Pat Sajak has been an icon of radio and television,” the statement reads. “We know that he will be missed, and congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement. Hillsdale College is fortunate to have an even closer relationship with Mr. Sajak. Since 2019, we have benefitted from his wisdom, intellect, and good humor as chairman of Hillsdale’s board of trustees. We look forward to continuing our important work together and to what we are sure will be a bright future for Mr. Sajak and his family.”
Pat Sajak will continue his work behind the scenes of ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Even after his retirement, Sajak will still continue to work with the popular game show. In a statement to PEOPLE, Suzanne Prete, the EVP of Game Shows at Sony Pictures Television, has confirmed that he will continue to contribute as a consultant to the series for the next three years.
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“As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years. We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season,” Prete said. “Pat has agreed to continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year hosting, so we’re thrilled to have him remaining close to the Wheel of Fortune family!”
Pat Sajak previously dropped hints about his retirement.
Before making his major announcement, Sajak dropped hints about the potential of his departure. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight in September 2022, he alluded to the fact that he was approaching the conclusion of his tenure, stating that he was almost done with his time on the show. “It’s been a long [time]. We’re not gonna do this for another 40 years,” Sajak said. “The end is near.”
Also, his co-host, Vanna White, also expressed her sentiments to PEOPLE in December 2022, acknowledging that contemplating her departure from the series was something she had not given too much thought. “I just visualize us just being there,” she confessed to the news outlet. “I can’t think beyond that.”