The contract negotiation scenario between Vanna White and Sony looks as if it has the potential to get ugly — a situation Wheel of Fortune clearly hoped to keep away from of their fast naming of Ryan Seacrest as Pat Sajak’s eventual substitute. The co-host made it clear that she needs to stick with this system when her longtime colleague steps away on the finish of the upcoming season, so long as she will be able to get a deal finished. Along with her present contract expiring in 2024, it’s been reported that the worker of 41 years is asking for half of what Sajak made, so how a lot distinction was there between their paychecks anyway?
Stories have surfaced lately that apparently present that Vanna White has been making round $3 million a 12 months for the previous 18 years. Whereas she hasn’t obtained a pay bump in almost 20 years, there are reportedly bonuses, although these particulars haven’t been disclosed. Pat Sajak, in the meantime, allegedly makes $15 million per season.
Whereas each of their names and faces are synonymous with the sport present after 4 many years, it will probably’t be argued that Pat Sajak carries the vast majority of Wheel of Fortune’s internet hosting duties, directing contestants via the sport, whereas Vanna White handles the massive board. The famed letter-turner appears to have taken that into consideration, too, as she is reportedly asking for simply half of her colleague’s wage — $7.5 million — which might greater than double what she at present receives. This line of logic, nonetheless, doesn’t fly with Sony, in keeping with TMZ, whose sources say:
Sony believes they ended up paying Pat an excessive amount of and so they do not need to use his wage for comparability.
To that finish, Bryan Freedman, who’s representing Vanna White within the deal, was reportedly denied using a 3rd celebration to guage the duo’s particular person roles and significance on the present and recommend a “honest determine.”
Insiders declare this isn’t a problem Sony desires hanging over its head, as Vanna White is a well-liked public determine, and denying her the cash she’s requesting can be a foul look. Nonetheless, there’s not a lot they’ll do in the intervening time, as the author’s strike has halted negotiations in the intervening time. The two sides had been apparently nonetheless “far aside” when talks had been halted.
There was one deal Bryan Freedman was in a position to get finished for Vanna White, nonetheless. Whereas her contract for the syndicated present is nice for one more 12 months, her Celeb Wheel of Fortune contract was up, and he or she has renegotiated for $100,000 an episode. It’s unknown precisely what Pat Sajak was making on the superstar model of the sport present, however TMZ sources alleged it was simply over $400,000 per episode. White reportedly has requested for half of that earlier than settling for 1 / 4 — which remains to be apparently a “significant bump” from what she was making earlier than.
Sources are saying “it’s gonna get ugly” if Sony doesn’t begin getting extra beneficiant with Vanna White, however apparently there’s not a lot that may be finished whereas the strike is ongoing.
Pat Sajak will nonetheless be the host when Season 41 premieres in September, after which Ryan Seacrest is ready to step in for him in Fall 2024 for Season 42. It’s unknown what wage Seacrest agreed to when accepting the job as Sajak’s successor. Whereas we watch for Vanna White’s contract dispute to be labored out, verify your native listings to see learn how to preserve watching Wheel of Fortune in your space.
