Net Worth Ranker
What Is Pat Sajak’s Net Worth?
Pat Sajak, a well-known television personality, actor, and game show host, has accumulated a substantial net worth of $75 million. His primary source of wealth stems from his long-standing role as the host of “Wheel of Fortune,” a position he has held since 1981.
Pat Sajak’s “Wheel of Fortune” Salary and Earnings
Sajak’s annual salary for hosting “Wheel of Fortune” is $15 million. In comparison, Vanna White, his co-star, earns $3 million per year. They also generate significant income through licensing their images for use in casino slot machines. Prior to her salary renegotiation in 2023, White earned more from casino licensing than from her “Wheel of Fortune” salary.
In 2023, Sajak announced his retirement from “Wheel of Fortune,” effective in 2024, after hosting the show’s 41st season. Ryan Seacrest was named as his replacement. The show tapes for four days each month, with six shows recorded per day, two Thursdays and two Fridays. On these taping days, both Sajak and White arrive around 8:30 AM, with filming commencing at noon. A single audience views three shows before a lunch break, followed by a second audience for the remaining three tapings. Annually, this amounts to 48 workdays for both hosts. Sajak’s earnings break down to approximately $312,500 per workday, or $52,083 per show.
Beyond his salary, a significant portion of Sajak’s income is derived from licensing his image for casino slot machines. “Wheel of Fortune” was the first entertainment property licensed for slot machines, debuting in Las Vegas casinos in 1996. These machines quickly became popular, leading to worldwide licensing. It is estimated that there are 20,000 “Wheel of Fortune” slot machines in casinos globally, generating over $1 billion in gross revenue annually in Las Vegas alone, and over $2 billion worldwide. Sajak and White each earn at least $15 million annually from these royalties and licensing fees.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Patrick Leonard Sajdak, born on October 26, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, began his media career while attending Columbia College in Chicago in the 1960s. He secured a role as a news anchor at the local radio station WEDC. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War in 1968, working as a deejay on Armed Forces Radio. After his return, he continued as a DJ for stations in Kentucky and Nashville (WSM). At WSM’s sister station, WSN-TV, he began his on-screen career as a voiceover artist, anchoring five-minute newscasts during NBC’s “Today Show,” and serving as a weekend and substitute weatherman.
In 1977, Sajak transitioned to KNBC-TV in Los Angeles as a full-time weatherman. In 1981, Merv Griffin, the creator of “Wheel of Fortune,” offered him the opportunity to host the game show, replacing Chuck Woolery. Despite initial resistance from NBC’s CEO, Fred Silverman, who deemed Sajak “too local,” Griffin threatened to halt all new tapings until Sajak was hired.
Other Ventures and Appearances
Sajak has also ventured into other areas of the entertainment industry. He made an appearance in the 1982 comedy film “Airline II: The Sequel” as a Buffalo, New York, newscaster. He hosted his own short-lived late-night talk show on CBS, “The Pat Sajak Show,” which premiered in January 1989 and ended in April 1990. He also made multiple appearances on “Super Password” as a guest host, as well as “Password Plus,” from 1984 to 1989. Additionally, he guest-hosted the game shows “Just Men!” and “Dream House.” He regularly substituted for Regis Philbin on “Live with Regis and Kelly.”
In 2003, Sajak hosted “Pat Sajak Weekend” on Fox News and “The Pat Sajak Baseball Hour,” a syndicated radio sports talk show. In 2005, he became an investor in the Golden Baseball League, an independent professional baseball league. He serves on the board of trustees and as vice chairman at Hillsdale College in southern Michigan. He is an External Director of Eagle Publishing, a conservative publishing house. Sajak is a regular contributor to the conservative blog ricochet.com and began writing for the “National Review Online” in 2010. He is also the author of several puzzle games, including 2007’s Lucky Letters.
Pop Culture References
Sajak’s impact on popular culture is evident through various parodies and appearances. In the ’80s, he was parodied in a “Sesame Street” sketch featuring a muppet named Pat Playjacks hosting “Squeal of Fortune.” Martin Short based his character Ed Grimley on Sajak in the sketch comedy shows “SCTV” and “Saturday Night Live.” In 1992, he guest-starred in the television show “The Commish.” In 1993, he appeared on “Days of Our Lives” and as himself in the children’s cartoon “Rugrats.” Sajak and Vanna White portrayed themselves in an episode of the NBC sitcom “227” in 1986. In 2001, he appeared as himself on “The King of Queens.” He also made a cameo in an episode of season four of “The A-Team.”
Personal Life and Real Estate
Sajak married photographer Lesly Brown in December 1989 in Annapolis, Maryland. He was previously married from 1979 to 1986. He and Lesly have two children: a son, Patrick Michael James Sajak, born in 1990, and a daughter, Maggie Marie Sajak, born in 1995. Maggie is an aspiring country singer. Sajak is known to be a climate change skeptic and supports Young America’s Foundation. The Sajak family are members of the Churches of Christ. In November 2019, he underwent emergency bowel surgery and returned to work three weeks later, on December 5, 2019.
In June 1988, Sajak purchased a home in Encino, Los Angeles, for $1.895 million. The 6-bedroom, 6-bathroom house spans nearly 7,000 square feet and sits on 3.9 acres of property, estimated to be worth $7-10 million today. In 1991, Pat and Lesly acquired a 3-acre waterfront property in Severna Park, Maryland, for $1.275 million, where they built a 6,500-square-foot mansion.
