A Wheel of Fortune contestant achieved a remarkable feat by winning the show’s largest prize pot while her boss watched from the audience.
Christina Derevjanik, hailing from Connecticut, made a significant mark on the game show’s history on Tuesday (September 30) by securing a massive jackpot of $1,035,155. This became the ‘biggest Wheel win’ ever recorded on the show.
“I have no words!” exclaimed the marketing manager from Stamford upon her victory.
During the game, Christina secured the ‘One Million Dollars’ wedge and an additional $35,155 in cash.
Her wins also include upcoming trips to Montana and Japan, courtesy of Wheel of Fortune.
Before her fortune was revealed, she humorously mentioned to host Ryan Seacrest that if she won a million dollars, she would submit her resignation in two weeks.
Seacrest noted that her boss was present in the audience.
Christina advanced by choosing the ‘Living Things’ category and correctly solving the puzzle with the phrase ‘Pack of Coyotes’.
Seacrest announced: “You won a million dollars!” to which Christina responded with jubilant jumping as confetti fell around her.
“I’m in tears,” remarked Seacrest, as Christina celebrated the prospect of clearing her student debt.
She then jested about discussing her future with her boss ‘once we get back to the office’ when Seacrest inquired if she had anything to say to him.
“I just completely went into another world,” she expressed in a post-show interview.
“I was like ‘Oh my God! I can’t even believe that I can now pay things off [and] put stresses aside.’ This is amazing, I’m so happy.”
She also revealed plans to use her winnings to purchase a home and move out of her current one-bedroom apartment.
Christina is the first to win over a million dollars since Ryan Seacrest took over hosting duties in September of the previous year, following Pat Sajak’s exit in June.
Since the introduction of the million-dollar prize in 2008, only four other participants have surpassed the $1 million mark, including actress Melissa Joan Hart.
As reported by TV Insider, Michelle Loewenstein became the first millionaire on the show on October 14, 2008, by solving ‘Leaky Faucet’ in the ‘Around the House’ category.
Autumn Erhard achieved a win in 2013 with ‘tough workout’ in the ‘Thing’ category.
Sarah Manchester won on September 17, 2014, for ‘Loud laughter’ in the same category.
Finally, Melissa Joan Hart won on September 17, 2021, with ‘bran muffins’ in the ‘food and drink’ category.