‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host Pat Sajak Says ‘The End Is Near’ After 40 Years

Pat Sajak appears ready for his last spin on Wheel of Fortune. “In most television shows by this time, you would have said, ‘That’s probably enough,’ but this show will not die,” Sajak, 75, told Entertainment Tonight.

Wheel of Fortune began in 1975, and Sajak joined in 1981. Alongside co-host Vanna White, 65, Sajak has become a beloved fixture of the series. Reflecting on his future, Sajak remarked, “It appears I may go before the show.”

“It’s an honor to have been in people’s living rooms for that long. People were out there welcoming us. We’re happy and proud,” said Sajak, who also hosts the show’s Celebrity Wheel of Fortune spin-off, with Meryl Streep being his dream guest. “Years go by fast,” Sajak acknowledged. “We’re getting near the end. It’s been a long [time]. We’re not gonna do this for another 40 years. The end is near.”

Sajak celebrated his 40-year hosting anniversary in December, with a tribute from his daughter, Maggie. “Happy 40th Wheel-iversary to this guy!” she tweeted alongside a throwback photo. “On this day in 1981, @patsajak hosted his very first episode of @WheelofFortune… and the rest is history!” The only time Sajak stepped away from the series was to undergo surgery, giving White a chance to host.