See the 11 Biggest Winners of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune”
See the 11 Biggest Winners of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune”
Christopher RudolphFri, October 2, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC
0
Scott Aukerman, Melissa Joan Hart and Joe Manganiello on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty (3) -
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune sees stars participate in the spinoff of the iconic game show while playing for a charity of their choice
Melissa Joan Hart remains the only contestant to win $1 million
Season 7 of the ABC show premieres Oct. 2
The stars are spinning and winning on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.
The long-running game show, Wheel of Fortune, kicked off its 44th season on Sept. 14, but the star-studded version — in which famous faces take their chance at spinning the world’s most famous Wheel and solve puzzles for a chance to win $1 million for the charity of their choice — is also back for another round.
Season 7 of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune premieres on Oct. 2, with co-hosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White back to lead the iconic game show. The full slate of celebrities who will compete this season has yet to be revealed, though the premiere will kick off with Gillian Jacobs, Omarion and Matt Iseman taking the wheel for a spin.
As the new season kicks off, here’s a look back at some of the biggest winners of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune over the years.
01 of 11
Retta – $172,200
Ryan Seacrest and Retta on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty
In season 6 of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, Parks and Recreation alum Retta racked up $172,200 while playing for the Burbank Youth Vocal Arts Foundation, which supports vocal arts at Burbank High School.
Following her win, Retta surprised Burbank High School’s choir students just after their program director sat them down for a viewing of the episode.
“I did not think I was going to win. I was very stressed about playing,” Retta told the students, per MyBurbank.com.
02 of 11
Tony Hawk — $173,800
Tony Hawk, Vanna White and Pat Sajak on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: Christopher Willard/Disney via Getty
Tony Hawk won $173,800 while playing for the organization Feeding San Diego when he appeared on the series premiere, which aired in January 2021.
“We are incredibly grateful to Tony Hawk for choosing us to receive this incredible donation that will help so many in need right now,” CEO of Feeding San Diego Dan Shea said in a statement at the time. “This significant donation will provide a huge number of meals to families and children facing hunger, whose futures remain uncertain because of the pandemic.”
03 of 11
Simon Rex — $177,150
Ryan Seacrest and Simon Rex on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty
In season 6, Red Rocket and Scary Movie franchise star Simon Rex won $177,150 while playing for the nonprofit Gravity Water, “an organization that harnesses rainwater and makes it drinkable and safe for hundreds of thousands of people, specifically in Asia, where they can’t get safe drinking water,” as the actor shared.
Prior to his win, Rex said in a video clip on the show’s Facebook page that he was excited about “the experience spinning the wheel” in front of a live audience, after having the Wheel of Fortune audience chant “in the back of [his] brain” since he was young.
04 of 11
Scott Aukerman — $185,750
Scott Aukerman on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty
Comedian and podcast host Scott Aukerman played in a season 6 episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which aired in June 2026.
Aukerman won $185,750 while playing for The Trevor Project, an organization whose mission is to prevent suicide among LGBTQ+ youth.
Following his win, he wrote on Instagram that it was a “dream come true” to appear on the show.
05 of 11
Joel Madden — $198,250
Joel Madden on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: Christopher Willard/Disney via Getty
In a season 3 episode that aired in October 2022,Good Charlotte’s vocalist Joel Madden won $198,250 while playing for MIB Agents, a pediatric osteosarcoma nonprofit dedicated to supporting patients with the aggressive bone cancer, as well as their families, medical professionals, researchers and industry partners.
MIB Agents celebrated his win in a post on their official Instagram, writing, “🤘@joelmadden - you played with such calm confidence! Thank you for winning so BIG time for MIB Agents and for advocating for kids facing osteosarcoma!”
06 of 11
Advertisement
Jason Alexander — $198,650
Jason Alexander on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty
Seinfeld star Jason Alexander competed on the season 2 premiere, which aired in September 2021. He won $198,650 while playing for Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization that supports people affected by poverty or disaster.
Alexander won $100,000 after solving the second bonus round puzzle, “Hold down the fort,” which brought his total winnings to $198,650.
07 of 11
Joe Manganiello — $198,800
Joe Manganiello on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty
In a season 5 episode that aired in April 2025, Joe Manganiello won $198,800 while playing for the UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation of Pittsburgh.
In a video shared by Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’s official Instagram, the Magic Mike star said he was happy to be playing for the charity, noting that Pittsburgh is his hometown.
“I’ve been a board member for about 13 years, and this is just a great way to raise awareness and bring some money back home to the kids in Pittsburgh, who actually come from all over the world to be treated there, at one of the world’s most foremost leading children’s hospitals,” he said.
08 of 11
Amber Riley — $243,600
Amber Riley on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty
In season 2, Amber Riley was gleeful when she won $243,600 while playing for A Place Called Home, a Los Angeles-based organization whose mission is to inspire, encourage and support young people to achieve social-emotional and economic success, per its website.
The actress has supported the organization on several other occasions, including during an August 2018 appearance on Celebrity Family Feud and through benefit performances, per Fox 11 Los Angeles.
09 of 11
Matt Rogers — $260,650
Matt Rogers on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: ABC/YouTube
Las Culturistas podcast co-host Matt Rogers played for Story Pirates Changemakers — a nonprofit whose mission is to celebrate the words, ideas, and stories of young people — during a special holiday-themed season 4 episode.
Rogers was up against Paula Abdul and Lil Rel Howery, ultimately winning $260,650 by the end of the episode.
10 of 11
Brendan Hunt — $328,200
Brendan Hunt on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: Christopher Willard/ABC via Getty
Ted Lasso’s Brendan Hunt walked away with $328,200 while playing for Steps of Faith Foundation, a nonprofit that helps “provide prosthetic care, hope and comfort to amputees needing financial support,” per its website.
“Huge thank you to our friend Brendan Hunt and his incredible Wheel of Fortune skills! He won $328,200 for Steps of Faith last night,” the foundation posted on Instagram in September 2023. “We are so grateful for him and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, this amount will help so many amputees get the prosthetic care they need!”
11 of 11
Melissa Joan Hart — $1,039,800
Melissa Joan Hart on ‘Celebrity Wheel of Fortune’Credit: Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty
Melissa Joan Hart made magical memories and game show history during a season 2 episode that aired in October 2021, when she became the firstCelebrity Wheel of Fortune contestant to win the $1 million prize, bringing her total to $1,039,800. She was playing for the nonprofit Youth Villages, an organization that advocates for “positive, long-term change in child welfare, juvenile justice and children’s mental health systems,” per its website.
Speaking about her win with USA Today that month, the Sabrina the Teenage Witch star recalled White’s face turning white when revealing she had won $1 million.
“Vanna looked at me and was like, ‘You got it! You got it!’ I hit the roof. She hit the roof,” Hart recalled.
Hart’s Celebrity Wheel of Fortune appearance happened around the 25th anniversary of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but the actress put the rumors of magical spells to rest.
“I would like to say witchcraft was involved,” Hart told USA Today. “But to be honest, I prayed a lot more than any kind of sorcery. I literally prayed every round, especially that winning round.”
She added, “I’d close my eyes and say, ‘God, give me focus and calm and let me just read these letters.’ ”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
