Wheel of Fortune is a syndicated television game show that combines word puzzles with a spinning prize wheel. The program premiered on NBC in 1975 as a daytime series created by television producer Merv Griffin. It later moved to CBS before ending its daytime run in 1991. A nighttime syndicated version launched in 1983 and became one of the most successful game shows in television history, airing across stations in the United States for decades.
The format centers on a word puzzle similar to the traditional game of hangman. Contestants spin a large wheel containing cash values and prizes, then guess consonants to reveal letters in a puzzle. Players can also purchase vowels to help solve the phrase. Rounds feature themed puzzles, prize wedges, and bonus opportunities, with contestants competing to accumulate the highest winnings before advancing to the final Bonus Round.
Over the years, the show introduced several gameplay elements, including the Prize Puzzle, Express wedge, and special themed weeks. In the final Bonus Round, the leading contestant attempts to solve a puzzle within a short time limit to win additional prizes, often including large cash awards or vehicles.
The syndicated version of the show was famously hosted by Pat Sajak from 1981 to 2024, alongside longtime co-host Vanna White, who has revealed letters on the puzzle board since 1982. In 2024, broadcaster and television personality Ryan Seacrest became the program’s host following Sajak’s retirement from the nightly series, while White continued her role as co-host and letter-turner.
Over the decades, Wheel of Fortune has become one of the most recognizable game shows in television history. Its simple gameplay, distinctive spinning wheel, and nightly syndication have helped it remain a staple of American television and one of the longest-running game shows in the United States.
