Pat Sajak Sets Wheel of Fortune Retirement Date After 4 Decades as Host

Pat Sajak has marked a date to bid farewell to Wheel of Fortune.

After more than 40 years as the game show’s host, Sajak, 77, will retire from Wheel of Fortune on June 7, according to TVLine.

His final episode will also be the season 41 finale, aptly titled “Thanks for the Memories,” per Rotten Tomatoes.It is set to air one year after he announced his departure.

Reps for Wheel of Fortune did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Sajak revealed last June that he would end his decades-long job as the program’s host, which he began in 1981 when the show still aired on daytime television.

"Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) at the time. "It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)"

Following his announcement, Suzanne Prete, EVP of game shows at Sony Pictures Television, noted to PEOPLE that Sajak would remain on the show as a consultant for the next three years.

Vanna White, Sajak’s longtime cohost, told PEOPLE in October 2023 that she considered leaving the show with him.

“It's like, ‘Well, wait, if you're leaving, what am I going to do? How can I stay without you?’ -

‘Drew Barrymore Show’ Target,...

It was a very hard decision for me to make, because it definitely crossed my mind,” White, 67, said. “It's like, ‘I just don't know if I can do this without you,’ but I thought about it and I'm not ready to retire, so I am staying on.”

While White is set to remain on the show through the 2025-26 season, Ryan Seacrest will step into Sajak’s shoes as host.

"I'm looking forward to my final season starting this fall, and then handing over the car keys to Ryan Seacrest in September of 2024," wrote Sajak on Twitter after Sony announced the American Idol host, 49, would fill the role.

Of his new job, Seacrest said on Instagram that he’s “truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak." The television presenter called the opportunity a “full circle moment,” as one of his first gigs was hosting the 1997 game show Click. 

"I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White,” he continued.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Wheel of Fortune airs weekdays in syndication (check local listings).

Related Articles

Follow Us

What the Pentagon Has Learned? Are UFOs ,...