If you’ve spent any time at all watching Wheel of Fortune, you probably feel like you’ve grown up with Pat and Vanna. They’re like those distant relatives who never seem to change while everyone else is getting gray hair and complaining about their knees. But time moves for everyone, even for the icons of the letter board and the big wheel.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a trip to think about how long they’ve been on our screens. Pat Sajak and Vanna White have been a duo since the early 80s. That is a massive amount of television history.
Pat Sajak: The Man Who Retired (Mostly)
Let’s talk numbers. Pat Sajak is 79 years old. He was born on October 26, 1946, in Chicago.
By the time he finally stepped away from the main syndicated show in June 2024, he had been the face of Wheel for over four decades. He actually took over the job from Chuck Woolery back in 1981. It’s hard to imagine the show without his dry wit and that slightly chaotic energy he brings when a contestant is taking way too long to buy a vowel.
Even though he "retired," he didn't exactly disappear into a rocking chair. He stayed on as a consultant, and he’s still been popping up for Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Plus, he did a stint in a play in Honolulu called Prescription: Murder in 2025. Not exactly the typical quiet retirement, right?
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Vanna White: Still Turning Heads (and Letters)
Then there’s Vanna. Vanna White is 68 years old. Her birthday is February 18, 1957.
She joined the show in 1982, just about a year after Pat started. There’s something kinda legendary about the fact that she has worn over 7,000 different dresses on the show and never repeated one. Can you imagine that closet? Actually, she doesn't get to keep them, which feels like a crime against fashion, but she’s handled it with more grace than most people would.
While Pat decided to call it quits on the daily grind, Vanna wasn't ready to go. She signed a contract extension that keeps her on the show through at least the 2025-2026 season. That means she’s currently working alongside Ryan Seacrest, who stepped into Pat’s very large shoes in late 2024.
How Old Is Vanna White and Pat Sajak Compared to the Show?
When people ask how old is Vanna White and Pat Sajak, they’re usually trying to reconcile the person they see on TV with the reality of the calendar. We’ve seen them in 4:3 standard definition and now in 4K crystal clarity.
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To put their ages in perspective:
- Pat was 35 when he started hosting.
- Vanna was just 25 when she first walked onto that set.
They have spent more than half of their lives in front of that puzzle board. When you think about the chemistry they have, it makes sense. They’ve described themselves as being like brother and sister. They even admitted once that in nearly 40 years, they only had one real argument—and it was about whether or not ketchup belongs on a hot dog. (For the record, Vanna likes it; Pat, being a Chicago guy, definitely does not).
The New Era of Wheel
It’s definitely weird seeing Ryan Seacrest standing where Pat stood for 41 seasons. Ryan is 51 now, which makes him significantly younger than Pat but still a seasoned pro. The transition was always going to be a bit bumpy for long-time fans because Vanna White and Pat Sajak are basically the "mom and dad" of game shows.
Vanna actually admitted she thought about leaving when Pat did. It makes sense—how do you stay at a job for 40 years and then keep going when your partner of four decades clocks out for the last time? But she ultimately decided she wasn't done yet. She’s still the "Queen of Puzzles," and honestly, the show needed that bit of continuity to survive the transition.
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Why Do We Care So Much?
I think we’re obsessed with their ages because they represent a kind of stability that doesn't exist much anymore. Most TV shows last three seasons and get canceled. These two survived through nine different U.S. Presidents.
They’ve seen the world change from the Cold War to the AI revolution, and yet, every night at 7:00 PM (or whenever it airs in your city), there they were. Pat making a dad joke and Vanna revealing a "T."
What you can do next: If you want to keep up with the latest era of the show, check your local listings for the current season. Vanna is still there, and the puzzles are as tricky as ever. If you're feeling nostalgic, look for reruns of the "Pat and Vanna" classics on streaming platforms like Pluto TV or Hulu, which often carry older blocks of the show.
Actionable Insights:
- Check the Contract: Vanna’s current deal runs through the end of the 2026 season. Keep an eye out for news around late 2025 regarding whether she will sign another extension or finally join Pat in retirement.
- Watch the Celebrity Version: If you miss the Pat-Vanna dynamic, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on ABC is your best bet to see them back together.
- Trivia Fact: Next time you're at a bar quiz, remember that Pat Sajak is a veteran who served in Vietnam as a DJ for the American Forces Vietnam Network—the same job portrayed in Good Morning, Vietnam.