Vanna Marie White, born February 18, 1957, is a prominent American television personality and game-show host, known for co-hosting “Wheel of Fortune” since 1982. She began her career as a model while studying fashion and competed in Miss Georgia USA in 1978.
Besides her role on “Wheel of Fortune,” White has made appearances in films and TV shows and authored the 1987 autobiography “Vanna Speaks.” She is also involved in real estate, owns the yarn brand Vanna‘s Choice, and supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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Vanna White’s Net Worth
Vanna White has a net worth of $85 million and earns a salary of $10 million. In 1993, she won a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics after the company aired a commercial featuring a robot resembling her,
which she claimed used her likeness without permission. White won the case after several appeals and was awarded $403,000 in damages.
Early life
Vanna Marie Rosich was born on February 18, 1957, near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Joan Marie Nicholas and Miguel Angel Rosich. Her paternal great-grandparents were Spanish from Mallorca, who settled in Puerto Rico.
After her parents’ divorce, she was raised by her mother and her second husband, Herbert White Jr., taking his surname. White graduated high school and moved to Atlanta to study fashion and modeling before relocating to Los Angeles in 1979 to pursue acting. She returned briefly to South Carolina in 1980 to be with her dying mother.
Career
Vanna White first appeared on “The Price Is Right” on June 20, 1980, running to Contestants’ Row, though she didn’t make it on stage. She later made brief film appearances, including in “Looker” (1981) and “Graduation Day” (1981), and starred in the 1988 TV movie “Goddess of Love.”
White’s 1987 autobiography, “Vanna Speaks!,” was a best-seller. She has cameoed on various shows and films, including “Married…With Children” and “The Naked Gun 33⅓.” White received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2006 and appeared in the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 7 and ABC’s “The Game Show Show” in 2023.
Personal Life
In the 1980s, Vanna White was briefly engaged to actor John Gibson, who tragically died in a plane crash in 1986. After her mother’s death from ovarian cancer, White married restaurant owner George Santo Pietro in 1990. They had two children, Nicholas and Giovanna, and divorced in 2002.
White was engaged to businessman Michael Kaye from 2004 to 2006 but did not marry. Since 2012, she has been in a relationship with contractor John Donaldson. White, an avid crocheter, created the yarn line Vanna’s Choice and has donated $1.8 million to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Why is Vanna White so famous?
Vanna White gained widespread fame as the co-host of “Wheel of Fortune,” a role she began in 1982. Out of over 200 candidates, Merv Griffin chose her for the position because of her exceptional letter-turning skills.
Conclusion
From her early days in North Myrtle Beach to becoming a cornerstone of American television, Vanna White’s journey is both inspiring and commendable. With her remarkable net worth, she stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and strategic career choices.
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FAQs About Vanna White Net Worth
- How much is Vanna White worth in 2024?
- Vanna White’s net worth is estimated at $85 million.
- What is Vanna White’s primary source of income?
- Her longstanding career as the co-host of “Wheel of Fortune.”
- How many children does Vanna White have?
- She has two children: Nicholas and Giovanna.
- Who is Vanna White currently in a relationship with?
- Vanna is in a relationship with John Donaldson.
- Will Vanna White be leaving “Wheel of Fortune” soon?
- No, she has extended her contract to stay on the show until the 2025-2026 season.
