Pat Sajak’s ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Farewell Reaches 11 Million Viewers, Biggest Episode in More Than Four Years

Pat Sajak‘s final outing as the host of “Wheel of Fortune” on June 7 reached 11 million viewers. That marked the game show’s most-watched episode since April 2020 — and the syndicated series has aired more than 1,000 episodes since then.

That made it the most-watched telecast of the week, accounting for all broadcast and cable networks but excluding sports. It also achieved the highest household rating of the week with a 6.2. Additionally, all five of Sajak’s final “Wheel of Fortune” episodes landed in the Top 15 broadcasts of the week.

Repeats of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” which air on ABC, also saw a boost as Sajak said goodbye. The June 7 episode reached 4.1 million total viewers; excluding sports, this marks the most-watched broadcast on a summer Friday in four years. Specific to ABC, it was also the best summer Friday broadcast in seven years and best in its timeslot in eight years.

Sajak signed off as “Wheel of Fortune” star after more than 40 years, and handed his hosting duties to Ryan Seacrest, who will co-host with Vanna White.

Sajak concluded his 41-season run with a direct-to-camera address at the end of his “Wheel of Fortune” final episode.

“It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade, and I’ve always felt that the privilege came with a responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family, fun, no social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing I hope, just a game,” Sajak said to viewers.

“But gradually it became more than that,” he continued, “a place where kids learned their letters, where people from other countries honed their English skills, where families came together, along with friends and neighbors and entire generations. What an honor to have played even a small part in all that. Thank you for allowing me into your lives.”

Seacrest and White take over “Wheel of Fortune” Season 42 in the fall.