Christina Derevjanik became the fifth player in “Wheel of Fortune” history to win $1 million on Tuesday’s show ― and she barely broke a sweat. (Watch the video below.)
The Connecticut contestant, who had obtained the $1 million wedge during regular play, joked before the bonus round that she might put in her two weeks’ notice at work if she won all of it.
The category was “Living Things.”
Here was the board after the initial selection of letters.
The player then chose M, C, F and A, changing the board to this:
Host Ryan Seacrest started the 10-second clock, but Derevjanik took a mere instant to guess. “Pack of coyotes,” she said.
She screamed in glee at winning the round but then erupted in a volcano of happiness when Seacrest revealed the $1 million marker.
Confetti rained. She hugged Seacrest. She hugged Vanna White.
“I can pay off my student loans,” she said.
Derevjanik later told “Good Morning America” she didn’t quit her marketing job for a utilities company and will also buy a home with her winnings in addition to paying off her debt.
Her grand total came out to $1,035,155, which several outlets claimed was the highest sum ever won on “Wheel.”
Seacrest revealed she was the show’s first $1 million-plus winner since he became host.
Not bad for a day’s work.
