Wheel of Fortune host Ryan Seacrest cried tears of joy for his first-ever $1 million dollar winner Christina Derevjanik on the Sept. 30 episode, with her grand total being the most money ever given.
On the Sept. 30 episode of Wheel of Fortune, the TV show host got to award his first ever million-dollar prize to a contestant—and it was just the fifth time ever in the series’ history that someone has scored the million.
The lucky winner was Christina Derevjanik, who left with a grand total of $1,035,155 along with other prizes including a “luxurious cabin retreat” in Montana and a trip to Tokyo—the most money ever awarded in the show’s 42-year history.
Christina had already picked up the million-dollar game piece, and when she beat out her fellow contestants to move on to the final round, she had the chance to take home the winnings. In the category “Living Things,” she won with the answer “Pack of Coyotes.”
As confetti started pouring down following the correct guess, Christina embraced Ryan in a very enthusiastic hug before going on to hug Vanna White as the speaker made the official announcement.
“I’m in tears,” Ryan said to Christina and Vanna as he held up her final piece saying “one million,” speaking to them as the crowd went wild and continuing, “You’re a millionaire!”
With his arm around her, she smiled in shock and happy tears as Ryan announced her final total.
“Congratulations,” Ryan told her. “You’re my first $1 million dollar winner.”
He then quipped, “I have to wipe a tear off my eye!”
From Stamford, Conn., Christina shared in her introduction that she loves “going out for hikes with my dog,” “running” and “sitting out by the water with a nice glass of wine.” She even shared she had run 11 half-marathons and one full marathon. But on a typical weekday evening, she can be found, “8 p.m., glass of wine, Hallmark channel.”
The last person to win $1 million in the franchise was Melissa Joan Hart on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune in 2021. Before that, Sarah Manchester last earned the grand prize in 2014, while Autumn Erhard won it in 2013 and Michelle Loewenstein in 2008.
And while Ryan may be new at the game show—joining in 2024 after Pat Sajak‘s retirement—he’s held plenty more roles in Hollywood over the years. For a look at his career, read on.
‘Wheel of Fortune’ winner vows: ‘I may be putting in my two weeks’ (notice)’
Derevjanik had told Seacrest earlier in the show that her boss was in the studio audience, and that if she won $1 million, “I may be putting in my two weeks’ (notice). But we won’t tell her that yet.”
After winning, Derevjanik passed on a laughing message to her boss. “We’ll have a discussion once I get back to the office,” she said.
The episode will stream on Peacock, Hulu, and Disney+ starting Oct. 1.
The first $1 million “Wheel of Fortune” grand prize was won by Michelle Lowenstein in October 2008, when Pat Sajak was host. Autumn Erhard won in May 2013, and Sarah Manchester was the most recent winner, more than a decade ago, in September 2014.
Sajak retired after 41 seasons as host in June 2024. Seacrest took over as “Wheel of Fortune” host in Sept. 2024.
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