American actress, model, as well as a television personality, Vanna White was born on 18 February 1957, in Conway, South Carolina, and is certainly best known as a hostess of the popular game show created by Merv Griffin, called “Wheel of Fortune”, since 1982, an impressive run by any standards.
So just how rich is Vanna White, as of mid-2017? Authoritative sources have estimated that Vanna’s net worth is over $45 million; known significant contributions include a current $4 million salary from “Wheel of Fortune”, and almost $500,000 in 1993 as a result of a court case against Samsung for using a similar image to the latter series.
Vanna White Net Worth $45 Million
Vanna Marie Angel was raised in South Carolina, and didn’t enter the entertainment industry until the early 1980s, in a game show entitled “The Price Is Right”, in which she competed with three other contestants. Even though White did not win the main prize, her appearance gained her a position as a hostess on “Wheel of Fortune” when Susan Stafford left the show. When Vanna White’s popularity rose, she started to feature in other television projects as well. In 1988, White made an appearance in the fantasy film called “Goddess of Love”, alongside David Naughton, Amanda Bearse and David Leisure. However, the movie received largely negative reviews, while some of the critics even deemed White’s acting as “bad”. This did not prevent White from making future on-screen appearances, as she starred in “Simon and Simon”, a sitcom starring Bob Saget, John Stamos, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, another entitled “Full House”, the legal drama series “L.A. Law” and a situational comedy “227”.
However, “Wheel of Fortune” has been Vanna’s bank – the show debuted in 1975 hosted by Susan Stafford and Chuck Woolery, but in 1982 they were replaced by Pat Sajak and Vanna White, who have been hosting the show ever since. Considered to be the longest-running game show, it has aired more than 6,000 episodes, obviously remaining popular with audiences, and inspiring more than 60 international adaptations worldwide. The show also inspired the release of several “Wheel of Fortune” boards, as well as video games.
In addition, Vanna White has released an autobiographical book entitled “Vanna Speaks!”, which made it to the list of best-sellers, and was featured in an issue of “Playboy” magazine.
In her personal life, White married George Santo Pietro, a restaurant owner in 1990, and they had a son and a daughter before divorcing in 2002. She was subsequently engaged to businessman Michael Kaye, but since 2012 has been in a relationship with John Donaldson.
“Goddess of Love” (1988), “Simon and Simon”, “Full House”, “L.A. Law”, “227”, "Gypsy Angels"
TV Shows
“Wheel of Fortune” (since 1982), “Game Show Moments Gone Bananas”, “The Price Is Right” (1980), “Graduation Day” and “Married… with Children”, “The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!”, “Naked Gun: The Final Insult”, “Chuck Quizmo's Quiz”
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Trademark
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Blonde hair
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Best known for turning the letters on Wheel Of Fortune
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Quote
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I smoked some pot with the two wilder girls and came home with such an intense case of the munchies that I ate an entire meatloaf.
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(on her job on "Wheel") It's not the most intellectual job in the world, but I do have to know the letters.
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I enjoy getting dressed as a Barbie doll.
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Fact
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Posed for Playboy.
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5,000th episode of Wheel of Fortune (1983), with her and host Pat Sajak, aired Saturday, 28 February 2009.
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Is of Puerto Rican, Italian and German descent.
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Vanna once owned two Learjet 35's.
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She was raised by her mother, Joan White, and her stepfather, Herbert White.
Often described as the niece of actor Christopher George and Nick George, and thus also of Christopher's wife Lynda Day George. Vanna has said that, although Christopher was not a biological relation of hers, "my mother grew up with his family. Years later in L.A., he and his wife took me under their wing".
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Was one of the first four contestants on a 1980 episode of The Price Is Right (1972). She did not get out of Contestant's Row.
White files for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court from restaurateur George Santo Pietro, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple separated in November. White is seeking joint custody of their two children. [May 2002]
In 1992, she was recognized in "The Guinness Book of World Records" as "Television's Most Frequent Clapper." Averaging 720 claps per episode, she puts her hands together more than 28,800 times per season!.
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Used to list her occupation on Wheel of Fortune (1983) as "Letter Turner" (prior to the touch-sensitive game-board); now identifies herself as "TV Performer".
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Nicknamed "Vanna Banana" in High School.
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Was a cheerleader in school.
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Gets her Christmas shopping done VERY early in the year (Spring/Summer).