WHEEL of Fortune host Pat Sajak has revealed the real reason he is retiring early and departing from the game show.
Ahead of his final episode on Friday, Good Morning America shared footage of the game show host throughout his 40-year career.
In the throwback clips, Pat, 77, appeared in his younger days with co-host Vanna White, 67,
During the nearly four-minute segment, Maggie Sajak, 29 – Wheel of Fortune’s social media correspondent – interviewed her father about his early retirement.
Pat believed he should leave “a couple of years too early than a couple of years too late.”
“Could I still do it?” he asked his daughter.
“Yeah, I think I could for a while.”
“There’s also other things in life, we’d like to do,” Pat continued.
“I’m enjoying this last year. It’s been a great 40 years.”
“I’m looking forward to whatever is ahead,” he closed.
Pat also shared he would be happy living out his retirement doing “crossword puzzles and playing with his grandchildren.”
“Hint. Hint. Hint. No pressure,” he joked.
Maggie Sajak takes fans ‘behind the puzzleboard’ after they ‘wondered for years’ what’s hidden & reveals Pat’s ‘secret’
Maggie burst out into laughter as she smiled at the camera.
In addition to Maggie, Pat shares his son, Patrick, with his wife, Lesly Brown.
Like his sister, Patrick does not have children to play with their grandfather.
‘THANK YOU’
At the end of the interview, Maggie broke into tears when she said her father turned the show into a gift.
Wheel of Fortune Host Timeline
Although Pat and Vanna have been a staple on the game show for decades, there have been other hosts
Chuck Woolery was the host from 1975 to 1981
He co-hosted alongside Susan Stafford (1975 to 1982)
Vanna White then stepped in as hostess in 1982 and has been ever since
After a contract and salary dispute, the show got rid of Chuck and brought in Pat in 1982
Pat hosted with Susan for one season
He then left the game show in 1989 to host a late-night talk show for CBS
For five months, NFL player Rolf Benirschke took his place
In July 1989, Bob Goen hosted the show on CBS
He hosted for a year and a half until the show was canceled in 1991
The show was then moved to ABC with Pat and Vanna hosting for the foreseeable future
In 2023, Pat announced his retirement and Ryan Seacrest as quickly named as his replacement
“You made what could have just been Hangman into a cultural phenomenon, so thank you,” she choked up.
“You’ve had an amazing 40-plus years.”
Pat embraced his daughter as she wiped away her tears.
SMALL & BIG CHANGES
He first announced his retirement in June 2023, after the Season 40 finale.
His final episode of Wheel of Fortune will air on June 7 at 7:30 pm on ABC.
Although Pat is retiring, Vanna will remain as co-host for longtime fans.
Fans are eager for Maggie to take over for Vanna, but that has not been confirmed.
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, 29, is expected to start hosting Wheel of Fortune in September 2024, according to Deadline.
