Are you wondering what Vanna White’s net worth is? The television presenter is beloved by generations of Americans, from her signature dresses to her winning smile.
Learn about her career, personal life, and how she earned her fortune. Read on to discover Vanna White’s net worth and more!
| Net Worth | $70 million |
| Source of Wealth | Television, Game Shows, Writing |
| Date of Birth | February 18, 1957 |
| Place of Birth | Conway, South Carolina, United States |
| Star Sign | Aquarius |
| Height | 56 |
| Family | Ex-Husband George Santo Pietro, Children Giovanna Santo Pietro and Nicholas Santo Pietro |
| Nationality | American |
The Usual Intro
Vanna White is an American television presenter from South Carolina. She is most famous for co-hosting the hit game show, Wheel of Fortune.
Alongside Pat Sajak, Vanna White has co-hosted Wheel of Fortune for over forty years. She’s become a familiar face and a household name, with her career spanning many seasons of the show.
White began her career as a beauty pageant contestant and model, but she soon found a calling for television. The presenter has also dabbled in writing, real estate, and film acting.
Vanna White also has an interesting personal life, from an engagement that ended tragically, to a recent divorce, to two children. She has received honors from the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater.
Before the Spotlight
Vanna White was born in Conway, South Carolina, in the winter of 1957. She grew up near North Myrtle Beach, on the South Carolina coast.
White’s parents, Joan Marie Nicholas and Miguel Angel Rosich, divorced shortly after her birth. Later, her mother married Herbert White Jr., who became Vanna’s stepfather.
When she was 18, Vanna White graduated high school and moved south to Atlanta, Georgia. She studied at the Atlanta School of Fashion and Design and worked in modeling in her spare time.
In 1979, when she was 22, White decided to move to Los Angeles, California, and pursue acting. However, she had to rush back home to South Carolina the following year when her mother received a terminal cancer diagnosis.
The Journey to Success
Vanna White began her career in 1980 when she made her first television appearance on the game show, The Price is Right. Her episode didn’t appear on screen, but it was a role that gave her some experience and exposure to the acting world.
In 1981, she acted in the films Looker and Graduation Day. The gigs did not make her much money, but she continued acting, hoping to land a high-paying job one day.
White substituted as a co-host on Wheel of Fortune when Susan Stafford left the show in 1982. By the end of the year, the show had hired her to become the regular co-host.
The show rose in popularity, and White started earning a steady income. She also earned money from her real estate investments, endorsements, and book publication.
The Best Moments
- 1957- Born in South Carolina
- 1978- Appeared in the Miss Georgia beauty pageant
- 1979- Moved to Los Angeles and began acting
- 1982- Started co-hosting Wheel of Fortune
- 1987- Published her bestselling autobiography
- 1990- Married George Santo Pietro
- 1994- Had her first child, Nicholas
- 1997- Gave birth to a daughter, Giovanni
- 2012- Began dating John Donaldson
- 2021- Started hosting Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on ABC
The Private Side
Vanna White started dating John Gibson, a Playgirl model, and actor, in the 1980s. The pair soon became engaged, but Gibson died tragically in a plane crash in 1986.
In 1990, White married George Santo Pietro. He operated a high-end Italian restaurant in Bel-Air. The entrepreneur also worked in real estate and film.
Vanna White and her husband George had two children, Nicholas and Giovanni. Nicholas followed in his father’s footsteps and became a chef, and Giovanni studied as a professional artist and became a tattooer in Los Angeles.
In 2002, White divorced Santo Pietro. She had a brief relationship with Michael Kaye, a businessman, and even became engaged to him but broke it off.
Currently, Vanna White is dating John Donaldson, a contractor. The couple has been together since 2012.
“Wheel of Fortune” star Vanna White | CBS Sunday Morning
Famous Quotes/Sayings
1.) “Never do anything you don’t want to do. Listen to your instincts and follow them.”
2.) “I think people think of me as this elegant person because they always see me dressed up.”
3.) “I will say I remember the best thing in terms of publicity was being on the cover of Newsweek.”
4.) “I’m a mom, a full-time mom when I’m not taping. I do the carpool thing and bake the cookies, and do the homework.”
The Social World
Vanna White regularly uses social media to post about her life, family, and career. She has 47.3k followers on Twitter and 57k on Instagram and often shares her love of golf and fashion on the websites.
On Facebook, she has 164k followers. The actress shares photos of her family on the platform and discusses Wheel of Fortune milestones and news.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
- Vanna White shows that a child of divorce can have a successful and healthy life. She remained close to her stepfather until his death and often talked about his crucial influence on her life.
- White is proof that someone from a small town can find big success. She moved to the big city of Atlanta after growing up in a little town in South Carolina and later lived in Los Angeles. Her career broke through when she took a chance and moved to big cities.
- The television presenter shows that people can continue to succeed at an older age. Vanna White has been acting for decades and isn’t stopping anytime soon!
- White balanced her family life and career success. She raised two children while advancing in her television career.
The Unusual Stuff
- Vanna White is an avid cat lover. She has owned several cats through the years and recently lost her cat Stella to illness.
- White has a Guinness World Record for Most Frequent Clapper. She has clapped more than 3.7 million times during the run of Wheel of Fortune.
- The presenter chooses her outfits for Wheel of Fortune and has never repeated a dress. She tries on about 50 gowns every few weeks and selects her favorites, and she has worn upwards of 6,500 dresses during the show but prefers to wear jeans and shirts at home.
- Vanna White loves to crochet. She often finds time for her hobby behind the scenes of filming and even receives sponsorship from a yarn company. In the 1990s, White crocheted baby blankets for both of her children between takes of the show.
Answering Frequent Questions
Below are the most frequently asked questions about Vanna White.
What Is Vanna White’s Real Name?
Vanna White’s real name is Vanna Marie Rosich. She wasn’t close with her birth father, Miguel Rosich, so she decided to take on her stepfather’s last name.
Is Vanna White Leaving Wheel of Fortune?
Vanna White isn’t planning to leave Wheel of Fortune anytime soon, but retirement is definitely in the cards in the next ten years. In 2021, she and co-host Pat Sajak announced that they planned to retire in about a decade.
What Is Vanna White’s Annual Salary?
Vanna White earns $10 million a year from Wheel of Fortune. Additionally, she gathers income from her yarn endorsements and crochet brand, Vanna’s Choice.
The Closing Remarks
Vanna White is a popular television host who has become a household name. She has co-hosted the game show Wheel of Fortune since 1982 and has several successful side gigs selling real estate, running a yarn brand line, and appearing in the spin-off Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Vanna White’s net worth is $70 million, making her very successful.
