A Connecticut woman spun her way into \u201cWheel of Fortune\u201d history!<\/p>\n
Contestant Christina Derevjanik won a $1,035,155 cash prize \u2014 the largest payday in the iconic game show\u2019s history \u2014 in front of her boss during Tuesday\u2019s episode<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no words!\u201d Derevjanik exclaimed when she won.<\/p>\n
Christina Derevjanik won a $1,035,155 cash prize on \u201cWheel of Fortune.\u201d Chris Willard\/CBS<\/p>\n
Derevjanik, who secured the \u201cOne Million Dollars\u201d wedge early in the show, earned $35,155 in cash and a trip to Montana and Japan before she advanced to the bonus round.<\/p>\n
The Stamford-based marketing manager joked that she would put in her two-week notice if she won a million dollars, while host Ryan Seacrest pointed out that her boss was sitting in the studio audience.<\/p>\n
She picked the \u201cLiving Things\u201d category, correctly solved the puzzle with the phrase \u201cPACK OF COYOTES\u201d and Seacrest showed her the $1 million envelope.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou won a million dollars,\u201d Seacrest exclaimed.<\/p>\n
Derevjanik screamed as she jumped up and down as confetti poured on the set.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so happy for you,\u201d White said during an embrace.<\/p>\n
Derevjanik is a marketing manager based in Stamford, Conn. Chris Willard\/CBS<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in tears,\u201d an emotional Seacrest said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can pay off my student loans,\u201d an excited Derevjanik shared with the hosts.<\/p>\n
Derevjanik joked that she\u2019ll have a discussion with her boss \u201conce we get back to the office\u201d when Seacrest asked if she had a message for her supervisor. <\/p>\n
Derevjanik hopes to pay off her student loans and buy a house. Chris Willard\/CBS<\/p>\n
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Derevjanik was the first contestant to win over $1 million since Seacrest became the host in September 2024, following\u00a0Pat Sajak\u2019s departure from the show in June 2024.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI just completely went into another world,\u201d Derevjanik shared during a post-show interview<\/a> on the show\u2019s Facebook page. \u201cI was like \u2018Oh my God! I can\u2019t even believe that I can now pay things off [and] put stresses aside.\u2019 This is amazing, I\u2019m so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Derevjanik plans to use some of the money to buy a house so she can move out of her one-bedroom apartment.<\/p>\n She also looks forward to going on the trips she won to Japan and Montana.\u00a0<\/p>\n Only four other contestants have ever won more than $1 million since the prized wedge was introduced to the franchise in 2008, according to TV Insider.<\/a><\/p>\n Contestant Michelle Loewenstein was the first to win it in Oct. 2008 ($1.026M) followed by Autumn Erhard in 2013 ($1.030M), Sarah Manchester in 2014 ($1.017M) and \u201cCelebrity Wheel of Fortune\u201d contestant Melissa Joan Hart in 2021.<\/p>\n