Wheel of Fortune: Dark Side of Luck

Wheel Of Fortune

Wheel of Misfortune: The Dark Side of America’s Game

'Big money, big money… no whammies!'

For decades, Wheel of Fortune has been a beloved staple of American television—a bright, cheerful game show where contestants spin a colorful wheel, solve puzzles, and walk away with cash, vacations, and new cars. But behind the flashing lights and Pat Sajak’s easygoing charm, there’s a darker history few know about. From shocking scandals to tragic fates, the wheel hasn’t always landed on fortune.

The Curse of the Big Winner

In the early 2000s, a contestant named David Goodman (name changed for privacy) won over $100,000 in a spectacular comeback. But his luck turned almost immediately. Weeks after his episode aired, Goodman’s home was burglarized—by someone who had seen him on TV. Then, his car was vandalized, and he began receiving threatening letters demanding a cut of his winnings.

Police suspected an obsessed fan or even a disgruntled former contestant. But the case went cold, and Goodman, once jubilant, became a recluse. He later told a reporter, 'Winning that money was the worst thing that ever happened to me.'

The Puzzle That Broke a Man

In 1995, contestant Gregory Stevens famously froze on national television during the Bonus Round. Given the puzzle 'T_ _ _ NG P _ _ _ _S', he guessed letter after letter but couldn’t solve 'TIGHTROPE WALKER.' The audience groaned as time ran out, costing him a $50,000 prize.

What viewers didn’t see? Stevens had been a struggling single father, and that money was his last hope. Friends say he spiraled into depression, blaming himself for failing under pressure. Tragically, he took his own life a year later. Some believe the humiliation was too much to bear.

The Wheel’s Deadly Secret

Rumors have long swirled about a supposed 'Wheel of Fortune curse.' Former staffers whisper about contestants who died mysteriously after appearing on the show—a Florida woman killed in a hit-and-run weeks after her episode aired, a Chicago man whose business mysteriously burned down after a big win.

Is it coincidence? Or does luck have a price?

The Blackmail Scandal

In 2011, an anonymous source claimed that a contestant had been fed answers in exchange for a cut of their winnings. The alleged fixer? A disgruntled crew member with gambling debts. Though the show denied it, tapes from that season mysteriously 'disappeared,' and the contestant in question vanished from public life.

Pat Sajak’s Close Call

Even the show’s iconic host wasn’t immune. In 2019, Sajak underwent emergency surgery after a contestant’s overenthusiastic spin sent part of the wheel flying off, narrowly missing his head. Some say it was an accident—others insist the wheel itself has a mind of its own.

The Final Spin

Today, Wheel of Fortune continues, its cheerful facade hiding its eerie past. But some former contestants refuse to watch, believing the wheel doesn’t just decide their prize—it decides their fate.

'You never know where it’ll land,' one former winner said. 'Money, fame… or something much worse.'

🔴 Case Unsolved.

Wheel of Fortune: Dark Side of Luck

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