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Wheel of Fortune contestant Rhea Mathew got a major surprise while competing on the show this week.
On Thursday, January 9, hosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White revealed that they helped Rhea’s boyfriend Robin propose.
“We’re celebrating milestones in honor of our 50th anniversary and actually had one happen earlier in the week right here on the set,” Seacrest, 50, shared in a video that was uploaded to Instagram.
“Robin, the boyfriend of former contestant Rhea, reached out for our help in asking her a big question,” White added, pointing out that they “created a bit of a ruse, making Rhea think she was back to celebrate Wheel‘s 50th.” (She had previously competed in October 2023.)
The video then cuts to Rhea solving a puzzle that reads: “Will you marry me?” — not knowing it was real. “Nicely done,” Wheel of Fortune‘s announcer Jim Thornton responded to her win of $2000.
Right after she correctly guesses, Robin walks out from the backstage area, as Rhea gasps in shock.
“Rhea Susan Mathew, will you marry me?” he asks, kneeling. Rhea tries to hold back tears as she nods yes, and the two share a heartfelt hug.
The video then jumps back to Seacrest and White reacting to the surprise. “You never know what’s going to happen around here,” White, 67, says.
Since Wheel of Fortune uploaded their proposal, Rhea honored the special moment by commenting on the post. “AHHH thank you thank you thank you for making this into a reality!!! 🥹🥹🥹 beyond even my wildest of dreams!!” she wrote.
Although Seacrest mentioned that the proposal happened earlier in the week, Rhea and Robin shared their official engagement photos on Instagram on December 19, 2024, so the moment was likely captured before then. “Forever was always with you 💍💕,” Rhea captioned.
Wheel of Fortune will be celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2025 by sprinkling in special moments. During the Tuesday, January 7 episode, Seacrest brought out the former host Pat Sajak for a surprise appearance, after Sajak, 78, retired in June 2024.
New episodes air on weeknights on ABC.
