In a landmark moment for the long-running game show, new host Ryan Seacrest awarded his first-ever million-dollar prize on Wheel of Fortune, making contestant Christina Derevjanik the biggest winner in the show’s history. The emotional episode, which aired on September 30, 2024, saw the Connecticut woman take home a record-breaking $1,035,155 in total cash and prizes.
The Million-Dollar Moment
The historic win unfolded during the show’s bonus round. Christina Derevjanik, a marketing manager from Stamford, Connecticut, had already secured the coveted million-dollar wedge earlier in the game. After collecting $35,155 in cash and prizes—including trips to Montana and Tokyo—she advanced to the final round.
For the bonus puzzle, she selected the “Living Things” category and correctly solved “PACK OF COYOTES.” As confetti filled the studio, Ryan Seacrest opened the envelope revealing the $1 million prize, sparking cheers and emotional celebrations. Co-host Vanna White rushed over to hug the winner, saying, “I’m so happy for you!”
Seacrest, visibly moved, shared the significance of the moment with the winner.
“Congratulations, you’re my first million-dollar winner,” he told Christina, adding, “I have to wipe a tear off my eye.”
Christina Derevjanik’s Life-Changing Win
The victory was the culmination of a longtime dream for Christina, an avid puzzle solver and Wheel of Fortune fan who grew up playing the handheld version of the game. In a post-show interview, she described being in “complete shock.”
“As soon as the clock started, I just said [the answer] and for a second, I forgot about the million-dollar wedge. And then [Ryan Seacrest] opened it, and I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness. This is real,’” Derevjanik recalled.
The 34-year-old kept her massive win a secret for months after filming the episode in May, not even telling her new boyfriend, who found out only when the show aired. She held a viewing party in Stamford for the episode, while her boyfriend watched from Boston.
Derevjanik has practical plans for her winnings, which after taxes are expected to be about $660,000. She is considering taking a lump sum payment to achieve two major financial goals.
“The first thing that I am spending that on is getting rid of all my student loans,” she said. “It’s something that, you know, the last 15 years I’ve been out of college, I’ve just been like, ‘How am I ever going to pay this off?’ And now, it is just going to be such a relief and then hopefully, invest in a home in the next couple of years.”
Despite her joke on the show about quitting her job, she confirmed she will continue working in marketing for a utilities company. Her boss, who accompanied her to the Los Angeles taping, supported her throughout the experience.
Ryan Seacrest’s New Era on Wheel of Fortune
The million-dollar milestone marks a significant moment in Ryan Seacrest’s nascent hosting tenure. He took over as host in September 2024 after the retirement of legendary host Pat Sajak, who had helmed the show for more than 40 years. Seacrest’s debut season has already proven successful for the program, with the show reaching its highest season premiere viewership in three years and averaging nearly 8 million viewers during his first month.
Seacrest had previously expressed his excitement about the possibility of awarding a major prize, stating in a December interview that he was “hoping to give away a million dollars in 2025.” The achievement came slightly ahead of schedule, creating an unforgettable television moment.
Following the episode, Seacrest celebrated the record-breaking win on social media, writing, “Ecstatic doesn’t even cover it — my first million-dollar win just set a new Wheel record! Biggest win ever. Biggest grin ever. I’ll never forget this moment.”
Wheel of Fortune’s Million-Dollar History
Christina Derevjanik becomes only the fourth contestant in the regular series’ history to win the $1 million grand prize since the million-dollar wedge was introduced in 2008. The prize has been awarded only a handful of times before:
- Michelle Lowenstein was the first to win it in October 2008
- Autumn Erhard won in 2013
- Sarah Manchester won in 2014
- Melissa Joan Hart also won $1 million on a celebrity edition in 2021
Derevjanik’s total haul of $1,035,155 now stands as the largest overall prize in the show’s 42-year history. To claim the million-dollar prize, contestants must land on the special wedge during the main game, solve the puzzle successfully, and then make it to the bonus round without hitting bankruptcy.
Outside of her game show appearance, Derevjanik enjoys an active lifestyle that includes hiking with her dog Hazel, running half-marathons, and watching Hallmark movies. She plans to spoil her chocolate lab with her winnings and take her boyfriend on one of the trips she won.
The historic episode demonstrates the continued appeal of the classic game show under its new host and proves that life-changing wins remain possible for its contestants.
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