Pat Sajak has officially after 41 years, and concluded his run with a heartfelt message during his final show Friday night. During the episode, , and awarded each contestant $5,000 to compensate for lost cash. “Well, the time has come to say goodbye,” Sajak’s message began.
“It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade.” He went on to emphasize the show’s role as a “safe place for family fun,” but said over the years, it had become so much more than that — “a place where kids learned their letters, where people from other countries honed their English skills, where families came together along with friends and neighbors and entire generations.” Sajak added it was was an honor “to play even a small part in all of that,” and took time to offer his thanks to the show’s staff and crew, as well as wife Lesly and their two children.
His daughter, Maggie Sajak, joined “Wheel of Fortune” as a social correspondent in 2021 and has been a part of the show ever since. Sajak also made special mention of his longtime co-host Vanna White, who . Though he said he’ll greatly miss working alongside White, he takes “solace” in the fact that the two will remain as close of friends as they have been for the past four decades.
White will continue in her role as hostess next season, when . Following Friday’s episode, the “American Idol” host . “Your dedication, charm, an.
