Vanna White is over the rumors surrounding negotiations for her return to Wheel of Fortune. While the longtime game show personality recently renewed her contract through 2026, she claimed the alleged turmoil regarding her salary was “blown out of proportion.”
The model’s comments come on the heels of reports that she lawyered up ahead of her contract renewal so she could demand the “same pay — if not more” than current host Pat Sajak, who will retire and be replaced by Ryan Seacrest in 2024.
Last month, White renewed her contract for another two years as well as scored a “believed” pay raise — marking her first salary increase in 18 years. While speaking exclusively to People, she admitted it was difficult to read reports about the negotiations on the internet.
“It was because people just have rumors. Everything is so blown out of proportion, not just with my stuff, with everybody’s stuff,” White, who referred to herself as “a strong person,” told the outlet, before later adding, “I’m not going to do anything I don’t want to do or that I don’t believe in. My mother taught me that at a young age and I’m sticking to my guns.”
However, that doesn’t mean the iconic co-host didn’t consider packing her bags when Sajak announced his retirement. While it was a “very hard decision” for her to make, she decided that she was “not ready to retire.”
“I’m just so happy that I have signed for two more years,” she gushed. “I have this next year with Pat, and then I have two years after that, so I will be part of Wheel of Fortune, at least through 2026.”
In light of her return to another season of Wheel of Fortune, White even offered up some sage advice for young women today.
“I would tell them to follow your heart and really don’t do anything you don’t want to do,” she said. “Don’t let anybody talk you into doing anything you don’t want to do. You have that instinct inside you, we all do. You listen to that instinct inside of you. It never is wrong.”
Wheel of Fortune airs on weeknights at 7:30/6:30c. Find local listings on the Wheel of Fortune website.