Quick Facts of
- First NamePat Sajak
Pat Sajak, an American TV personality & TV host is famous for hosting the game show Wheel of Fortune since 1981. Turned professional in 1968, Sajak’s career journey from a radio jockey to weatherman in KNBC-TV to Wheel of Fortune gained him hands in hefty sum.
Formerly, Pat worked as a TV host of his own late-night show The Pat Sajak Show from 1989 to 1990.
What Is Pat Sajak’s Net Worth In 2020?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sajak has a net worth of $65 million as of March 2020. In 2015, Pat was among the wealthiest game-show hosts with a fortune of $55 million.
Despite his gigs in as DJ and weatherman in radio stations, the main credit to his massive wealth accumulation goes to Wheel of Fortune, created by Merv Griffin.
Reportedly, Pat earns an annual salary of $15 million from the game show, while his co-host Vanna White grabs $10 million.
Since, Sajak & White tape only 4 days in a month, totaling 48 days a year, Celebrity Net Worth stated the breakdown of their payroll as:
- Pat Sajak- $312,500 per workday & $52,083 per show
- Vanna White- $208,333 per workday & $34,722 per show
In fact, as per his contract, Pat Sajak will be working on the show until 2022, so that comes to be a projected $30 million revenue in 2 years.
Guinness Book Of World Record From ‘Wheel Of Fortune’
Ever since Pat Sajak joined as the host of the TV game show Wheel of Fortune in the early 80s replacing Chuck Woolery, the money showers quite frankly have befriended him.
Moreover, the 73 years old Chicago, Illinois-born has a Guinness Book of World Record with the longest career as game show host- he made the record on May 8, 2019, after a successful career in Wheel Of Fortune for 38 years & 198 days.
What Did Pat Saja Do Before The Game Show?
The Columbia College Chicago attended had his career in radio stations before Merv Griffin offered him to join Wheel of Fortune as its host in 1981.
Before gaining a breakthrough with the game show, Pat, as a college student in Chicago, worked as a desk clerk at the Palmer House hotel & later joined local radio station WEDC.
Thereafter, he briefly served as a disc jockey for the US Army in the American Forces Vietnam Network during the Vietnam War. Sajak also worked as an anchor in 5-minute newscasts in NBC’s Today Show, & then as a substitute weatherman where he met Dan Miller.
In 1977, Pat joined KNBC-TV in Los Angeles as a full-time weatherman.
Later in 1980, the American TV personality would join as a game-show host for its pilot: Press Your Luck and Puzzlers, before Merv, the Wheel of Fortune creator approached him with an offer.
While as host for Wheel of Fortune, Sajak also hosted the short-lived TV show The Pat Sajak Show (from January 9, 1989, to April 13, 1990).
Did you know? Aside from TV hosting, Pat Sajak has made brief appearances in films & TV series: ‘Airplane II: The Sequel’ (1982 movie) & sitcom ‘The King of Queens’.
Father Of 2 With Second Wife: Live In Maryland
The Wheel of Fortune host currently lives with his second wife Lesly Brown in their house in Severna Park, Maryland- bought the property in 1991 for $1.28 million.
They married on December 31, 1989, & shares 2 children: Patrick Michael James Sajak (born on September 22, 1990) and Maggie Sajak (January 5, 1995).
Moreover, the couple owns another house in Los Angeles, California, where the average house price is $723,783.
Formerly, with his first wife Sherrill (m. 1979- div. 1986), Pat owned a 4-bedroom & 3-bathroom house in Glendale. Their former house was once in the market in 2011 for an asking price of $699,000.
Business Venture
The 5 ft. 10 inches game show host also got his hands in the business venture as well & since 1998, is the owner of Maryland-based AM radio station WNAV in Annapolis.
He began his investment in Golden Baseball League in 2005, an independent professional baseball league.
Charity Works
With his wife Lesly, Pat established Pasadena, California-based foundation named The Lesly & Pat Sajak Foundation, which aims to provide education & health services.
Also, he is a financial supporter of Young America’s Foundation.
Short-Bio
Pat Sajak was born Patrick Leonard Sajdak on October 26, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, the USA. While he was young, his father Leonard Anthony Sajdak, a factory worker died & his mother Joyce Helen later married Walter Backal.
After graduating from Farragut High School in 1964, Sajak enrolled at Columbia College Chicago.
Did you know? He underwent emergency intestinal surgery on November 8, 2019, for diagnosis of blockade & later recovered- returned to host ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ on December 5, 2019.
