Vanna White's Profile, Shows Hosted, & Latest Updates

Vanna White

Full Name: Vanna Marie White (née Rosich)
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: 1957-02-18
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: White
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Marital Status: Married
Career Start: 1982
Estimated Salary: $10,000,000

Profile Overview

Vanna White is an American television personality and actress best known for her decades-long role on the popular game show Wheel of Fortune. She was born on February 18, 1957, in North Myrtle Beach and was raised by her mother and stepfather after her parents divorced. White later moved to Atlanta to pursue modeling and acting before relocating to Los Angeles to build a career in entertainment.

White joined Wheel of Fortune in 1982 after being selected from hundreds of applicants. She has been with the show since then, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in American television. She co-hosted over 8,000 episodes of Wheel of Fortune alongside Pat Sajak before his retirement in June 2024, and has continued to co-host with new host Ryan Seacrest since September 2024. She also co-hosts Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on ABC with Seacrest since 2021.

Beyond TV, White is a successful businessman; she launched Vanna’s Choice, a branded yarn line through Lion Brand Yarns. She is also a philanthropist and has donated over $1.8 million to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through the proceeds of the line. In January 2026, she quietly married her longtime partner, John Donaldson, in a small private ceremony.

Education

Atlanta School of Fashion and Design, Atlanta, Georgia — Studied fashion design. Did not complete a degree; relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a modeling and acting career.

Dating & Marriage

Marriage: John Donaldson from 2026 to ( Founder of JDC Construction and Development Group, a California-based construction and development firm. They met through mutual friends in 2012.)
Marriage: George Santo Pietro from 1990 to 2002 (A restaurateur and owner of the celebrity hot spot Santopietro's in Los Angeles.)
Engagement: Michael Kaye from 2004 to 2006 (A California businessman)
Engagement: John Gibson from 1981 to 1986 (An American actor, model, and dancer. He died in a plane crash in 1986.)

Children

Nicholas "Nikko" Santo Pietro, a biological child with George Santo Pietro, born in 1994
Giovanna "Gigi" Santo Pietro, a biological child with George Santo Pietro, born in 1997

Net Worth & Income

Primary income from her Wheel of Fortune contract — estimated at $10 million per year following her 2023 renegotiation.
Owns Vanna's Choice, her branded yarn line sold through Lion Brand Yarns.
Additional income from licensing fees for her likeness on Wheel of Fortune-branded slot machines and from Celebrity Wheel of Fortune episode fees on ABC, reported at $100,000 per episode.