at Sajak shared a rare “update on life” in a video message posted to X.
“Hi! I know a lot of you have been wondering, asking me how I’m doing, and I’m enjoying life,” the 79-year-old said in the June 14 post. “I moved here to Montana and everything is going just great. So, I just want to say hello.”
In the video, the former “Wheel of Fortune” host stands in front of an oceanfront swimming pool framed by palm trees.
“You’ll have to excuse me, I have some cattle to attend to,” he added, in his signature deadpan delivery, before calling out, “Here, boy!” A “moo” sound effect followed.
The retirement update comes more than a year after Sajak stepped away from “Wheel of Fortune,” ending a four-decade run as the face of the syndicated game show. His final episode of the weeknight series aired in June 2024, and Ryan Seacrest succeeded him that September. Sajak remained involved with the franchise through “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” until the spinoff’s final episode aired in June 2025.
Since “Wheel of Fortune” debuted in syndication in 1983, Sajak had hosted the show alongside Vanna White, who remained with the program following his retirement.
Away from television, Sajak continues to serve as chairman of the Board of Trustees for Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts college in Michigan.
“Hillsdale College is fortunate to have an even closer relationship with Mr. Sajak,” a college representative previously told USA TODAY. “Since 2019, we have benefitted from his wisdom, intellect, and good humor as chairman of Hillsdale’s board of trustees. We look forward to continuing our important work together and to what we are sure will be a bright future for Mr. Sajak and his family.”
Sajak served as vice chairman of Hillsdale’s board from 2003 to 2019 before being named chairman in 2019.
Pat Sajak discusses his health problems. He believed he was going to die from the pain.
A month after undergoing emergency surgery for a blocked bowel, “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak spills the beans.
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In his first interview since the operation, Sajak told “Good Morning America” that he felt he would die moments before the surgery.
In November, the game show host began to endure “excruciating” agony while out for a morning stroll with his daughter. He was doubled over in pain hours later, about to enter surgery.
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“I was lying on the bed in the fetal position,” he explained. “They try to treat your pain with numerous medications. And none of it – none of it – worked.”
Later, he said, his physicians gave him a medicine that took away his pain.
.
“All of a sudden, I wasn’t thinking about the discomfort,” he explained. “I just got these amazing pastels and faced flowing out of it.”
“I could hear my wife and daughter talking in the background. They sounded a mile away but were right next to me,” he explained. “They were conversing with one another. And I recall thinking, not morbidly, this must be death. This must be how death feels.’”
He was concerned for his wife and children then and was saddened that they would “have to cope with the fallout,” he said.
Of course, Sajak survived the procedure, and his worries about death were unfounded.
“It turns out that I was merely high,” he laughed.
“Good Morning America,” said Sajak’s procedure was “totally successful.”
He said doctors detected no underlying cause of the intestinal blockage. Therefore he doesn’t need to change his lifestyle.
“I’ve been feeling extremely terrific for several weeks,” Sajak explained. “I’ve been back in the studio, doing shows. Even after spinning the wheel, nothing popped. So I believe that is OK.”
Sajak’s longstanding co-host, Vanna White, stepped in to fill his shoes while he was healing. In the conversation, Sajak joked that he’s concerned she’ll take over as the primary host.
“I discovered she enjoys hosting, and I’m a little nervous,” he admitted.
Despite his quips, Sajak appears comfortable in his role on “Wheel of Fortune.”
“I’m still on my guard,” he remarked.
Pat Sajak, the host of Wheel of Fortune, has a daughter named Maggie Sajak. She has grown up since her birth in 1995. Pat and his wife Lesly Brown also have a son named Patrick. Pat Sajak retired in June 2023.
On May 10, 2023, Maggie hosted Wheel of Fortune for the first time, filling in for Vanna White, who was playing as a contestant. Pat and Maggie, who share a strong bond, have a close relationship. In September 2022, Maggie expressed her love for her dad by posting a touching tribute to his 40 years on the show.
Maggie Sajak started her career in country music when she was a teenager and later became known for her role on Wheel of Fortune. Here’s a simple rundown of everything about Pat Sajak’s daughter.
Maggie was born on January 5, 1995, to Pat and Lesly. Lesly is Pat’s second wife, and they got married in 1989 after Pat divorced Sherrill Sajak in 1986.
Maggie has an older brother named Patrick, born in 1990. Patrick is not as well-known as his sister, but Pat mentioned on TV in 2021 that Patrick graduated from medical school. Maggie shared the news on Instagram, expressing her pride in a post with a picture of herself and Patrick.
Maggie is studying law right now. She finished her undergrad at Princeton and did more schooling at Columbia.
In an interview, Maggie shared that she started playing a small acoustic guitar when she was around 7 or 8 years old. However, she received her first proper guitar as a gift from her grandparents on her 13th birthday.
Maggie has been on the show many times over the years, but she hosted it for the first time on May 10, 2023, stepping in for White.
Vanna White Cries On ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ After Sharing More Sad News
Earlier this month, Vanna White revealed that her father, Herbert White, Jr., had passed away at the age of 96, and on Monday’s show, she shared more heartbreaking news. Following the bonus round, just before the credits rolled, Vanna announced that her cat, Stella, had died at the age of 16.
As her voice shook, White told host Pat Sajak, “She’s such a big member of our family and she’s going to be missed so much and love her to death.” Pat then confessed to teasing Vanna about Stella over the years but stated how everyone loved hearing about her. He then introduced a tribute to White’s longtime companion that showed photos of Vanna with her pet, and included clips of times White spoke about Stella on the show.
Following the emotional video, Pat turned to his teary-eyed co-host and said, “I’m so sorry about that.”
My sweet Stella has gone to kitty heaven. I miss her so much. Here are some special memories of the 16 years we had together. pic.twitter.com/GF8f7vDeKy
— Vanna White (@TheVannaWhite) April 26, 2022
Fans were touched by the tribute and sent their condolences to White on Twitter, writing things like, “I want you to know we are so sorry. Show tribute was so touching,” and, “Dammit, ‘Wheel of Fortune’ making me get all weepy about Vanna’s cat Stella,” and, “Just over here with tears watching ‘Wheel of Fortune.’ A lovely tribute to Vanna White’s kitty Stella.”
Vanna’s followers on Instagram have been treated to pics of Stella over the years and will undoubtedly miss seeing photos of the beloved cat.
‘Wheel of Fortune’ trolls dragged for attacking Vanna White’s appearance
Vanna White’s fans rushed to her defense after online trolls attacked the longtime “Wheel of Fortune” co-host’s appearance at a recent golf event.
The beloved TV personality attended the PGA’s annual ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina last week.
A video of White, 69, speaking to a crowd at the tournament was shared on Instagram on May 6.
Vanna White (pictured here during a golf event in Myrtle Beach last week) had her looks criticized by Instagram trolls.
Instagram users made fun of the “Wheel of Fortune” star’s appearance at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina last week.
She dressed casually for the event, wearing a golf shirt and green pants with her iconic blond hair tied into a ponytail behind her back.
Rather than celebrate the “Wheel of Fortune” mainstay, several users rushed to the comments section to attack the mom of two over her laid-back look.
“Crazy how old she got. Look at her arms. I hate getting old,” one rude person wrote, while another added, “Her hands look 90.”
“Wow, I can’t believe how much she aged. She looks older than she is,” commented a third, while yet another disrespectful person wrote, “I think this is AI. I don’t believe she looks like this.”
White’s fans defended her from the online trolls and celebrated the “Wheel of Fortune” co-host’s “beautiful” looks.
White’s fans, however, quickly flooded the Instagram clip’s comments section to defend the “Wheel of Fortune” fashionista and celebrate how good she still looks.
“These comments are unbelievable,” one person wrote. “She’s a 69-year-old beautiful, kind woman whose highest priority in life has not been chasing every wrinkle, unlike most celebrities now. She’s an icon!”
“It’s sad when people make such rude comments about aging!” added another. “Vanna, you look great!”
“Love Vanna. Always so gracious. And beautiful,” shared a third, while a fourth commented, “She looks good. Aging gracefully. Doesn’t look phony and plastic.”
White’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
“She looks good. Aging gracefully,” another fan wrote of White (pictured here in 1975).
White (seen here with Pat Sajak in 1992) joined “Wheel of Fortune” in 1982.
The mom-of-two (pictured here with Sajak before he departed “Wheel of Fortune”) has served as the hit game show’s co-host for over 40 years.
The actress, who tied the knot with longtime partner John Donaldson in January, has co-hosted “Wheel of Fortune” for over 40 years.
She officially joined the show in December 1982 as the hit game show’s lovely letter-turner, and remained as co-host after Ryan Seacrest took over for longtime host Pat Sajak in September 2024.
But White wouldn’t be the only “Wheel of Fortune” star to get attacked over their appearance, because Seacrest was also criticized for his “sickly” look at a charity event earlier this month.
“Ryan, your fans are worried about your appearance,” one person wrote alongside snaps of the “American Idol” host, 51, at this year’s Taste for a Cure fundraiser. “You have lost your spark with the extensive weight loss.”
Ryan Seacrest (pictured here with White earlier this year) took over for Sajak upon the longtime host’s retirement two years ago.
Seacrest (seen here at a charity event on May 1) was also criticized for his looks during a fundraiser in Los Angeles earlier this month.
“Looks sickly,” commented another, while a third said that Seacrest looked “scary” at the charity event.
Fans, meanwhile, also rushed to Seacrest’s defense.
A source close to the “Wheel of Fortune” host told Page Six that he is “doing and looking fantastic” and “any stories saying otherwise are false.”
Pat Sajak shares rare life update after ‘Wheel of Fortune’ retirement
Pat Sajak shared a rare “update on life” in a video message posted to X.
“Hi! I know a lot of you have been wondering, asking me how I’m doing, and I’m enjoying life,” the 79-year-old said in the June 14 post. “I moved here to Montana and everything is going just great. So, I just want to say hello.”
In the video, the former “Wheel of Fortune” host stands in front of an oceanfront swimming pool framed by palm trees.
“You’ll have to excuse me, I have some cattle to attend to,” he added, in his signature deadpan delivery, before calling out, “Here, boy!” A “moo” sound effect followed.
The retirement update comes more than a year after Sajak stepped away from “Wheel of Fortune,” ending a four-decade run as the face of the syndicated game show. His final episode of the weeknight series aired in June 2024, and Ryan Seacrest succeeded him that September. Sajak remained involved with the franchise through “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” until the spinoff’s final episode aired in June 2025.
Since “Wheel of Fortune” debuted in syndication in 1983, Sajak had hosted the show alongside Vanna White, who remained with the program following his retirement.
Away from television, Sajak continues to serve as chairman of the Board of Trustees for Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts college in Michigan.
“Hillsdale College is fortunate to have an even closer relationship with Mr. Sajak,” a college representative previously told USA TODAY. “Since 2019, we have benefitted from his wisdom, intellect, and good humor as chairman of Hillsdale’s board of trustees. We look forward to continuing our important work together and to what we are sure will be a bright future for Mr. Sajak and his family.”
Sajak served as vice chairman of Hillsdale’s board from 2003 to 2019 before being named chairman in 2019.
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