‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host Pat Sajak Says Game Show Allowed Him to Be a Better Father

“Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak shared an emotional moment with his daughter Maggie Sajak as he prepares for his 43-year career as host of the hit game show to come to an end.
As of 2021, Maggie, 29, works alongside her 77-year-old father as a social correspondent for “Wheel of Fortune” and “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.” Maggie produces digital content for fans of the shows, including exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes looks, and sneak peeks at special events.
On Wednesday, the show’s Instagram account uploaded a clip of an interview Maggie did with Pat to commemorate her final week on the show. During the interview, Maggie jokingly asked her father how she felt about working with her “favorite daughter,” to which he responded with a laugh.
‘WHEEL OF FORTUNE’ HOST PAT SAJAK’S DAUGHTER MAGGIE TAKES VIEWERS BEHIND THE SCENES BEFORE HER FINAL SHOW
“Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak talked about working with his daughter Maggie on the show. (Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty Images)
She went on to say that he had a “non-traditional job” with “non-traditional hours,” but noted that it allowed the TV personality to spend more time at home and “really raise” her and her brother Patrick, 33. years. Sajak shares Maggie and Patrick with his wife Lesley, whom he married in 1989.
“I like to say I’ve had 40 years of part-time work, pretending it was full-time,” he said. “I could watch them grow up and go to games and all that kind of stuff that work might have kept me away from.”
He continued, “I mean, you’ve been a part of this show forever. I dragged you out when you were one year old and we were in Hawaii.”
In 1996, Maggie made her first television appearance during an episode of “Wheel of Fortune”, joining her father on stage after celebrating her first birthday.
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Before taking on her role as social correspondent, she filled in for the legendary Vanna White for a week in 2020, as White hosted the show in Pat’s place while he underwent surgery.
In 2023, he once again replaced White as the person who flipped the cards on “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” during an episode in which White competed on the show.
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Sajak noted that he had been able to spend even more time with his daughter after she became a full-time staff member on the show.
“Now when you work here, I’m with three of my favorite women in the world,” he said. “When I’m here, I’m with you, your mother, and Vanna, and I have a pretty good life.”

Maggie Sajak, right, replaced Vanna White while hosting at Pat Sajak’s house. (Photo by OGUT/Star Max/GC Images)
“So you saw us a lot before, but you know,” Maggie said.
“Yeah, but now I’ll never stay away from you,” he joked. “It’s funny. People… I bet they think I burst in one day and said, ‘I want my daughter to work on the show.’ I wish I could take credit for it, but I had nothing to do with it.”
“I thought you demanded it,” he joked.
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“Yeah, that’s what I did,” Sajak said as her daughter laughed. “I came in furious.”
“No, it’s obviously been a great pleasure for me to work with you,” he told her.

Pat Sajak’s farewell episode will air on Friday. (Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty Images)
After more than four decades as a host, Sajak’s final episode will air on Friday, June 7. The farewell episode was recorded on April 5.
In June 2023, Sajak announced that he would be leaving the show.
“Well, the time has come,” he wrote in a statement. “I have decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be our last. It has been a wonderful journey and I will have more to say in the coming months. Thank you all so much. (If nothing else, it will keep the clickbait sites busy! )”.
Shortly after the news broke, it was announced that Ryan Seacrest would be taking over as host for season 42.
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