Vanna White Wiki, Bio, Networth, BF, Husband, Family & More

Brief Introduction of Vanna White

Vanna White, born Vanna Marie Rosich, is an iconic American television personality and game-show hostess, best known for her enduring role as the co-host of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune. Since joining the show in 1982, White has become a household name, recognized globally for her graceful revealing of letters on the puzzle board, her vibrant personality, and her extensive collection of glamorous gowns. Beyond her primary role, she is also an accomplished businesswoman, model, and actress, with a legacy that extends far beyond the television screen. White’s career spans over four decades, during which she has not only entertained millions but also built a substantial portfolio through various ventures and philanthropic efforts.

Vanna White Overview

Early Life and Education of Vanna White

Vanna Marie Rosich was born on February 18, 1957, near North Myrtle Beach in Horry County, South Carolina, to Joan Marie and Miguel Angel Rosich. Her parents divorced when she was an infant, and she was subsequently raised by her mother and stepfather, Herbert White Jr., taking his surname, White. Herbert White Jr., a former real estate broker, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2022. Vanna often spoke of her close relationship with her stepfather, calling him every morning to express her love.

After graduating from North Myrtle Beach High School, Vanna White moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she attended the Atlanta School of Fashion and Design. During this period, she also began working as a model. Her early career saw her compete in the Miss Georgia USA pageant in 1978. In 1979, White relocated to Los Angeles with aspirations of pursuing an acting career. However, in the summer of 1980, she briefly returned to South Carolina to be with her mother, who was battling ovarian cancer and passed away shortly thereafter. This personal tragedy further fueled her resolve upon her return to Hollywood.

Vanna White’s Career

Early Ventures and Breakthrough

Before her iconic role on Wheel of Fortune, Vanna White pursued various avenues in the entertainment industry. She made her first national television appearance as a contestant on The Price Is Right on June 20, 1980, though she did not make it onto the stage. Clips of her enthusiastic run to Contestants’ Row have since been re-broadcast in anniversary specials for The Price Is Right. White also secured minor acting roles in films such as Graduation Day (1981) and Looker (1981), and appeared in an episode of the TV series Star of the Family in 1982. During this period, she struggled financially, reportedly sleeping on the floor of her apartment due to not having a bed, and worked as a bartender and waitress.

Wheel of Fortune

White’s career-defining moment arrived in 1982 when she was selected as the co-host for Merv Griffin’s game show, Wheel of Fortune. She was chosen from approximately 200 applicants to replace the departing hostess, Susan Stafford. On December 13, 1982, Vanna White officially became the regular hostess of the show. Her audition involved wearing a glamorous dress, walking out and twirling, turning letters, and engaging in brief banter with host Pat Sajak. Griffin reportedly chose her because she “turned the letters better than anyone else”.

Alongside Pat Sajak, Vanna White became one-half of one of television’s most enduring and beloved duos. Her role primarily involves revealing letters on the show’s large puzzle board, for which she has worn more than 7,000 different outfits throughout her tenure, with the dresses typically borrowed from designers and returned after taping. While she no longer physically “turns” the letters, as the modern board is digital and uses lasers, her presence at the board and interaction with contestants remain central to the show. White temporarily stepped into the master of ceremonies role for Wheel of Fortune in December 2019 when Pat Sajak was hospitalized for emergency surgery.

In September 2023, White extended her contract as co-host of Wheel of Fortune through the 2025-26 season. Following Pat Sajak’s retirement in 2024, White continues to co-host alongside Ryan Seacrest. She also co-hosts Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on ABC. In May 2023, White made a rare appearance as a contestant on a celebrity edition of Wheel of Fortune, playing against Jeopardy! hosts Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik for charity.

Other Endeavors

Beyond Wheel of Fortune, Vanna White has diversified her career. She is the author of the 1987 autobiography, Vanna Speaks!, which became a best-seller and earned her a significant advance. She also starred in the 1988 NBC television movie Goddess of Love, playing the role of Venus. White has made guest appearances on various TV shows, including Married… with Children, Full House, L.A. Law, Simon and Simon, and The King of Queens.

A long-time enthusiast of crochet, White has her own successful line of yarn called “Vanna’s Choice” through Lion Brand Yarns. She donates half of the proceeds from her yarn sales to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, having raised over $2 million by April 2019. White finds crocheting relaxing and often engages in it during downtime on the set of Wheel of Fortune. She also invests in real estate, flipping houses and owning apartment buildings, a venture she has pursued strategically for years.

Vanna White Personal Life & Family

Vanna White’s personal life has seen its share of joy and tragedy. In the 1980s, she dated and became engaged to soap opera actor John Gibson, a Chippendales dancer. Tragically, Gibson died in a 1986 airplane crash.

In 1990, White married restaurateur George Santo Pietro. She announced her first pregnancy in September 1992 on an episode of Wheel of Fortune through a puzzle that read “Vanna’s pregnant.” However, she experienced a miscarriage shortly after the taping, which she described as devastating. Despite this heartbreak, White was able to become pregnant again, giving birth to a son, Nicholas “Nikko” Santo Pietro, on June 11, 1994, and a daughter, Giovanna “Gigi” Santo Pietro, on July 1, 1997. White and Santo Pietro divorced in November 2002. She has consistently stated that being a mother is her “favorite job”.

After her divorce, White was engaged to Southern California businessman Michael Kaye from 2004 to 2006, but they never married. Since 2012, she has been in a long-term relationship with contractor John Donaldson, whom she met through mutual friends. White identifies as a Baptist. Her children, Nikko and Gigi, have both pursued their own interests. Nikko studied agriculture sciences and is a real estate agent, while Gigi studied photography and has embarked on a career in tattooing.

Awards and Achievements of Vanna White

• Hollywood Walk of Fame Star: Vanna White received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 20, 2006, recognizing her significant contributions to television.
• Guinness World Record: On May 24, 2013, White was presented with a Guinness World Record certificate for “Most Frequent Clapper” in television history. As of January 31, 2013, she had clapped an estimated 3,480,864 times across 30 seasons of Wheel of Fortune, averaging 606 claps per show. An updated estimate in 2022 suggested her claps had grown to over 4.5 million. She was also recognized in 1992 by the Guinness Book of World Records as “Television’s Most Frequent Clapper,” averaging 720 claps per episode and more than 28,000 times per season.
• Forbes 50 Over 50: In 2025, White was honored on the Forbes 50 Over 50 list, acknowledging her iconic status and unshakable presence as a TV personality.

Vanna White Net Worth and Income

As of 2025, Vanna White’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $85 million. Her significant wealth stems from a combination of her long-running role on Wheel of Fortune, other media appearances, and shrewd business investments.

Her salary for co-hosting Wheel of Fortune, which also covers her duties on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, is $10 million per year. This marks a substantial increase from her previous salary of $3 million annually, which she received for 18 years between 2005 and 2023. White works approximately 34 days a year for the show, taping multiple episodes on each workday.

However, her largest source of annual income reportedly comes from licensing her image to casino slot machines. Wheel of Fortune was the first entertainment property to be licensed for slot machines in 1996, and these machines have since become immensely successful worldwide. White, along with former co-host Pat Sajak, earns a minimum of $10 million annually from these licensing deals, primarily from base royalty payments and various bonuses. This passive income stream significantly contributes to her overall net worth, often exceeding her television salary.

White is also a savvy real estate investor, a venture she has openly discussed. She has used her earnings to invest in apartment buildings and has a notable history of “flipping houses” even before it became a popular trend. Her real estate portfolio has included luxury homes in areas like Beverly Hills and Mulholland Estates. Additionally, her autobiography, Vanna Speaks!, was a bestseller, contributing to her income. Her yarn line, “Vanna’s Choice,” also generates income, with half of the proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Legacy and Influence

Vanna White’s legacy is deeply intertwined with her four-decade tenure on Wheel of Fortune, making her one of the most recognizable and enduring figures in television history. She has become synonymous with the show, embodying a cheerful, supportive presence that resonates with millions of viewers. Her role as the letter-turner, evolving with technology from manually touching letters to gracefully interacting with a digital board, highlights her adaptability and consistent appeal.

Beyond her on-screen persona, White has cultivated an image as a businesswoman and philanthropist. Her success in real estate investment and her popular yarn line, “Vanna’s Choice,” demonstrate her entrepreneurial spirit. Her consistent donation of half the proceeds from her yarn sales to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital showcases her commitment to social contributions and a positive public image. White has expressed that her goal on television is to “give a good feeling to people out there” and to be a positive role model, a mission she feels she accomplishes by “playing herself on TV”. She is seen as an “unshakable star” and a consistent, positive presence in the entertainment landscape. Her impact also extends to fashion, as her extensive wardrobe on the show has made her a style icon for many viewers.

Interesting Facts about Vanna White

• Vanna White’s birth name is Vanna Marie Rosich, and she is of Puerto Rican, German, and Italian descent.
• She appeared as a contestant on The Price Is Right in 1980 before joining Wheel of Fortune.
• White has worn over 7,000 different gowns during her time on Wheel of Fortune, and she does not get to keep any of them; they are typically borrowed from designers.
• Despite her glamorous on-screen attire, White admits her personal wardrobe mainly consists of T-shirts, jeans, and flats, and she doesn’t own a single sequin gown.
• She only works approximately four days a month for Wheel of Fortune, taping six episodes per day, giving her considerable free time.
• White is an avid crocheter and knitter, a hobby her grandmother taught her at age five. She often crochets during breaks in taping and has her own yarn line, “Vanna’s Choice”.
• She won a $403,000 lawsuit against Samsung Electronics in 1992 for using a robot depicting her likeness in a commercial, citing a violation of her personality rights.
• Her pregnancy with her first child was revealed as a puzzle answer on Wheel of Fortune, which read “Vanna’s pregnant”.
• White once turned the wrong letter on an episode, leading to the entire puzzle being thrown out.
• She considers being a mom her “favorite job”.

Controversies

While Vanna White’s career has been largely free of major controversies, one notable incident involved a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics. In 1992, White sued Samsung for an advertisement that depicted a robot turning letters on a game show set, clearly intending to evoke her likeness on Wheel of Fortune. White successfully argued that this constituted a violation of her personality rights, and she was awarded $403,000 in damages.

Additionally, in 1987, photographs taken by her then-boyfriend appeared in Playboy magazine. While White had previously posed for these semi-nude pictures before her fame, their publication led to a lawsuit against the magazine and Hugh Hefner, which she eventually dropped.

Social Media Presence

Vanna White maintains an active presence on social media platforms, connecting with her fanbase and sharing glimpses of her life. While specific real-time follower counts fluctuate, her accounts typically showcase her professional work, personal moments with family and friends, and her philanthropic efforts.

• Instagram: Vanna White frequently shares updates, behind-the-scenes photos from Wheel of Fortune, and personal selfies, often featuring her children.
• Twitter (X): She uses Twitter to engage with fans, promote the show, and share various news and updates.
• YouTube: While she may not have a dedicated personal YouTube channel for vlogging, clips and highlights of her appearances on Wheel of Fortune and interviews are widely available across various YouTube channels, contributing to her online visibility.

Final Words about Vanna White

Vanna White stands as a testament to enduring appeal and professional resilience in the ever-evolving landscape of television. For over four decades, she has graced American households as the charming and consistent co-host of Wheel of Fortune, a role that has cemented her status as a cultural icon. Her seamless transition from manual letter-turning to interacting with a high-tech digital board, along with her unwavering positive demeanor, showcases her dedication to the show’s legacy.

As of 2025, White continues to thrive in her role, having extended her contract through the 2025-26 season and now co-hosting alongside Ryan Seacrest. Despite the recent retirement of her longtime co-host Pat Sajak, White decided against retiring herself, stating her continued love for her job and the joy she derives from bringing “family fun and escape” to people’s homes. Beyond the lights of the studio, her legacy is also defined by her keen business acumen, particularly in real estate and her successful yarn brand, “Vanna’s Choice”. Her consistent philanthropy, especially her contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, further solidifies her public image as a kind and generous personality. Vanna White’s career journey reflects not just her success as a television personality but also her profound impact as a businesswoman, a loving mother, and an influential figure who continues to leave an indelible mark on American entertainment.