Wheel of Fortune Contestant Wins Record-Breaking $1 Million Prize

On September 30th, 2025, Wheel of Fortune contestant Christina Derevjanik from Stamford, Connecticut made history by winning the show's largest prize ever. Derevjanik took home a staggering $1,035,155 in cash and prizes, becoming the fourth player in the game show's 43-year history to win the million-dollar grand prize.

Derevjanik's record-breaking victory came under the new hosting tenure of Ryan Seacrest, who took over the show in 2024. Seacrest was visibly emotional as he revealed Derevjanik as the first million-dollar winner since he joined the program. Vanna White, the show's longtime co-host, also expressed her joy, exclaiming "I'm so happy for you!" to the Connecticut woman.

After her big win, Derevjanik confessed that she had been actively "trying to manifest" the life-changing prize. Her journey to the million-dollar prize included winning trips to Montana and Tokyo, as well as accumulating $35,155 in cash and additional prizes. In the final bonus round, Derevjanik successfully solved the puzzle "PACK OF COYOTES" to clinch the record-breaking jackpot.