That was quick! A $1 million win virtually got here to go throughout Ryan Seacrest‘s second week as host of Wheel of Fortune, and get this: The final time this prize was gained throughout a daily season was precisely 10 years in the past tomorrow.
The final time a participant gained $1 million who wasn’t a star was Sarah Manchester, whose victory aired on September 17, 2014. Playing for the grand prize within the September 16, 2024 episode was Vivian Tran, the crimson participant. She in the end didn’t stroll away from the episode a millionaire, however the truth that she had the uncommon probability to win the present’s final prize so early into Seacrest’s run seems like an amazing flip of luck for rankings.
A promo for the Monday, September 16 episode teased that the $1 million prize was added to the Bonus Round. “Oh my gosh, this could be it. There it is,” Seacrest stated within the promo with an excited look on his face. In his palms was the $1 million envelope that replaces the $100,000 prize on the Bonus Round wheel if a participant is eligible for the improve. The promo confirmed {that a} participant would get the prospect to play for it, however in fact didn’t reveal in the event that they walked away victorious.
Several issues had to go proper to ensure that Vivian to be eligible for the jackpot. Per the Wheel of Fortune guidelines, so as to win $1 million a contestant should spin the wheel and land on the “ONE MILLION” wedge, name an accurate letter, after which clear up that spherical’s puzzle with out going Bankrupt. They should then win the sport general with out ever going Bankrupt, sending them to the Bonus Round. That’s when the $100,000 envelope is changed on the Bonus Wheel by the $1 million.
To win the grand prize, Vivian would have had to land on the $1 million envelope on the Bonus Wheel and clear up the Bonus Round puzzle appropriately. Unfortunately for Vivian, that didn’t come to go. But it does mark the primary time the present’s largest jackpot was introduced into play since Seacrest started as host on September 9.
Vivian went into the Bonus Round with a complete of $27,300, a visit to Europe, the WILD card (giving her an extra letter), and the ONE MILLION wedge. She had chosen What Are You Doing?. “My heart is racing,” Seacrest stated, with Vivian taking part in for the $1 million. “There’s a lot of money on this wheel tonight. Is she going to be the big winner?”
RSTLNE gave her _ _ _ ER_N_ S_ _E _EL_. She selected CHMI and P for her bonus letter, giving her _ _ _ ERIN _ S_ME HELP. But she couldn’t get “OFFERING SOME HELP.”
Seacrest was sympathetic in his response as he confirmed her she’d landed on the $1 million envelope. “You were so close to that $1 million,” he informed her. “You almost had it? You alright?” She confirmed she was. “Breathe,” he informed her, stating how a lot she was nonetheless strolling away with (together with a visit). “You have been so fantastic. Thank you so much.” He then spoke to the digital camera noting, “I can’t believe it. When I picked it up and thought, oh my gosh, this could be it. There is it, so close.”
After, Vanna White and Seacrest continued to speak about how shut it was; they knew as soon as Vivian landed on the envelope on the wheel. “Adrenaline is rushing through my body right now,” Seacrest added. “She was on the brink of it with that wild card, extra consonant. It was so close. I thought it might happen.”
This grand prize was first launched in September 2008 and has solely been gained 4 occasions. The first time was only one month after its introduction within the October 14, 2008, when Michelle Loewenstein gained huge. The second win was by Autumn Erhard in May 2013, and the third was Manchester’s win in 2014. Manchester remains to be the final particular person to have gained the jackpot in a daily season. The fourth victor is Sabrina the Teenage Witch alum Melissa Joan Hart, who gained the jackpot on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune in an episode that aired on October 17, 2021.
Vivian is simply the thirteenth participant in Wheel of Fortune historical past to have an opportunity on the $1 million. Given that Sarah’s profitable episode additionally aired on the seventeenth of a month, plainly’s the fortunate quantity! How a lot ought to we learn into the truth that was the thirteenth participant to play for the $1 million, probably the most unfortunate quantity there's, and her loss got here simply someday earlier than the final huge win’s anniversary? This might actually gas for the superstitious, however then once more the grand prize was additionally beforehand gained within the yr 2013. So chalk this all up to coincidence.
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