The Top 10 Wheel of Fortune Moments and Brain Busters That Had America on the Edge of Our Seats

The Million Dollar Guess

In 2013, Autumn Erhard, a 30-year-old sales representative from California, made history by solving the bonus round puzzle “Tough Workout” with only a few letters revealed. Autumn won a total of $1,030,340 in cash and prizes, including a trip to Belize. Watch the clip of this incredible moment below.

The One-Letter Wonder

Caitlin Burke, a 26-year-old fashion editor from New Jersey, stunned the audience and host Pat Sajak when she solved the seven-word puzzle “I’ve Got a Good Feeling About This” with just one letter (“L”) revealed. She later confessed that she had been practicing her puzzle-solving skills by watching the show every night with her family. Watch Caitlin’s unforgettable moment below.

The Last-Second Comeback

Matt DeSanto, a 27-year-old retail worker from Pennsylvania, was trailing behind the entire game. In the final round, with only one letter “E” revealed, he managed to solve the three-word puzzle “The Lone Ranger” in just a few seconds. The shocked host, Pat Sajak, congratulated Matt on his miraculous comeback, which earned him a trip to London and over $91,000 in cash and prizes.

The Unlikely Sweep

Robert Santoli, a 23-year-old recent college graduate, took Wheel of Fortune by storm in 2018. Robert had studied previous episodes and identified patterns in the puzzles, which helped him win all three rounds plus the bonus round. He left the show with a whopping $76,086 in cash and prizes, including a cruise to the Bahamas. Watch this shocking moment below.

The Record-Breaking Bonus Round

Michelle Loewenstein, a 24-year-old newlywed and floral designer, made history in 2017 when she won a record-breaking $1,026,080 in the bonus round. The puzzle “Leaky Faucet” seemed impossible, but Michelle managed to solve it with just a few letters. Interestingly, her win came shortly after the show introduced the $1 million prize wedge. See this record-breaking moment below.

The Perfect Game

In 2014, Emil De Leon, a 25-year-old nursing student from California, astounded the audience and host alike when he solved the final puzzle “New Baby Buggy” with only two letters (“N” and “E”) revealed. He managed to guess the correct answer in just seconds, leaving Pat Sajak in disbelief. Emil’s performance was so impressive that it was dubbed a “perfect game.” Watch the moment Emil solves this puzzle below.

The Wheel Genius

Kevin Jones, a 30-year-old financial analyst from Ohio, demonstrated extraordinary puzzle-solving skills during his 2012 appearance on Wheel of Fortune. Kevin showcased his quick thinking and intuition throughout the game, ultimately winning over $60,000 in cash and prizes, including a luxurious trip to Jamaica. His performance is still regarded as one of the most impressive in the show’s history. Watch his jaw-dropping performance here.

The Double Millionaire

Michelle Lowenstein first appeared on Wheel of Fortune in 2008, where she became the first contestant to win the $1 million grand prize. The puzzle “Leaky Faucet” helped her secure this historic win. Four years later, during the show’s 30th Anniversary special, she was invited back and managed to win another $1 million, making her the only two-time million-dollar winner in the show’s history.

The Teacher’s Triumph

Jessie Rebhan, a passionate teacher from Florida, participated in the show’s Teacher’s Week special in 2019. During the final round, she managed to solve the puzzle “Buying My First House” with only four letters (“B,” “Y,” “M,” and “H”) revealed. Jessie’s impressive comeback earned her a total of $52,328 in cash and prizes. Her heartwarming story and determination captured the hearts of viewers nationwide.