Pat Sajak is gearing up for his final spin.
The veteran entertainer, 75, says he’s almost at “the end” of his time on “Wheel of Fortune” after serving 41 years as host.
Sajak made the shocking admission in an interview with “Entertainment Tonight” on Thursday. “We’re getting near the end. It’s been a long [time]. We’re not gonna do this for another 40 years. The end is near,” he said.
He added, “It’s an honor to have been in people’s living rooms for that long. We’re happy and proud.”
“Wheel of Fortune” first premiered back in 1975, with Sajak hired as host in December 1981. Vanna White, 65, was brought on as co-host in 1982. The duo have shared the screen together for the past 40 years.
Last year, Today reported that Sajak and White had signed a lucrative deal to continue co-hosting together until partway through 2024 — but Sajak’s new comments could indicate they’re seeking an early exit from the gig.
“Wheel of Fortune” fans shouldn’t despair, however, with Sajak saying the show is likely to continue long after he and White step off the set.
“In most television shows by this time, you would have said, ‘That’s probably enough,’ but this show will not die,” he explained. “It appears I may go before the show.”
It’s not the first time Sajak has addressed retirement rumors, telling “Entertainment Tonight” last September that he couldn’t foresee himself spending another decade on “Wheel of Fortune.”
“We’re certainly closer to the end than the beginning,” Sajak stated at the time. “I’d like to leave before people tune in and look at me and say, ‘Ooh, what happened to him? I wouldn’t bet on seeing us in, like, 10 years, I would say.”
White was also interviewed, and expressed a similar sentiment.
The blonde beauty said she would “probably” leave the program before the decade is out, before paying tribute to her co-host.
“We’ve been together for like 38 years and he’s like my brother,” she said of Sajak. “He’s funny. I mean, we could finish each other’s sentences if we wanted to. We know each other that well.”
It may be hard, however, for the well-paid pair to give up their plum roles. According to reports, each makes eight figures per year. Back in 2016, Sajak was reportedly making $15 million per year, while White raked in $10 million. It’s likely they’ll make even more money now after renewing their contracts last year.
It’s possible “Wheel of Fortune” has spent too much of its budget on its stars, with fans recently railing about the show’s new look.
One viewer claimed updates to the show’s puzzle board made the program look “cheap.”
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