The $1,035,155 Club: Meet Every Million Dollar Winner On Wheel Of Fortune (Updated 2025)

The dream of a lifetime became a reality for a select few. Since the introduction of the Million Dollar Wedge in 2008, only a handful of contestants have navigated the treacherous Wheel, solved the main puzzle, and then successfully conquered the final Bonus Round to claim the ultimate $1,000,000 grand prize. This exclusive group of winners represents the pinnacle of game show success, proving that a combination of luck, skill, and nerve can lead to an astronomical payoff.

As of December 12, 2025, the list of million-dollar winners remains incredibly short, making their stories legendary. The dramatic tension of the Bonus Round, knowing that a single letter or a wrong guess could mean the difference between a new car and a seven-figure bank account, is what keeps millions glued to their screens. The most recent champion has even broken the show's all-time total winnings record, cementing their place in *Wheel of Fortune* history.

The Exclusive Club: Full List of Wheel of Fortune Million Dollar Winners

The Million Dollar Wedge is one of the most exciting and difficult twists in *Wheel of Fortune* history. A contestant must first land on the wedge during the main game, solve the puzzle while holding it, and then make it to the Bonus Round. Once there, the $100,000 prize envelope is replaced with the $1,000,000 envelope. The odds are stacked against them, which is why only four non-celebrity contestants have ever accomplished this feat.

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1. Michelle Loewenstein (The First Trailblazer)

• Air Date: October 14, 2008
• Occupation: Floral Designer
• Hometown: Santa Monica, California
• Bonus Round Category: Around the House
• Winning Puzzle: "Leaky Faucet"
• Total Winnings: $1,002,000

Michelle Loewenstein made history as the very first contestant to win the $1,000,000 prize. At just 24 years old, the newlywed floral designer's victory was a stunning moment that proved the new wedge was more than just a gimmick. Her calm demeanor while solving the Bonus Round puzzle, "Leaky Faucet," under immense pressure launched her into instant fame and set the standard for all future million-dollar attempts.

2. Autumn Erhard (The Second Success Story)

• Air Date: May 30, 2013
• Occupation: Account Executive
• Hometown: Laguna Niguel, California
• Bonus Round Category: What Are You Doing?
• Winning Puzzle: "Tough Workout"
• Total Winnings: $1,030,000

It took nearly five years for another contestant to join the million-dollar club. Autumn Erhard, an account executive from California, broke the drought with her impressive win. Her total prize money was slightly higher than Loewenstein's due to her cash winnings in the main game. Erhard’s victory came during the show's 30th season, solidifying her place as only the second person to ever claim the massive jackpot.

3. Sarah Manchester (The Math Teacher's Triumph)

• Air Date: September 17, 2014
• Occupation: Math Teacher
• Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland
• Bonus Round Category: Phrase
• Winning Puzzle: "Loud Laughter"
• Total Winnings: $1,017,490

Proving that a sharp mind for numbers can translate to word puzzles, math teacher Sarah Manchester became the third million-dollar winner during "Teacher's Week." Her emotional win was celebrated across the country, especially by her students. Solving the puzzle "Loud Laughter" brought her the quiet satisfaction of a seven-figure prize, which she planned to use for her children's education and travel.

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4. Christina Derevjanik (The All-Time Biggest Winner)

• Air Date: September 30, 2025
• Occupation: Unknown (Sacred Heart Alum)
• Hometown: Stamford, Connecticut
• Bonus Round Category: Unknown
• Winning Puzzle: Unknown
• Total Winnings: $1,035,155

Christina Derevjanik is the most recent and, by total cash and prizes, the biggest winner in the syndicated history of *Wheel of Fortune*. Her win, which aired on September 30, 2025, was historic for several reasons. Not only did she become the fourth non-celebrity contestant to claim the $1,000,000, but her total winnings of $1,035,155 surpassed all previous records, including those set by Autumn Erhard. Her victory was also a major milestone as the first million-dollar win during Ryan Seacrest's tenure as host, marking a new era for the show.

The Celebrity Exception: Melissa Joan Hart

While the focus is often on the civilian contestants, it is important to note that a celebrity has also won the $1,000,000 prize. Actress Melissa Joan Hart, known for her roles in *Sabrina the Teenage Witch* and *Clarissa Explains It All*, won the grand prize on *Celebrity Wheel of Fortune*. Her historic win in October 2021 was for her chosen charity, Youth Villages, proving that the Million Dollar Wedge is in play even when the stakes are for a good cause.

The Anatomy of a Million Dollar Win: How the Wedge Works

The journey to the $1,000,000 prize is a multi-step process that requires perfect execution and incredible luck. The prize is not simply handed out; it must be earned through a series of challenging game mechanics. This complexity is what makes the million-dollar win so rare and so exciting for viewers.

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Step 1: The Million Dollar Wedge Acquisition

The process begins in the main game. A special Million Dollar Wedge is placed on the Wheel of Fortune. The contestant must land on the center one-third of this wedge and correctly call a consonant. They must then successfully solve the puzzle for that round to claim the wedge. If they land on a Bankrupt or Lose a Turn space before solving, they lose the wedge.

Step 2: Avoiding Bankrupt and Making the Bonus Round

Once the contestant has the wedge, they must protect it. They must avoid landing on the Bankrupt space for the rest of the game, as this would void the wedge. Furthermore, they must accumulate the highest total cash and prizes to advance to the Bonus Round. If they fail to win the main game, the wedge is worthless.

Step 3: The Final Spin and the $1,000,000 Envelope

If the contestant successfully carries the wedge to the Bonus Round, the $100,000 prize envelope on the Bonus Wheel is secretly replaced with the $1,000,000 envelope. The contestant then spins the Bonus Wheel to determine their prize. Even after all the preparation, they still have only a 1-in-24 chance of landing on the correct envelope. The massive prize is only revealed if they successfully solve the final puzzle.

The Legacy of the Million Dollar Winners

The four non-celebrity winners—Loewenstein, Erhard, Manchester, and Derevjanik—represent a tiny fraction of the thousands of contestants who have appeared on the show. Their stories have become part of game show lore, inspiring countless others to try their luck. The sheer difficulty of the task—combining the luck of the spin with the skill of puzzle-solving and the ultimate gamble in the Bonus Round—ensures that the $1,000,000 grand prize will remain the most coveted achievement on *Wheel of Fortune* for years to come.

The recent record-breaking win by Christina Derevjanik on the September 30, 2025, episode has injected new excitement into the decades-old show. It serves as a powerful reminder that while the odds are long, the possibility of becoming an instant millionaire is always just one spin and one correct letter away.