Christina Derevjanik became the first million-dollar winner of the Seacrest era, winning $1,035,155 on Wheel of Fortune.
A historic moment
The recent episode of Wheel of Fortune‘s 43rd season was simply memorable.
Christina Derevjanik of Stamford, Connecticut, won a record-breaking $1,035,155 through her solid strategy and cool head in action.
The studio audience applauded, and cameras captured this historic win from high angles.
The celebration was even more colorful as this was the first million-dollar win under Ryan Seacrest’s hosting duties.
Game Show Rules
The Million Dollar Wedge was added in Season 26 in 2008.
– Land on that spot first
– Don’t go bankrupt until the end
– Solve the puzzle in the Bonus Round
The challenge is to move forward without any confusion or bankruptcy, making strategic planning crucial.
The Game’s Opening Battle
Cristina was showered with cash and trips from the first spin.
Winning a traditional camping experience in Montana and a colorful shopping tour in Tokyo brought her total to $35,155.
The cash prize, along with the trip value, further instilled confidence in the game.
Trips and Cash Combination
The audience was also excited to hear the plan for Montana’s wild nature and Tokyo’s futuristic streets.
Cristina first picked the letters R, S, T, L, N, E—these are the power letters for every player.
These letters further increased the hope of solving the puzzle.
Bonus Round Explosion
The “Living Things” category was revealed in the Bonus Round.
The puzzle was: PACK OF COYOTES.
Cristina silently solved the puzzle by choosing the letters, and as soon as the complete sentence was revealed, the studio erupted in applause.
Seacrest and Vanna’s Celebration
Ryan opened the envelope and said, “Congratulations, you’re my first million-dollar winner. I have a tear in my eye.”
The moment turned emotional.
Vanna White laughed and said, “Cristina, you made game show history today.”
MillionDollarQueen is trending.
Clips of Christina’s win went viral on Instagram Reels, and memes are circulating on TikTok.
People are asking her for strategy tips—one jokingly said, “If you want to win the game next, think like Christina!”
The Power of Manifestation
After her win, Christina said, “I was manifesting day and night that my name would be called and confetti would rain down.”
In her confessional, she revealed that she had framed the show’s logo—the positive vibes really worked.
The Story of the Million Dollar Wedge
Only four contestants have ever filled this wedge—
Michelle Loewenstein (2008)
Autumn Erhard (2013)
Sarah Manchester (2014)
Melissa Joan Hart (Celebrity Wheel, 2021)
Cristina not only surpassed the team but also history by finishing fourth.
Watch the next episode
Wheel of Fortune airs every weeknight on USA—check local listings.
If you miss it, stream it the next day on Peacock, Hulu, or Disney+.
Who knows, next time might be your lucky spin!
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