Vanna White

Vanna Marie Rosich, better known as Vanna White, was born on February 18, 1957, and is known for her talent and timeless beauty. She has been a household name in the U.S. since the early 1980s with her appearance on television shows. Alongside being a longtime host of this show, White did plenty of work in the acting field, appearing in several movies and television shows over the years. She also worked as a model and all these roles formed a quintessential success story for aspiring starlets to emulate!

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Vanna Marie Rosich

Birth date:

February 18, 1957

Age:

67

Zodiac Sign:

Aquarius

Height:

5' 6"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$70 million

Vanna's Social Media:

Background

Vanna White was born on February 18, 1957, as Vanna Marie Rosich in Horry County, South Carolina, U.S.A. Her parents were Joan Marie and Miguel Angel Rosich. However, the couple parted ways early on in her infancy. She was, therefore, raised near North Myrtle Beach in Horry County by her mother and stepfather Herbert White Jr. As a result, she took her stepdad’s surname and became Vanna White.

After finishing her high school education, White swiftly moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend The Atlanta School of Fashion and Design. During this period, White also worked as a model. Interestingly, she was a contestant in the 1978 beauty pageant Miss Georgia U.S.A. Then, in 1979, she landed in Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. However, her elation was soon interrupted in 1980 when her mother lost her life to ovarian cancer.

Soon afterward, White’s life took a turn for the better when she first appeared on the game show “The Price is Right.” The episode aired on June 20, 1980. In 1982, White became a co-host on the “Wheel of Fortune” — the breakthrough moment in her career. In 1990, she married George Santo Pietro — a real estate investor and restaurateur. The couple had two children and decided to call it quits in 2002. Despite her fame as a television mainstay for decades, White successfully kept her personal life under wraps. However, she found love in 2012 when she met her current boyfriend, John Donaldson.

Career timeline

1980
The Film Debut

White stars as Mickey in the film “Gypsy Angels.”

1987
The Autobiography is Written

White releases her autobiography “Vanna Speaks,” poking fun at her almost-silent role on the famous television game show.

1987
The Appearance on “Playboy”

The May issue of the magazine features White on its cover, which leads to two lawsuits and leaves Americans stunned.

1992
The Pregnancy Announcement

White reveals her pregnancy on her T.V. show with a solved puzzle saying “Vanna is pregnant.”

2006
The Walk of Fame Inductee

White finally receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Why We Love Vanna White

  1. White is a tough woman

    In her lifetime, White has dealt with several controversies, losses, and heartbreaks, such as the sudden demise of her fiancé John Gibson in a plane crash. However, she remained resilient, navigated every setback, and came out stronger than ever.

  2. She admits making mistakes

    White has reflected on her “Playboy” fiasco, saying that she “made a mistake” and regrets the pictures. She also explained that the images were taken at a time when she struggled to make ends meet.

  3. She is a philanthropist

    When creating her yarn line, she decided that she wanted to give back. She donates half the proceeds from the sales to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. White is a crochet enthusiast

    She has a line of yarns named Vanna’s Choice, Vanna’s Palettes, and Vanna’s Glamour.

  2. She sued “Playboy”

    White stopped her pictures from going to print by suing the company and Hugh Hefner.

  3. White took Samsung to court

    In another bold move, she sued Samsung Electronics for identity appropriation in an advertisement.

  4. She takes her looks seriously

    In over 35 years of filming “Wheel of Fortune,” White never repeated an outfit.

  5. She has a world record

    She is the world’s most frequent clapper in the “Guinness Book of World Records,” with a total of 3,480,864 claps in over 30 seasons of her T.V. game show.

Vanna White FAQs

What is Vanna White’s salary on “Wheel of Fortune”?

Although the exact figures are unknown, White’s estimated earnings stand at about $34,000 per show.

Who is White’s, current husband?

As of 2022, White is unmarried.

What was the first letter that White ever turned on “Wheel of Fortune”?

The first letter that White ever turned on her show was “T”.

Vanna White’s birthday dates

YearDateDay
2025February 18Tuesday
2026February 18Wednesday
2027February 18Thursday
2028February 18Friday
2029February 18Sunday

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