Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work on a game show?
Many people dream of appearing on the small screen and entertaining huge audiences. And working on a game show can be a stepping stone to a lucrative career in the spotlight.
Moreover, most popular game shows run for several years and are enjoyed by millions of people around the world. And this gives the hosts a platform to launch their careers, which can lead to other opportunities.
So, let’s take a closer look at the Vanna White net worth figure, her salary, and how her career has helped her acquire her wealth.
Contents
About Vanna White
Vanna Marie Rosich was born in 1957 in Conway, South Carolina. After her parents divorced when she was a baby, she was raised in North Myrtle Beach. She later moved to Atlanta in 1976 to attend the School of Fashion and Design.
In 1978 while at college, she became a contestant in the Miss Georgia USA pageant. This was her first time in the spotlight, and she did modeling work while still at college. After graduating from college a year later, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. She only had $1,000 to her name at the time and continued modeling and waiting tables to make ends meet.
Career
Although Vanna White is now a household name, it took a while to launch her career. Her first TV game show appearance was on The Price Is Right in 1980. However, she was only one of four contestants and didn’t actually make it onto the stage.
Wheel of Fortune
This popular game show was created by Merv Griffin and first aired in 1975. The original host was Chuck Wollery, who was replaced just a year later after his huge pay rise demand was rejected. He was replaced by NBC Los Angeles weatherman Pat Sajak, who remains the host to this day.
The original hostess of The Wheel of Fortune was Susan Stafford, who served until 1982. After Susan Stafford left the show to become a humanitarian worker, auditions for her replacement were held. More than two hundred talented models auditioned for the role, and it finally came down to Vicki McCarthy and Vanna White.
As you know…
Vanna White eventually won the role and debuted on the show in December of 1982. She has served as the main hostess of the show ever since and has appeared in more than 7,700 episodes. She receives a reported $10 million a year from the show, while Pat Sajak receives $14 million annually.
The show is filmed just four days each month, and during this time, six shows are filmed each day. Taping takes place on two Thursdays and two Fridays each month and begins at 08:30. These are long days, and the filming continues until the early evening.
However, to earn $10 million per year, Vanna White only works on the show for 48 days each year. This means that she earns roughly $208,333 each day that she works on the show. This gives her a salary of $34,722 per show.
Acting roles
Because Vanna White is a famous figure, she has played herself in a number of movies and TV shows. Perhaps most notably, she appeared in Naked Gun 33 1/3, Married… with Children, and Full House. Each of these roles has earned her decent checks that have helped to swell her bank account.
Other acting roles of note include:
- Just Shoot Me!
- The Game Show Show
- Fresh Off the Boat
- Marie
- The King of Queens
- Style & Substance
- Double Dragon
- L.A. Law
- Vanna White
- Gypsy Angels
- Goddess of Love
- Santa Barbara
- The A-Team
- Graduation Day
- Midnight Offerings
Voiceover Work
Of all the work that has contributed to Vanna White’s net worth, this is probably less known by most.
The celebrity boasts a bubbly personality and a very distinctive voice. And she has lent her voice to a number of animated characters over the years. Projects of note include The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and Captain Planet and the Planeteers.
Production Work
Of course, White has gained insight into the production of TV shows and movies over time. As a result, she has served as an executive producer on several short films over the years. She is credited as the executive producer of Low Country, Black Dispatch, Crab Trap, My Luchador, and A Chess Player.
White’s Memoir
Vanna White became a bestselling author in 1987. She released her memoir, Vanna Speaks, and it immediately made the bestseller list. According to the New York Times, she received an advance of $250,000 for writing her memoir. Of course, sales of the book also scored her hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Vanna’s Choice
The celebrity’s grandmother taught her to crochet when she was a child. This has remained her favorite hobby, and she still crochets in her spare time. She also passed on her love of crochet and yarn to her daughter, and the pair enjoy crafting together.
But it doesn’t stop there…
Like many elements of her life, she has found a way to turn her passion into a lucrative revenue stream. Vanna White formed a partnership with Lion Brand Yarn and is the face of the Vanna’s Choice line.
Her role as a spokesperson for Lion Brand Yarn began in 1992 after an interview with Johnny Carson. David Blumenthal heard about her passion for crocheting and sent her a package of yarn. She was invited to create her own product line, which includes Vanna’s Choice Baby, Vanna’s Sequins, and Vanna’s Glamour.
One admirable note…
While this product line provides a constant revenue stream, she also donates a portion to charity. One of the main recipients of the donations is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In 2013, she presented a $1,000,000.00 check to St Jude’s on behalf of Lion Brand. And she also presented the hospital with a $2 million check in 2018.
Real Estate
The celebrity has an eye for real estate and a good head for business. In the past, she has had an extensive real estate portfolio that was worth more than $50 million. She often uses her income to invest in apartment buildings in choice locations and enjoys flipping properties.
She once lived in a gated community called The Mulholland Estates with her former husband, George Santo Pietro. The couple lived next door to Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson in a 15,000-square-foot mansion. They lived in this prestigious Beverly Park community until their divorce in 2002.
After their divorce, the couple moved out and rented it for years for a cool $175,000 per month. Then they listed the mansion for sale in 2017 for $47.5 million. They also owned a second nearby and eventually sold the two properties separately. The second property sold for $22 million, while the primary property sold for $19.3 million in June 2020.
After her divorce…
Vanna White purchased a 10,000-square-foot mansion in the desirable hills above Beverly Hills. While she paid a reported $3.4 million for the mansion, it is now worth more than $10 million.
She also paid a reported 1.125 million for a large property in Sherman Oaks, California. This property was purchased in 2013, and the celebrity listed it for rent in 2020. This smart business deal nets her a monthly rental fee of $20,000.
Casino Licensing Earnings
Interestingly, although the celebrity has made a significant amount from the Wheel of Fortune, this is not her largest revenue stream. She makes considerably more licensing her image to casino slot machines. So, slot machine players can see her image along with videos and clips alongside Pat Sajak on themed machines.
Wheel of Fortune was the first entertainment property to be licensed for use on various slot machines. The game show’s first branded slot machines were placed in casinos in Las Vegas in 1996. These slot machines proved to be very popular, and they were soon licensed all around the world.
So a savvy endeavor, there!
By 2006 Wheel of Fortune branded slot machines were the highest revenue-generating slot machines in most casinos. And more than 20,000 of these slot machines can be found on casino floors around the world. These machines generate more than $1 billion in gross revenue per year in Las Vegas alone. And the worldwide revenue from these slot machines is estimated to be more than $2 billion.
Vanna White received a reported $15 million a year from licensing her image to these slot machines. This figure is based on royalty payments and a wide range of bonuses. She also regularly appears at casinos in Las Vegas and other locations to promote the slot machines.
Notable Achievements
In 2006, the celebrity received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This is a coveted accolade that is only bestowed to the brightest stars in Hollywood. However, this is not the only time she has been recognized for her work.
World Record Holder
In 2013, Vanna White received a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records. It was determined that she was the most frequent clapper in television history. She had clapped on TV at least 3,480,864 times across the 30 seasons of the Wheel of Fortune.
She was presented with a Guinness World Record on the show in 2013 in honor of the achievement. And she continued to clap on the show to make contestants feel special and appreciated. By 2015, she had clapped more than 3.7 million times, with an average of 606 claps per episode. It is now estimated that she has clapped to encourage contestants more than 4.5 million times!
Fabulous Dresses
The celebrity has worn more than 6,700 dresses during her appearance on Wheel of Fortune. She is known for never repeating a dress, and many viewers tune in to see what she will wear. Most of these dresses are borrowed from designers and are returned after the show is taped.
Charity Work
She is a patron of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and has reportedly personally donated more than $1.8 million to date. This charity work is close to her heart, particularly because her mother died from cancer. She has stated that she will continue her charity work long after she retires.
Vanna White Net Worth and Salary
It is estimated that Vanna White has a net worth of $85 million. As we have already seen, she earns $10 million per year from her work on the Wheel of Fortune. However, she has a reported annual income of at least $25 million. The remainder of her annual salary comes from casino licensing earnings, real estate, and various business deals.
Her major revenue streams include:
- Wheel of Fortune appearances
- Other TV appearances
- Real estate deals
- Casino licensing deals
- Book royalties
- Brand ambassador deals
Love Vanna White?
We do too! She’s a true representation of the American dream, working her way to fame and fortune from humble beginnings.
If you’d like to learn about more game show celebrities that have worked their way up to unbelievable wealth, then don’t miss our latest guides to Wink Martindale Net Worth, Janice Pennington Net Worth, Gene Rayburn Net Worth, and many more!
And as you can see, one key to Vanna White’s net worth is her smart real estate investment over the years. If you find this inspirational, then why not first have a look at What Percentage of Americans Are Millionaires and then browse the Richest Neighborhoods in America?
Next, find out just exactly How Big is a Mansion, and continue on a tour of the 15 Biggest Celebrities Who Live in NYC, Celebrities That Live in the Hamptons, the Biggest Celebrities Who Live in Miami, and other Celebrities Who Live in Beverly Hills besides Vanna White!
And for those music lovers out there, don’t miss our guide to Celebrities That Live in Nashville! We can even tell you Who Lives on Star Island Miami in 2023!
Or perhaps you’re curious to know about the Top 10 Most Expensive Autographs Ever Sold!
Just search this site for all of your celeb favorites!
Ok, back to…
Final Thoughts
Vanna White has been working in the entertainment industry for more than forty years and has an incredibly loyal following. She is best known for her work on the Wheel of Fortune, although she has enjoyed a diverse career. Vanna is a celebrity in her own right and has appeared as herself in numerous TV shows and movies. Her poise and grace are instantly recognizable, and she never fails to turn heads.
But although her good looks are undeniable, the celebrity also has a head for business. She has a talent for flipping properties, which has helped to swell her fortune.
Go, Vanna!
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