There was nothing however feelings on the set of Wheel of Fortune when a contestant gained $63,000.
Gerard Amento, from Beaumont, California, performed towards April Kutchinski, from Chandler, Arizona, and Donna Jones, from Collinsville, Alabama. The episode aired on Wednesday, June 25, a rerun from its authentic broadcast date of October 16, 2024.
Amento is a stay-at-home married father of two daughters who desires of changing into a instructor. He introduced his spouse with him to cheer him on, and she or he teared up throughout his Bonus Spherical win.
The previous skilled yo-yoer ended with $23,440 and a visit to Greece and Turkey. Jones, who has been married for 32 years, ended with $3,350. Kutchinski, a former soccer participant, went dwelling with $3,000. Regardless of touchdown on a Bankrupt wedge early within the recreation, Amento fired again, fixing puzzle after puzzle, together with ones with barely any letters on the board.
When he received to the Bonus Spherical, host Ryan Seacrest identified that Amento’s spouse, Leah, was emotional. “She’s possibly much more excited than me. She desires to go to Greece,” the contestant stated.
“So, if he wins massive cash, will you cry extra?” Ryan Seacrest requested.
“No. I’m simply so joyful for him,” Leah responded as she wiped her tears away with a tissue.
“It’s going to be nice it doesn’t matter what occurs,” the host replied.
He selected “Phrase” for his class. Wheel of Fortune gave him “R,S,T,L,N, and E,” and Amento selected “C,B,M, and A” to spherical out the puzzle. It seemed like “T_E_ _A_E A BR_ _ _T _ _T_RE.”
Because the clock counted down, Amento guessed, “They’ve a brilliant future.” He was appropriate and added $40,000 to his whole, giving him $63,440.
“Unbelievable, this man,” Ryan Seacrest stated.
Amento folded in half when Seacrest confirmed him what was within the envelope, after which he ran over to his spouse and picked her up. As Leah got here to the stage along with her husband, Seacrest handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
“How’d you try this so quick?” the host requested.
Since his episode premiered, Amento graduated from faculty to get his educating diploma.
Wheel of Fortune will hold airing reruns of Ryan Seacrest’s first season till Season 43 begins in September.
Wheel of Fortune, Season 43, Fall 2025, verify native listings