It’s been 41 years since Pat Sajak graced America as the host to popular game show “Wheel of Fortune” and now he reveals he will soon be saying goodbye.
The veteran entertainer, 75, says he’s almost at the end of his time on “Wheel of Fortune”.
Sajak made the shocking revelation in an interview with “Entertainment Tonight” on Thursday.
“We’re getting near the end. It’s been a long time. We’re not gonna do this for another 40 years. The end is near,” he said.
He added, “It’s an honor to have been in people’s living rooms for that long. We’re happy and proud.”
“Wheel of Fortune” first premiered back in 1975, with Sajak hired as host in December 1981. Vanna White, 65, was brought on as co-host in 1982. The duo have shared the screen together for the past 40 years.
Last year, Sajak and White had signed a lucrative deal to continue co-hosting together until partway through 2024, but Sajak’s new comments could indicate they are seeking an early exit from the gig.
However, fans of the show shouldn’t feel despair, since Sajak says the show will likely continue for a long time even after they are gone.
It’s not the first time Sajak has addressed retirement rumors, telling “Entertainment Tonight” last September that he couldn’t foresee himself spending another decade on “Wheel of Fortune.”
“We’re certainly closer to the end than the beginning,” Sajak stated at the time. “I’d like to leave before people tune in and look at me and say, ‘Ooh, what happened to him? I wouldn’t bet on seeing us in, like, 10 years, I would say.”
White was also interviewed, and expressed a similar sentiment.
The blonde beauty said she would “probably” leave the program before the decade is out, before paying tribute to her co-host.
“We’ve been together for like 38 years and he’s like my brother,” she said of Sajak. “He’s funny. I mean, we could finish each other’s sentences if we wanted to. We know each other that well.”
It may be hard, however, for the well-paid pair to give up their plum roles. According to reports, each makes eight figures per year. Back in 2016, Sajak was reportedly making $15 million per year, while White raked in $10 million. It’s likely they’ll make even more money now after renewing their contracts last year.
It’s possible “Wheel of Fortune” has spent too much of its budget on its stars, with fans recently complaining about the show’s new look.
One viewer claimed updates to the show’s puzzle board made the program look “cheap.”
