Pat Sajak said goodbye to his fans on social media ahead of his final show on Friday, with a message slightly longer than most of his “Wheel of Fortune” puzzles.
“Thank you all so much,” Sajak, who has hosted “Wheel” since 1982, wrote on his X-Page.
The 77-year-old holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest-serving host of a single show with 8,010 appearances, and has carved a place in the living rooms and hearts of many Americans during his four decades as host.
Sajak announced his retirement a year ago.
‘Wheel of Fortune’ host Pat Sajak explains why he decided to retire from game shows
Pat Sajak will host the final episode of “Wheel of Fortune” on Friday. (Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty Images)
“Wheel of Fortune” was started by Chuck Woolally in 1975, and Sajak took over as host seven years later, making him the only host anyone under the age of 40 remembers.
Vanna White also joined the show that same year and will remain as co-host after Ryan Seacrest launches his own Hangman-style mystery show.
The social post was Sajak’s first on X since October and was met with a ton of love in the comments section.
“Pat, I can’t tell you how much I will miss you,” one person commented. “I was 12 when you started the show and now I’m 53. Congratulations on a great career. Amazing.”
Another wrote: “Years of great, wholesome entertainment. Looking forward to the next one.”
A third said: “No, it’s fine, Pat. We were all delighted, from my family to yours.”
‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host Pat Sajak Reminisces in Farewell Interview: ‘Who’s Cutting the Onions?’
Pat Sajak and Vana White in season 10 in the early 1990s. (Ron Tom/NBCU Photo Bank)
Sajak also delivered an emotional farewell speech in the final episode, which was taped in April and airs Friday night.
“Now, it’s time to say goodbye,” he said in his speech. “Before I go, I want to offer a few thanks and acknowledgements. I want to start with all of you watching in this auditorium. It has been an incredible honor to be invited into millions of homes every night, every year, for decades.”
“I’ve always felt that with this privilege comes a responsibility to keep it a safe place for 30 minutes each day that families can enjoy,” he continued. “No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, just games.”
He said it eventually became “so much more,” becoming “a place where children learn to read, where people from other countries practice their English, where families, friends, neighbors and people of all generations can come together.”
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He said he was “honored to have been a small part of it all,” and concluded by saying, “Thank you for having me in your lives.”
White couldn’t hold back tears as she said goodbye to her co-stars before their final show on Thursday, and spoke emotionally about their 42 years together, saying, “You made me who I am.”
White, who has played equal parts glamour girl and Sajak’s comedic sidekick, called herself a “rookie” when she started the show, adding that Sajak made her “feel so relaxed and confident” on the show.
Pat Sajak and Vanna White began working together on Wheel of Fortune in 1982, with Sajak as host and White in charge of the letterboard. (Photo courtesy of NBCU Photo Bank)
She continued, “Although I’ve enjoyed my time in front of the camera, my favorite parts are the memories, milestones and life events I’ve shared with my family outside of the studio. Together we’ve watched our children grow up, traveled the world, shared hundreds of meals together, laughed, cried and celebrated. It’s been an incredible and unforgettable journey for us.”
White called Sajak “like a brother” and added, “A lifelong friend and someone I will always respect. I love you, Pat.”
Game show hosts and women over 40 are replaced as frequently as light bulbs, so it seemed like an unlikely pairing, but the pair ended up becoming as popular as the game itself. I never forgave “It’s going to be bigger than the show,” Achilles PR founder Doug Eldridge told Fox News Digital.
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Pat Sajak’s adult daughter, Maggie, has worked as a society correspondent for the show since 2021 and has previously filled in for White. (Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty Images)
He added, “Timing, tempo and teamwork. If you look at timing, game shows hit their peak in the 1960s and ’70s…timing [of Sajak and White’s takeover] In terms of American viewing habits, this was like the last few clicks at the top of a roller coaster.”
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Although Sajak is retiring from the game show world, he already has a new gig lined up: He’ll be appearing in a play called “Prescription: Murder” in Hawaii. deadline.
Fox News Digital’s Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.
