Who is Vanna White

Vanna White began her career as a professional model before becoming a co-host of the game show Wheel of Fortune in 1982. She is in charge of deciphering the show's massive puzzle board and modelling an ever-changing line of designs. In addition, White is a mother of two and runs her yarn line, Vanna's Choice, as an avid crocheter.

Early Life and Career

Vanna Marie Rosich White was born in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on February 18, 1957. Vanna's parents divorced when she was an infant, and she was raised in North Myrtle Beach by her mother, Joan, and stepfather, Herbert White Jr.
After graduating from high school, White moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she attended the Atlanta School of Fashion and worked as a model. She moved to Los Angeles in 1979 to pursue an acting career but returned briefly to South Carolina in the summer of 1980 to visit her mother, who was dying of ovarian cancer.
White returned to Hollywood with renewed zeal and landed a string of minor roles in mostly forgettable films, including the role of Mickey in Gypsy Angels (1980); a bit part in Looker (1981), co-starring with Albert Finney; and a small role as Doris in the high school thriller Graduation Day (1981). In 1982, she also appeared in an episode of the television series Star of the Family.

how old is vanna white wheel of fortune

However, in 1982, White landed the job that would launch her career. She was chosen from 200 applicants to join new host and former weatherman Pat Sajak on Merv Griffin's NBC game show Wheel of Fortune. Over the next several years, the show enjoyed tremendous success. By 1986, a syndicated evening version drew 30 million viewers, more than double the number of viewers for the No. 2 syndicated show, M*A*S*H, and generated $100 million in annual revenue. Approximately 40 million people saw the Wheel of Fortune in 1999, its sixteenth year in syndication.

White's position on Wheel of Fortune as hostess, chief letter-turner, and model for an ever-changing line of designs quickly elevated her to stardom. Suddenly, "Vannamania" took hold across the country, and White quickly landed a slew of lucrative endorsement deals and even starred in the NBC film Venus: The Goddess of Love.

While some media critics mocked White for her limited acting ability and her role on Wheel as a non-speaking clotheshorse, the majority of viewers took a liking to her, owing in large part to her beauty, energy, and constant charisma, and White became something of an icon in American pop culture. Her popularity peaked between the mid-1980s and the late-1980s.
In 1992, The Guinness Book of World Records recognized White as television's most frequent clapper, with an average of 720 claps per show and over 28,000 per season. In 1987, Vanna Speaks, a ghostwritten autobiography of the game show star, was published.

White has stated of her lengthy tenure on Wheel of Fortune, "It's not the most intellectual job in the world, but I do have to know the letters." Additionally, she once joked, "When I was eating that alphabet soup, I had no idea it would pay off."

After more than three decades on the air, White took over as host of Wheel of Fortune when Sajak was hospitalized in late 2019 for emergency surgery.

Personal Life of Vanna White

In 1986, tragedy struck White's personal life when her longtime lover, John Gibson, a soap opera actor and Chippendales dancer, was killed in a plane crash.
White married restaurateur George San Pietro in 1990. Nicholas was born in 1994, and Giovanna was born in 1997. In 2002, White and San Pietro divorced. She was engaged to financier Michael Kaye a few years later, but the two never married. White later became involved with real estate developer John Donaldson in a long-term relationship.

TV and Movie Career

Before starting her television career formally, White contested as Miss Georgia in 1978. Later she appeared in a game show as a guest and won a prize. After Susan Stanford quit Wheel of Fortune, White was given a chance to work as the substitute host and was asked to perform as the co-host. Her brilliant effort and beautiful figure earned her a permanent position in the show. Her attractive figure not just stamped her to the Wheel of Fortune, instead, Playboy even featured her in the pictorial section.

Before starting her television career formally, White contested as Miss Georgia in 1978. Later she appeared in a game show as a guest and won a prize. After Susan Stanford quit Wheel of Fortune, White was given a chance to work as the substitute host and was asked to perform as the co-host. Her brilliant effort and beautiful figure earned her a permanent position in the show. Her attractive figure not just stamped her to the Wheel of Fortune, instead, Playboy even featured her in the pictorial section.

Vanna White Net Worth

Vanna White is an American television personality, model, and actress who has a net worth of $85 million dollars. She is best known as the hostess and puzzle-board turner of the long-running game show "Wheel of Fortune."

As of this writing, Vanna's $85 million net worth makes her roughly $15 million richer than her co-host Pat Sajak (net worth of $70 million). The difference is thanks partially to real estate investments made with her former husband, a real estate developer/restaurateur named George Santo Pietro. At the time of his death in 2020, Alex Trebek was worth $75 million. Therefore, Vanna is/was actually the richest of the three.

Vanna White's "Wheel of Fortune" salary is $10 million per year, but as we explain later in this article, that's not even her largest source of income every year. Both she and Pat Sajak make more every year licensing their image to casino slot machines than they do from the actual game show.

Facts

• Vanna White has a 40 years contract with Wheel of Fortune that will end in 2022
• She owns a yarn line called Vanna’s Choice
• Guys watching Wheel of Fortune since 1982 would know a lot about White like her first car was a Volkswagen Bug
• That is obvious, a woman with so much net worth can own jet planes and White has a couple of Learjet airplanes
• Her Guinness record is for 600 claps per episode. Though hard to measure they did it

FAQs

Who is Vanna White's current husband?

George Santo Pietro

What is Vanna White's average salary?

Vanna White's salary from "Wheel of Fortune" is $10 million per year. Pat Sajak's salary is $15 million.

What age did Vanna White start on Wheel of Fortune?

Vanna White joined “Wheel of Fortune” back in 1982, which means she's been revealing letters on the game show's puzzle board each time a contestant guesses correctly for 40 years now. At least, that's usually what the 64-year-old co-host does.

How much is Pat Sajak worth?

$70 million

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Pat has a total net worth of $70 million.

Who is Vanna White's daughter?

Gigi Santo Pietro

Who are Vanna White's children?

Vanna White has two adult children:  daughter Giovana (Gigi) and son Nicholas (Nikko).

Both children are from her first and only marriage to restaurant owner George Santo Pietro.

White’s first child, Nikko was born on June 10, 1994. He graduated from Oregon State University and also attended The University of Arizona.

It's unclear what Nikko does professionally, but his Instagram profile shows that he is a travel enthusiast.

How many times has Vanna White been married

White is a TV staple for decades but has kept her private life private. Although she has had a few relationships over the years with long-term partners, she has never been married. White was married for more than a decade to George Santo Pietro. He is also the father of her two grown kids.

Is Vanna White married and how old is she?

White married restaurant owner George Santo Pietro in December 1990.

Age: Vanna Marie Rosich White was born on February 18, 1957. She is a 64-year-old woman.

Vanna White salary

Vanna White is an American television personality, model, and actress who has a net worth of $85 million dollars. She is best known as the hostess and puzzle-board turner of the long-running game show "Wheel of Fortune."

As of this writing, Vanna's $85 million net worth makes her roughly $15 million richer than her co-host Pat Sajak (net worth $70 million). The difference is thanks partially to real estate investments made with her former husband, a real estate developer/restaurateur named George Santo Pietro. At the time of his death in 2020, Alex Trebek was worth $75 million. Therefore, Vanna is/was actually the richest of the three.

How old is Pat Sajak and Vanna White

Vanna White is an American television personality, known as the hostess of Wheel of Fortune ... Since 2021, Sajak and White hosted Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on ABC.Years active: 1980–present spouse(s): George Santo Pietro ​ ​(m. 1990; ...Children: 2Born: Vanna Marie Rosich; February 18, 1957 .

Vanna White family

Vanna White (born on February 18, 1957) is a popular American TV personality and movie star. Her profound appearances as a hostess on one of the most successful game shows, Wheel of Fortune, since 1982, have brought her major acclaim. She has been a letter-turner for over 3 decades on the game show. Vanna has also been featured in several magazines such as San Diego, Playboy, Esquire, and People. She was born on February 18, 1957, to Miguel Angel and Joan Marie Rosich. Her first appearance on television came in 1980 as a participant in the game show The Price Is Right. Read in detail about Vanna White's Bio, Age, Salary, Net Worth, Husband, Kids & Wiki.

Vanna’s career breakthrough came in 1982 when she became a hostess on the game show Wheel of Fortune. In addition to being a host, she has also done plenty of work as an actress, appearing in several television shows and movies so far. Coming to her personal life, Vanna White remained married to restaurant owner George Santo Pietro from 1990 to 2002. While she has also dated actor John Gibson, businessman Michael Kaye, and John Donaldson.