What Has Pat Sajak Been Up to Since Retiring from Wheel of Fortune? A Look at His Latest Projects (Including a Gig in Hawaii!)

Less than a year after retirement, Pat Sajak is stepping back behind the wheel.

After an emotional farewell to Wheel of Fortune in June 2024, the former host is returning to lead season 5 of the show’s spinoff, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which premieres on ABC on April 30.

In June 2023, Sajak announced on X that it would be his final season hosting Wheel of Fortune. During his final episode on June 7, 2024, he addressed the audience with a heartfelt speech, saying, “Well, the time has come to say goodbye. I have a few thanks and acknowledgements before I go. And I want to start with all of you watching out there.”

“It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade,” the TV veteran said. “And I’ve always felt that the privilege came with a responsibility to keep this daily half hour a safe place for family fun. No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game.”

So, what has Pat Sajak been up to since retiring from Wheel of Fortune? Here’s everything to know about his life after stepping away from the game show.

How long was Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune?

Sajak joined the beloved game show in 1981, succeeding host Chuck Woolery, who left to pursue other endeavors in the entertainment industry and died in July 2024.

“Please do not adjust your sets at home, Chuck Woolery has not shrunk,” he joked in his first introduction, referring to their height difference.

Sajak led Wheel of Fortune for over four decades and has received acclaim for his contributions, including being awarded a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 1994.

In April 2018, he was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He also holds the Guinness World Records title for having the longest career as a game show host for the same show.

As for accolades, he was presented with the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in June 2011. Since then, he has won several Emmys and a People’s Choice Award.

Why did Pat Sajak retire from Wheel of Fortune?

In June 2024, Sajak’s daughter Maggie — who has served as Wheel of Fortune’s social correspondent since 2021 — interviewed her father in a miniseries titled “Thanks For The Memories,” during which he provided more insight about his decision to retire.

“My goal was not to do the job until I keel over on it,” he said. “You’ve always heard me say this dozens of times, I’d rather leave a couple years too early than a couple of years too late.”

“Could I still do it? Yeah, I think I could for a while. There’s also some other things in life that we’d like to do,” Sajak continued. “It’s been a great 40 years, and I’m looking forward to whatever’s ahead.”

He went on to say he was “comfortable” with his decision, and that he thought the “time is right.”

Has Pat Sajak returned to Wheel of Fortune since retiring?

Though he is making a special return as host for season 5 of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, it isn’t Sajak’s first time back at the wheel since retiring.

On Dec. 2, 2024, Sajak returned as host for a special holiday episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.

According to a press release, season 5 of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will mark Sajak’s “final spin” as host. Among the celebrities set to compete are Cameron Brink, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall and Oscar Nuñez.

Is Pat Sajak still close with former co-host Vanna White?

In his emotional goodbye message during his final episode of Wheel of Fortune, Sajak gave a special shout-out to his longtime co-host and “professional other half,” Vanna White.

“We’ve seen a lot of changes in each other’s lives over the years, but we’ve always been there for each other,” he said. “While I’ll very much miss working with her, I take solace in the fact that we live about five miles apart so we’ll see plenty of each other. But I will miss our nightly closes and her laughter and her good nature.”

Since he has exited the show, the pair have continued to remain close off-screen. During an April 2025 conversation with TV Insider, White shared that they see each other regularly.

“We’re friends. We have dinner! Yeah, he’s still in my life,” she said.

White went on to say that getting together with Sajak is like “slipping into something very comfortable.”

“I mean that in the best possible way. It’s just comfortable,” she added.

What has Pat Sajak been up to since retiring from Wheel of Fortune?

Shortly after he announced his retirement, the EVP of Game Shows at Sony Pictures Television Suzanne Prete told PEOPLE that Sajak would serve as a consultant on Wheel of Fortune for three years after his exit.

The longtime TV star will also finish up hosting season 5 of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which will mark his last run on the show.

In his interview with Maggie, Sajak shared that while he was stepping away from his role, he wasn’t completely retiring. However, he went on to say that in order for him to find his next project, it would have to be something “special” and “designed for me.

“Something exciting and different and challenging,” he added. “But I’m perfectly happy if it just means that I’ll continue with my crossword puzzles and play with my grandchildren.