How Do You Become a Contestant on “Wheel of Fortune”?

'Wheel of Fortune' has 1 million potential game show players apply every year

Wheel of Fortune is looking for its next contestant — and it could be you.

The series, which is the longest-running game show in America, has been hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White since 1981 and 1982, respectively.

With 195 episodes in each of its 41 seasons, Wheel of Fortune has featured about 24,000 contestants over the years. Many of them have earned huge prizes, like the week in 2022 when three consecutive contestants won $100,000 in the bonus round.

Granted, being on the show comes with the risk of making a major flub, but the fun of the game and the possibility of winning memorable prizes, including $1 million dollars, are worth it.

Related: 'Wheel of Fortune' Hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White's Friendship in Photos

Though Sajak is officially retiring from his longtime hosting gig at the end of the current season, White will continue turning the letters and teach Ryan Seacrest the ropes as he steps into the lead role.

While Sajak will no longer be around to compliment White's stunning outfits and joke around with players, there will be a new pool of contestants ready to buy vowels and solve puzzles when season 42 of Wheel of Fortune premieres in September 2024.

So if you want to make your game show dreams come true, here’s how to become a contestant on Wheel of Fortune.

What are the requirements to get on Wheel of Fortune?

While everyone is encouraged to audition for Wheel of Fortune, certain circumstances exclude you from being able to participate.

If you’ve been on a game show, dating show, relationship show or reality show in the last year or three in the previous 10 years, you’re ineligible to be a contestant.

In addition, you can’t work for or be related to anyone who works for Sony, CBS or any of the production companies associated with the show listed under the Wheel of Fortune FAQ.

You're also disqualified from the contestant pool if you've already competed on Wheel of Fortune before. If you do well enough on other shows, like Jeopardy!, you might qualify for a return appearance in a tournament — but with Wheel of Fortune, you only get one shot.

How hard is it to get on Wheel of Fortune?

According to CinemaBlend, over 1 million people audition every year to be on Wheel of Fortune, and only about 600 contestants make it to air every season. It's one of the main reasons the show doesn’t accept return contestants.

“When we say that spinning the Wheel is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,’ we mean it. Because so many people want to be on the show, you can only be a contestant once," reads a section on the show's FAQ.

How are Wheel of Fortune contestants chosen?

The first step is to apply to compete on Wheel of Fortune on the show’s website.

There’s a written application with questions like, “Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t know by looking at you” and “What are your favorite hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?”

There’s also an optional 60-second video you can upload; while it’s not required, it’s an opportunity to showcase your personality and demonstrate how well you’d do on camera.

From there, you'll have to play a game consisting of five Toss-Up puzzles that must be completed in under 10 minutes in one session. There's a section on the website where you can practice before you do the real challenge.

Once you've done all the required steps — including the written application, photo or video submission and puzzles — the show will review your complete application and decide whether to select you for a virtual audition process.

If you are called up and make it past that last round, you'll be selected to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, but you might not be invited to the game show's set for a while.

It could take weeks or even years to be picked from the contestant pool. “We try our best to get contestants on the show within 18 months,” reads the FAQ.

Are there any tips for getting on Wheel of Fortune?

According to the show’s audition site, the more of the real you that you show the casting folks, the better your chances.

When it comes to the minute-long video submission in the application process, the show's advice is to "smile," be energetic and "have fun."

While they don’t want to hear that being on the show is a lifelong dream — it’s probably true of everyone who applies — enthusiasm for the game will get you far.

When Fred Fletcher-Jackson won his episode by playing a perfect game in 2023, he attributed his success to a lifelong love of the show. "My mom says that my first words ever were, 'Buy a vowel.' True story," he said. "Wheel was at the top of my list of dream-come-true scenarios in my life and it's happening ... Dreams can come true, because mine just did."

The show's FAQ also features a list of attributes that make great contestants, like having "a sense of humor," but it also highlights the importance of playing well. "It's important that the game moves along quickly and that the players are decisive in calling out their letters with a strong, confident voice and in choosing their game strategy," a section reads.

Above all though, "a positive attitude" is required because despite years of watching the game show and preparing to compete, many contestants still struggle. That said, the experience is more enjoyable if you lean into how special it is to be in the running for the grand prize.

“Most contestants, at the end of a show, say that it was more difficult than they expected, and that it was the quickest, most exhilarating time of their lives," the FAQ continues. "We want people to come to the taping with the mindset that they're going to have a good time, win or lose. Hey, you're on America’s Game — so you're already a winner!”

Do Wheel of Fortune contestants get paid?

Whether it's their winnings or a $1,000 consolation prize, Wheel of Fortune contestants leave the game show with money.

Of course, it’s always fun when the players walk away with an exciting reward. “I genuinely do care about our contestants, and my favorite show is when they all win something big,” White told Good Morning America in 2023.

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