Pat Sajak’s Daughter Maggie Sajak Preps for ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Hosting Debut: 5 Things to Know
Credit: Carol Kaelson/Paramount
Keeping it in the family! Pat Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak, is gearing up to make her Wheel of Fortune hosting debut. The 28-year-old Maryland native — whose 76-year-old father has emceed the game show since 1981 — is slated to fill in for her dad and his cohost, Vanna White, during the Wednesday, May 10, episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. “Warming up for Wednesday,” Maggie captioned a Monday, May 8, Boomerang of herself walking in front of the show’s famous puzzle board. In the clip, which she shared via her Instagram Story, Maggie wore a yellow long-sleeve blouse tucked into a black miniskirt and black high-heeled shoes. During Wednesday’s episode, Pat and White will face off against Jeopardy! cohosts Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings in a special episode dubbed “Ultimate Host Night.” All proceeds from the episode, which marks White’s first time competing on the game show, will be donated to charity. Bialik, 47, shared a teaser for the pre-taped show via Instagram on Monday. “I hope to make Vanna proud,” Maggie says in the clip, dressed in a floor-length red gown. Her father then replies, “I think I’m gonna cry.” The law student also appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Monday to promote her hosting gig, serving as the clubhouse’s “bartender” for the evening. [sendtonews type=”float” key=”mJySIXEjIt-2832930-14453″] Since 2021, Maggie has been Wheel of Fortune’s sole social correspondent, providing viewers with behind-the-scenes information about the program. “The Wheel of Fortune staff and crew have always been like an extended family and I’m thrilled to be working with them,” she said in a statement about her role shared via the show’s website. “It’s a real privilege to be able to treat the show’s longtime viewers to a look at what goes on when the cameras aren’t rolling. Plus, I get to use the carpool lane with my father!” In addition to Maggie, Pat shares son Patrick Sajak, 32, with wife Lesly Brown, whom he wed in 1989. In December 2022, the Daytime Emmy winner drew backlash after he quipped during an episode of Wheel of Fortune that his daughter was “actually a good host” while discussing their family’s Christmas trivia game. “They are so grooming Maggie Sajak to take over for Vanna. Nepotism at its best!” one Reddit user wrote at the time. Another viewer chimed in: “Yup! Thought they could just slip her in. It would be great if someone else had the chance to prove themselves.” Despite fans’ speculation that Pat or White might be passing the baton to Maggie soon, both cohosts have renewed their contracts with the show through the 2023-2024 season. Keep scrolling for everything to know about Maggie ahead of her hosting debut:
Credit: Carol Kaelson/Paramount
Pat Sajak’s Daughter Maggie Sajak Preps for ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Hosting Debut: 5 Things to Know
Keeping it in the family! Pat Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak, is gearing up to make her Wheel of Fortune hosting debut. The 28-year-old Maryland native — whose 76-year-old father has emceed the game show since 1981 — is slated to fill in for her dad and his cohost, Vanna White, during the Wednesday, May 10, episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. “Warming up for Wednesday,” Maggie captioned a Monday, May 8, Boomerang of herself walking in front of the show’s famous puzzle board. In the clip, which she shared via her Instagram Story, Maggie wore a yellow long-sleeve blouse tucked into a black miniskirt and black high-heeled shoes. During Wednesday’s episode, Pat and White will face off against Jeopardy! cohosts Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings in a special episode dubbed “Ultimate Host Night.” All proceeds from the episode, which marks White’s first time competing on the game show, will be donated to charity. Bialik, 47, shared a teaser for the pre-taped show via Instagram on Monday. “I hope to make Vanna proud,” Maggie says in the clip, dressed in a floor-length red gown. Her father then replies, “I think I’m gonna cry.” The law student also appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Monday to promote her hosting gig, serving as the clubhouse’s “bartender” for the evening. [sendtonews type=”float” key=”mJySIXEjIt-2832930-14453″] Since 2021, Maggie has been Wheel of Fortune’s sole social correspondent, providing viewers with behind-the-scenes information about the program. “The Wheel of Fortune staff and crew have always been like an extended family and I’m thrilled to be working with them,” she said in a statement about her role shared via the show’s website. “It’s a real privilege to be able to treat the show’s longtime viewers to a look at what goes on when the cameras aren’t rolling. Plus, I get to use the carpool lane with my father!” In addition to Maggie, Pat shares son Patrick Sajak, 32, with wife Lesly Brown, whom he wed in 1989. In December 2022, the Daytime Emmy winner drew backlash after he quipped during an episode of Wheel of Fortune that his daughter was “actually a good host” while discussing their family’s Christmas trivia game. “They are so grooming Maggie Sajak to take over for Vanna. Nepotism at its best!” one Reddit user wrote at the time. Another viewer chimed in: “Yup! Thought they could just slip her in. It would be great if someone else had the chance to prove themselves.” Despite fans’ speculation that Pat or White might be passing the baton to Maggie soon, both cohosts have renewed their contracts with the show through the 2023-2024 season. Keep scrolling for everything to know about Maggie ahead of her hosting debut:
Credit: Courtesy of Maggie Sajak/Instagram
Has Maggie Sajak Been on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Before?
Pat’s daughter has served as Wheel of Fortune’s social correspondent since 2021 and has made multiple appearances on the show. In January 2020, she took over puzzle board duties for one week as White hosted while Pat recovered from emergency surgery for a blocked intestine.
During an appearance on Good Morning America that month, Maggie said it was “bittersweet” to appear on the series during her father’s health scare.
“I’d like to say I was a trooper at the beginning. I wasn’t,” she said. “But I pulled myself together, and I’m just so happy he’s back in action and doing what he does.”
Credit: Courtesy of Maggie Sajak/Instagram
Where Did Maggie Sajak Go to School?
The television personality graduated from Princeton and earned a postgraduate degree from Columbia. She is currently in her final year of law school.
Credit: ROGUT/starmaxinc.com/Shutterstock
What Has Maggie Sajak Said About Hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune?’
“I hope to make Vanna proud,” Maggie said in a teaser for Wednesday’s “Ultimate Host Night” shared via Bialik’s Instagram page.
Credit: Courtesy Maggie Sajak/Instagram
What Else Does Maggie Sajak Do?
In addition to her social correspondent gig and furthering her education, Maggie is a musician. She released her debut single, “First Kiss,” in 2011. The song’s music video was featured in a January 2012 episode of Wheel of Fortune.
Credit: Courtesy of Maggie Sajak/Instagram
Is Maggie Sajak Close to Her Father Pat Sajak?
Maggie has shared many glimpses into her and Pat’s father-daughter dynamic. In a November 2022 Instagram video, she asked her dad what it was like for him when she went away to college.
“The daddy’s girl is gone and it’s very hard, you try to be brave and all that stuff,” Pat recalled in the clip. He then joked about the perils of moving Maggie in and out of her various dorm rooms, one of which was on the fifth floor. “Basically, what I remember is my bad back,” he quipped.
