Wheel of Fortune contestant Rhea Mathew got the shock of a lifetime when her boyfriend proposed during a taping of the show — thanks to the help of hosts Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White.
“We’re celebrating milestones in honor of our 50th anniversary and actually had one happen earlier in the week right here on the set,” Seacrest, 50, said in a video shared on the Wheel of Fortune YouTube channel on Thursday, January 9. The clip was titled, “WE HAD A PROPOSAL ON SET!”
Mathew first appeared on the show in October 2023, and her boyfriend (now fiancé), Robin, reached out for help with his proposal. White, 67, explained that the show’s cast and crew “created a bit of a ruse” and made the former contestant think she was coming back to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary.
When prompted, Mathew solved a Wheel of Fortune puzzle reading: “Will you marry me?”
She was smiling at the correct answer when Robin appeared from backstage and got down on one knee. Suddenly Mathew’s mouth dropped as she realized what was happening. Of course, she said yes.
“I think she was really surprised,” Seacrest said when responding to the romantic moment. “Very sweet. I love that we can do that on this show.”
White also reacted to the “heart-warming” moment. “You never know what’s going to happen around here,” she added.
Maggie Sajak (Wheel of Fortune social correspondent and daughter of former host Pat Sajak) posted the proposal on her own social media account, as well.
“A proposal on set?! 2025 is off to a magical start!” she wrote, sharing some behind-the-scenes footage of the engagement. Text overlaid on the video offered followers more details as well.
“Rhea think [sic] she’s here for puzzle redemption, but little does she know … she’s here to get engaged,” the text read. Maggie, 30, spoke with Mathew before the proposal about her return to the show — and the contestant had no idea what was about to happen.
“OK, it doesn’t seem like she has any idea,” Maggie said. “This is so exciting.”
After the moment was over, Maggie congratulated the couple before asking if Mathew had “any idea” the engagement was coming.
Maggie interviewed Mathew again after the proposal, and the newly engaged contestant declared that she brought “my fiancé” to watch the Wheel of Fortune taping.
“The most elaborate proposal I could have ever — I cannot even imagine,” Mathew gushed. “I’m still in shock.”
Maggie added, “It was wonderful to see.”
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