| Net Worth | $50,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Vanna Marie Rosich |
| Date of Birth/Age | February 18, 1957 (age 62) |
| Source of wealth | Game Show Co-Host |
| Height | 5’6” |
| Country of origin | U.S |
| State/City of origin | Conway, South Carolina |
| Last Updated | 2019 |
Net Worth
Vanna White’s net worth is $50 million.
How Much Does Vanna White Make a Year?
Vanna White makes $10 million a year from her job on Wheel of Fortune. For over 30 years, White has been the pretty, lively presence at host Pat Sajak’s side. Their combined charisma has made the show a smash hit since she joined it in 1982.
View this post on Instagram
How Does Vanna White Make Her Money?
Vanna White is an actress, model, and hostess on a television game show. Although she has appeared in a handful of movie and television shows, she has made her money primarily from her stint on Wheel of Fortune. She joined the show in 1982.
Vanna is paid $10 million a year for her Wheel of Fortune job, only slightly less than the host Pat Sajak, who makes $12 million a year. Vanna’s job on the show is to flip over the letters chosen by the contestants and engage in light banter with Sajak and the contestants.
In 1988, White starred in the NBC TV movie Goddess of Love, in which she played Venus. She has also had small or cameo roles in various shows including L.A. Law, Married…With Children, Full House and King of Queens.
Her 1987 autobiography, Vanna Speaks!, was a bestseller.
View this post on Instagram
Early Life
Vanna White was born in Conway, South Carolina. Her parents were Joan Marie and Miguel Angel Rosich.
View this post on Instagram
Her parents divorced when she was a baby Her mother then married Herbert White, Jr. Vanna took her stepfather’s name. The family moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
In 1978, White competed in the Miss Georgia beauty pageant. Shortly afterward, she moved to Hollywood to look for work as a model and actress.
Career
Early Career
White moved to Hollywood after some small success as a model in South Carolina.
She has later said that she struggled to find work in Los Angeles. She said that she ended up depressed and overweight. She eventually went on a diet and exercise plan that helped her shed 25 pounds.
White credits her newfound confidence after weight loss for giving her a “glow” that caught the eye of producer Merv Griffin, who was looking for a new hostess for one of his game shows.
Current Success
View this post on Instagram
Wheel of Fortune first aired in 1975. In 1982, hostess Susan Stafford left the show. White was one of three models chosen to as possible replacements for Stafford. She has remained at that position ever since.
Although she has not had major movie or modeling roles, White parlayed her popularity into an iconic presence on a long-running show.
Vanna White was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006.
The Playboy Lawsuit
In 1982, just before getting her gig on Wheel of Fortune, White had agreed to pose for photos for Playboy magazine. In 1987, Playboy published those pictures. White sued the magazine, stating that the publication of the photos harmed her image as a wholesome, all-American young woman.
Playboy countered that she’d had the photos taken with the understanding that they would be published. The lawsuit was eventually decided in Playboy‘s favor.
View this post on Instagram
Vanna White’s Future Plans
The show Wheel of Fortune has remained popular. At this point, neither White nor host Sajak have announced any plans to leave the show. Her current contract is valid until 2022. White continues to take small roles and cameo roles in movies and TV shows.
Personal Life
In the 1980s, White was dating John Gibson, a male model and Chippendale’s dancer. Gibson was killed in a plane crash in 1986.
In 1990, she married restauranteur, Giorgio San Pietro. They shared a $47 million home in Los Angeles that had its own private vineyard. In 1992, she got pregnant but had a miscarriage. She and San Pietro later had two children together:
- Nicholas, who was born in 1994.
- Giovanna, who was born in 1997.
White and San Pietro divorced in 2002. In 2004, she became engaged to financier Michael Kaye. Their relationship ended in 2006. White has not been linked romantically with anyone since then.
View this post on Instagram
Interesting Facts
- She was born on February 18, 1957 in Conway, South Carolina.
- White is 5 foot 6 inches tall and weights 105 pounds.
- Although she was born Vanna Marie Rosich, she took her stepfather’s last name of White.
- She has been married once and has two children.
- White has worn over 7000 evening gowns during her appearances on Wheel of Fortune.
- The television show films six episodes each day.
- “Vanna White” is sometimes used as a slang term for pure cocaine.
- White enjoys knitting and crocheting. She even has her own line of yarn called Vanna’s Choice.
- White has donated over $1 million from sales of her yarn to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
- Pat Sajak always tries to wear something that matches the color of White’s gown.
- White is a huge fan of crossword puzzles and often contributes to the puzzles used on the show.
Favorite Quotes
“When I was having that alphabet soup, I never thought that it would pay off.”
“I enjoy getting dressed as a Barbie doll.”
“It’s not the most intellectual job in the world, but I do have to know the letters.”
“We’ve had other people who have taken the money and have started charities, or have helped organizations that help other people, not just themselves.” — White describing how winning on Wheel of Fortune has changed people’s lives.
View this post on Instagram
Vanna White’s Tip for Success
“Never do anything that you don’t want to do. Listen to your instinct and follow it.”
“Any press is good press.”
