Wheel of Fortune Co-host Vanna White has been in the process of renegotiating her contract after Pat Sajak’s retirement announcement. Vanna’s annual salary is an impressive $3 million, but she has not received a single pay increase over the past 18 years since 2005. Her compensation has only consisted of bonuses, without adjusting her base salary.
In the past, there have been concerns about the pay gap between Pat Sajak and Vanna White, as the former earns $15 million per year on the show. In light of this significant pay disparity, the 66-year-old is pushing for at least half of Sajak’s earnings, aiming to close the wage gap between them during contract negotiations, and now threatens to walk away from her role on the popular gameshow if her demands are not met.
Vanna White reportedly secures new deal for Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
As White continues her contract negotiations with Wheel of Fortune, the situation appears to be heading toward a challenging phase. TMZ reported that her attorney, Bryan Freedman, successfully reached an agreement with the show’s producing studio, Sony Pictures Television.
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The newly-agreed deal secures her position as co-host on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, and she will receive a significant salary increase for her participation. However, Freedman is striving to replicate that success and secure a similarly substantial raise for Vanna’s role in the regular version of the game show, but the negotiations are anticipated to be more difficult and contentious.
Vanna White and Sony TV are still in extensive negotiations over her ‘Wheel of Fortune contract
A report by Puck’s Matthew Bellini stated that there had been no agreement between the co-host and Sony TV as there had been rumors about rumblings by the show producers to eliminate White’s role on the show. However, in a statement to TV Line, an anonymous source revealed that contrary to the buzz, there was no plan in place by Sony TV executives to get rid of the letter-runner.
“Sony is in active discussions to renew Vanna’s deal beyond her current contract,” the insider told the news outlet.