Only four contestants in Wheel of Fortune history have ever won the elusive $1 million prize. On Wednesday, November 20, fans were crushed as Texas native Damon Sayles narrowly missed becoming the fifth. What was particularly painful about it was he did everything right, and his dream ended with a single, unlucky choice.
Sayles put on a clinic all episode, and midway through, he landed on the $1 million wedge, managing to keep it the rest of the game. Heading into the bonus round, the $100,000 slot on the prize wheel was changed to the $1 million wedge, setting the stage for a life-changing moment.
By then, Sayles had earned $29,290, including a trip to Barbados, and selected “What Are You Wearing?” as his bonus category. The two-word puzzle was displayed. Wisely choosing “G, M, W, O,” as his additional letters, the puzzle nearly spelled out and read, “GL_MOR_US’ ‘GOWN.”
With the puzzle essentially solved before the 10-second timer even started, he said the correct answer instantly: “Glamorous Gown.” Despite a letter-perfect performance, it all hinged on whether or not he had chosen the right wedge.
“Let’s see what the envelope is!” Ryan Seacrest teased. In a heartbreaker moment, the gold prize card was revealed to be the $40,000 amount, not the $1 million, This brought his total to $69,290 in cash and the trip. “I’ll take it!” Sayles kindly said.
Seacrest and Vanna White discussed the near-million win in the episode’s credits scene. “He was so close to the $1 million,” White said, as Seacrest shared, “What a big night for Damon. I thought my hands were beginning to sweat. He was so close with that great solve. But I feel it. It’s going to happen. And soon,” Seacrest assured.
The game show shared the letdown moment on YouTube, where fans were shocked at how close Sayles was to making history and seven figures, only losing out by picking the wrong wedge.
“He picked the right letters for the puzzle. Good job my man on winning the 40,000! It wasn’t the million at least… he still did magnificent!” one fan wrote.
“Wasn’t the million dollar, but Damon really picked the right letters to get a lot of help,” appluaded another.
“The $1,000,000 was under the ‘&’ (ampersand),” pointed out a third.
“No bc wheel of fortune is so wrong for giving him 40,000 dollars he earned that one million,” raged a fourth.
“I would’ve had a heart attack if he won the million…” wrote a fifth.
Only 14 Wheel of Fortune and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune players have had a chance to win the $1 million jackpot since the massive prize was debuted in 2008. It’s been won even less, with just four people (including one celebrity, Melissa Joan Hart) walking away millionaires.
The first win came in October 2008, just one month after the grand prize was introduced. The next win wasn’t until 2013, followed by another in 2014. Hart would become the next million-dollar winner in 2021. Another fun fact: every single winner has been a woman!
What did you think of the excruciatingly close $1 million moment on Wheel of Fortune? Let us know in the comments below!
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