MADE A FORTUNE

‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Wins Largest Prize in Show’s History

Only four others have won more than $1 million during the course of the show.

Wheel of Fortune contestant Christina Derevjanik won a $1,035,155 cash prize on Tuesday night, claiming the biggest personal payout in the show’s history. “I have no words!” Derevjanik, a Connecticut resident, shrieked when she won as confetti rained down on her. Hosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White celebrated Derevjanik’s win, hugging her and exclaiming their joy. Derevjanik told the hosts that she plans on using the money to pay off her student loans. In an interview after the show, she added that she’d love to be able to buy a house with her winnings and is looking forward to taking the trips she also won to Japan and Montana. “I can’t even believe that I can now pay things off [and] put stresses aside,” she said. Before winning the million dollars, Derevjanik joked that she would give her two weeks’ notice to her boss, who was in the audience, if she won the coveted prize. Excluding Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, in the show’s history, only three other contestants have even won more than $1 million: Michelle Loewenstein won $1.026 million in 2008, Autumn Erhard won $1.030 million in 2013 and Sarah Manchester won $1.017 million in 2014.

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