Vanna White: Age, Net Worth, Married Status, Salary, Height, Weight, and Dating Life in 2025

Vanna White, the timeless co-host of Game shows rise and fall, but Vanna White remains a fixture of American television. After Pat Sajak retired in June 2024, her partnership with Ryan Seacrest has quietly lifted ratings by 5% in early 2025. She’s not just turning letters—she’s building an empire with yarn, real estate, and a legacy of grace under pressure. This isn’t another celebrity rundown. It’s a deeper look at how one woman turned a simple role into a lifetime of smart choices and quiet power.

Vanna White’s Early Life and Rise to Fame: From Miss Georgia to TV Icon

Vanna Marie Rosich was born in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on February 18, 1957. Her parents divorced when she was an infant, and she was raised by her mother Joan and stepfather Herbert White Jr., whose surname she proudly took. A Southern girl with big dreams, she studied fashion in Atlanta and competed in the Miss Georgia USA pageant in 1978 at age 21.

In 1979, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Small roles followed—horror film Graduation Day (1981), sci-fi thriller Looker (1981)—but tragedy struck in 1980 when her mother died of ovarian cancer. That same year, she appeared as a contestant on The Price Is Right. Two years later, in October 1982, she auditioned for Wheel of Fortune to replace Susan Stafford. By December 13, she was the new co-host alongside Pat Sajak.

Her early grit is often overlooked. A 1979 modeling shoot (later regretted) helped pay for her LA move—a risk many young talents still take today. For a complete timeline, visit her Wikipedia page.

Vanna White’s Career Milestones: 43 Years of Spinning the Wheel

Vanna’s salary jumped from $3 million to $10 million annually after a 2023 renegotiation—her first raise in 18 years. The deal includes Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and runs through the 2025–26 season. Since Ryan Seacrest joined in September 2024, she’s been candid about the transition. “I was scared about the chemistry,” she told Elvis Duran in March 2025. But the duo has found their rhythm.

Highlights include her 1987 bestseller Vanna Speaks! (over 500,000 copies sold), starring as Venus in the 1988 TV movie Goddess of Love, and a 1993 lawsuit victory against Samsung for using her likeness in an ad. She earned a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2006 and holds a Guinness World Record for most claps on TV—3.48 million as of 2013.

She’s worn over 6,800 unique dresses and appeared in more than 8,000 episodes. An October 2025 episode saw the first $1 million winner under Seacrest—a milestone she celebrated with her signature warmth. Follow her on the official Wheel site or Instagram.

Vanna White’s Personal Life: Married Once, Dating Donaldson, and Family First

At 68 years old, Vanna has been married once—to restaurateur George Santo Pietro from 1990 to 2002. They had two children: Nicholas “Niko” (born 1994) and Giovanna “Gigi” (born 1997). A 1992 miscarriage, revealed on air via a puzzle reading “Vanna’s pregnant,” remains one of her most painful public moments.

In the 1980s, she was engaged to actor John Gibson, who died in a 1986 plane crash. After her divorce, she was briefly engaged to Michael Kaye (2004–2006). Since 2012, she’s been in a steady relationship with contractor John Donaldson. “He’s my rock,” she said in a 2025 People interview. They hike, cook, and keep things private—a rare long-term Hollywood love story.

Niko is a photographer in LA; Gigi works in fashion and has guested with Vanna’s yarn brand. At a 2024 fan convention, attendees praised how Vanna balances fame with real motherhood—something glossy magazines often miss. Learn about her giving heart through her work with St. Jude.

Vanna White Net Worth Breakdown: Salary, Investments, and Smart Bets

Vanna’s net worth of $85 million in 2025 isn’t just from her $10 million salary. She earns residuals from syndication, licenses her image for Wheel slot machines ($2 billion in global revenue yearly), and runs the Vanna’s Choice yarn line. In Q3 2025, her yarn brand outsold competitors by 20%, fueled by the post-pandemic crafting surge.

Real estate is her secret weapon. She flipped homes in the ’90s, sold a Beverly Hills estate for $47.5 million in 2017, and now rents in Sherman Oaks. Her portfolio returned 8% annually in 2024—outpacing the S&P 500. “I prefer practical things,” she told Closer Weekly. In a shaky economy, her strategy has kept her wealth growing while others panic.

Vanna White’s Enduring Legacy and 2025 Updates: Beyond the Board

Now in its 43rd season, Wheel of Fortune remains a top syndicated show. Vanna has no plans to retire: “I’m staying through 2026,” she confirmed. She’s mentoring younger talent, including Gigi and Maggie Sajak, and expanding her yarn workshops for new designers.

In September 2025, she pledged $500,000 more to ovarian cancer research at a Los Angeles gala. Her speech—“Fame fades, but giving endures”—raised $2 million. This isn’t charity for show; it’s personal. Her mother’s death in 1980 still drives her mission.

At 5 feet 6 inches and 128 pounds, Vanna moves with the same ease she had decades ago. She doesn’t chase trends—she sets the standard for grace, consistency, and quiet influence. True icons don’t shout. They endure.