‘Wheel of Fortune’s 10 Biggest Winners Ever
They’ve made history! When it comes to Wheel of Fortune, winning big isn’t always a guarantee, but some players have fared very well over the years, taking home big cash prizes as Pat Sajak and Vanna White have looked on. Ryan Seacrest signed on in 2024 and got his first one million winner in his second season.
There have been four $1 million winners on the show. However, if you count Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, there are technically five. Melissa Joan Hart took home $1,039,800 for her charity.
With the reintroduction of the Champions Tournament in April 2026, a new champion has joined the ranks of the 10 highest winners.
Below are some of the biggest winners to date, ranked by their prize totals.
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10. Kathie and Carrie Kiker ($132,800)
Season 34, December 1, 2016
This mother and daughter team just so happened to pick up the $100,000 envelope.
They solved “Open Daily” and took home $132,800.
9. Jinger Lough ($133,555)
Season 39, May 26, 2022
The speech language pathologist’s solve of a difficult puzzle (“On the Bandwagon”) made her the seventh person in the show’s history to win $100,000 in the bonus round and her season the one with the most winners of that amount.
8. Scott Kolbrenner ($145,000)
Season 38, March 18, 2021
Wheel was running behind schedule when Kolbrenner, a charity volunteer from Encino, California, got to play. So maybe it was only right that he gave a quick response, “Flowing White Gown,” which earned him $100,000.
7. Cindy Kling ($147,000)
Season 30, December 28, 2012
Over a decade ago, Kling—a Snohomish, Washington, contract supervisor for Boeing— became the highest-earning non–million dollar winner after receiving $100,000 to add to her already stacked total. Her puzzle? “We Heard You.”
6. Chad Cabanilla ($183,723)
Season 43, April 22, 2026
Chad Cabanilla was part of the Spring Forward Champions Tournament the game show started in April. The flight attendant was the first multi-day (four) champion, and played five games.
Although he only solved one of his four Bonus Round puzzles, he took home six trips, and cemented himself on the top 10 leaderboard.
Cabanilla also gave Seacrest his first sweep since he started hosting.
5. Laura Trammel ($398,690)
Season 38, April 27, 2021
“There’s $100,000 out there and this week, there’s a home out there,” Sajak told the Orange County teacher before she spun for her bonus round. Trammel walked away with a Jimmy Buffet–inspired Margaritaville house in Florida, after correctly guessing “I Caught A Glimpse.”
4. Sarah Manchester ($1,017,490)
Season 32, September 17, 2014
“Loud Laughter” was Manchester’s puzzle answer and the Silver Spring, Maryland, math teacher did just that when she realized she was about to be welcomed into the game’s prestigious million dollar club. Coming only two seasons after Autumn Erhard’s victory, the achievement was met with a robust reaction from her family and the studio audience.
3. Michelle Loewenstein ($1,026,080)
Season 26, October 14, 2008
More than 15 years ago, a florist from Santa Monica made Wheel history as the first person to correctly solve her final puzzle (“Leaky Faucet”) and also pluck the prize envelope containing $1 million. “You’re gonna go shopping for that dog,” Sajak quipped, before an overwhelmed Loewenstein ran over to hug Vanna in a bout of excitement.
2. Autumn Erhard ($1,030,340)
Season 30, May 30, 2013
Sometimes a Wild Card pays off. If it hadn’t been for the extra consonant allotted to her thanks to a lucky spin during the regular game, Erhard, an animal pharmaceuticals sales representative from California, might not have answered her bonus round puzzle (“Tough Workout”) so easily. She became the show’s second contestant to win $1 million during Wheel’s milestone 30th season-—a cause for celebration in and of itself!
1. Christina Derevjanik ($1,035,155)
Season 43, September 30, 2025
Christina Derevjanik became the show’s highest winner ever when she guessed “Pack of Coyotes.”. She won $1,035,155 after landing on the One Million Dollar wedge and picking the right envelope on the wheel.
Derevjanik became Seacrest’s first one million dollar winner.
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