Last Friday, Pat Sajak hosted his final episode of Wheel of Fortune after hosting the beloved game show for 43 years. In the wake of Sajak’s retirement, an interview has resurfaced in which he said that he assumed that his co-host Vanna White would leave with him when his time on the show came to an end.
Sajak Assumed White Would Retire With Him
In a 2019 interview, Sajak predicted that he and White would leave together when one of them wanted to retire.
“There’s a pretty good chance that when one of us leaves, we’ll both leave, because it would be odd for either of us to work with somebody else,” he told USA Today at the time. “I always say that I want to leave while the show is still popular and before people tune in and say, ‘Ooh, what happened to him?’”
“I’m not quite there yet, but I don’t know,” he continued. “Let’s put it this way, 20 years from now, we won’t be here.”
Two years later, in 2021, Sajak admitted that he and White were “much closer to the end than we are to the beginning.”
Despite Sajak’s prediction, White will not be retiring with him from Wheel of Fortune. She’s extended her contract for at least two seasons. In the fall, she will be co-hosting season 42 of the game show with Sajak’s replacement, the American Idol host Ryan Seacrest.
Related: ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Host Pat Sajak Reveals Real Reason He’s Retiring
Sajak Retires From Wheel Of Fortune
Sajak, 77, began hosting Wheel of Fortune In December of 1981. White, 67, joined him the next year, and they have hosted the game show together ever since.
Sajak shocked the world last year when he announced that he would be retiring from Wheel of Fortune.
“Well, the time has come,” he said on social media. “I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last.”
White responded by saying that she was “happy” for him and his decision, according to The New York Post.
“I can’t imagine doing the show without him after 41 years,” she added.
Last month, White admitted that she’d considering retiring after Sajak made his announcement.
“When I heard that Pat was retiring, I thought maybe I should retire too,” she told TV Insider. “But I’m not ready!”
Instead, she’ll be staying on Wheel of Fortune at least through the 2025-2026 season.
“We’ll see toward the end of those two years how I feel,” she said. “I thank God after all these years that I still love my job.”
Related: Inside Pat Sajak’s World: Retirement, Fame, Family, And Wealth
White Says Goodbye To Sajak
Last week, White became emotional as she said goodbye to Sajak in a heartfelt video.
“8000 episodes went by like that,” she said. “When I first started, I was so green. You made me so comfortable and so confident, Pat. You made me who I am, you really did.”
“We’ve watched our children grow up together, we’ve traveled all over the world, we’ve eaten hundreds of meals together, we’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve celebrated,” White added through tears. “What an incredible and unforgettable journey we’ve had.”
White ended her message to Sajak by making it clear that he is like family to her.
“You’re like a brother to me and I consider you a true lifelong friend who I will always adore,” she concluded. “I love you, Pat.”
Full Story: Vanna White Breaks Down Saying Goodbye To ‘Brother’ Pat Sajak As He Retires From ‘Wheel Of Fortune’
Check out White’s full message to Sajak below.
While it’s interesting that Sajak assumed White would leave with him when he retires, we’re sure he’s not holding it against her that she wants to stay with the game show. It will certainly be interesting to see how White co-hosts with Seacrest when Wheel of Fortune returns in the fall!
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