Air Force Veteran Loses $54,000 on 'Wheel of Fortune'

Fans call the episode 'brutal' after contestant Hope Kurtz misses the bonus round puzzle.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Hope Kurtz, an Air Force veteran, competed on a 'Wheel of Fortune' episode during Veterans week, where she won $14,211 in the main game. However, in the bonus round, she was unable to solve the puzzle 'Picking and Choosing,' missing out on an additional $40,000 prize.

Why it matters

The episode highlighted the unpredictable nature of game shows, where even experienced contestants can fall short of winning big prizes. Fans expressed sympathy for Kurtz, an Air Force veteran, who came so close to a life-changing $54,000 payday.

The details

Kurtz, a Florida resident who works as a medical technologist, was leading the game going into the bonus round. After being given the standard letters, she was unable to solve the puzzle in the time allotted, guessing incorrectly several times before time ran out.

  • The episode aired on February 17, 2026, during Wheel of Fortune's Veterans week programming.

The players

Hope Kurtz

An Air Force veteran from Palm City, Florida, who works as a medical technologist and was the night's big winner with $14,211.

Ryan Seacrest

The host of Wheel of Fortune.

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What’s next

Wheel of Fortune fans will likely continue to discuss and debate the outcome of this episode, analyzing Kurtz's performance and the difficulty of the bonus round puzzle.

The takeaway

This episode serves as a reminder that even experienced game show contestants can fall short of victory, highlighting the unpredictable nature of these programs and the heartbreak that can come with narrowly missing out on life-changing prizes.