Ryan Seacrest driving Wheel of Fortune bosses ‘crazy’ by refusing long-term deal

Wheel of Fortune executives are trying to lock Ryan Seacrest down with a long-term contract, due to all the success he’s brought the hit game show.

Wheel of Fortune guest looses $1m on game

The bosses at Wheel of Fortune are trying to lock Ryan Seacrest down with a long-term contract, due to all the success he’s brought the hit game show.

However, Seacrest is said to be driving them “crazy” and is causing some difficulties when it comes to negotiating a new contract.

Seacrest was allegedly handed a salary worth five times more than co-host Vanna White before he even scored ratings highs when he took over for Pat Sajak in September.

Wheel of Fortune’s Season 42 premiere week averaged 8.31 million viewers an episode, the highest premiere week ratings in five years, and with all of that early success, executives are trying to tie him down for good, dangling a $50 million salary in his face.

However, that success has only seemed to have made Seacrest feel he has some negotiating power.

Ryan Seacrest’s Wheel of Fortune contract needs negotiating. (Image: Getty)

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His bosses want him to drop some of his other endeavors and focus more on the show, although they’re okay with him continuing to host American Idol, which he’s done since the early 2000s.

“The powers that be over at Wheel of Fortune don’t want him stretched to the limit and want his full and undivided attention on the show,” a source told Closer Weekly.

“It’s okay he hosts American Idol, they can’t change that, but they want him to scale down his other endeavors and tie him up in a binding contract,” they said.

Along with hosting Idol, Seacrest has also hosted Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve since 2004, plus he has daily radio show On Air with Ryan Seacrest.

He also serves as an executive producer on Hulu’s The Kardashians and Live With Kelly and Mark, and has a number of other business ventures.

The source added: “They see Ryan as the future, but Ryan’s not the kind of guy to lock in and sign here.”

Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest have been cohosting Wheel of Fortune since September. (Image: ABC)

“He wants freedom and control and refuses to be pigeon-holed, and his obstinate stance is driving bosses crazy,” the source added.

The host only initially signed a two-year contract with Wheel of Fortune so far.

Seacrest’s began hosting Wheel of Fortune in September and while many were hesitant about him replacing Sajak, he quickly brough the show success.

Things got off to a massive start when the Season 42 premiere drew in 9.63 million viewers, marking the highest season premiere for the show in nine years, and nearly double the previous season premiere.

The show also boasted a household rating of 4.88.

The Season 41 premiere – Sajak’s last – drew in 5.68 million viewers last September.

Now, Seacrest has some big plans for the 50th anniversary of Wheel of Fortune, including hopefully giving away some big money to a lucky contestant.

Speaking to Good Morning America, he revealed he wants to give someone a lot of money during the special event.

Seacrest admitted he wants to try and reward one lucky winner a million dollars-the fourth time it would happen in the show’s history.

“I plan to walk out and give away a lot of money to celebrate the 50 years,” he said.

“Hopefully we give away a million dollars. I want that million dollar wedge to make it to the end so somebody gets to win that.”

Touching on the show’s legacy, he added: “But just the fact that it’s been a part of my life in so many people’s lives for so long, is special,” he added.

“With great memories thinking about ‘Wheel of Fortune’ growing up, and I want to create more great memories as it goes forward.”