TheWheel of Fortunefans are no strangers to heartbreak, but theshow’s recent bonus roundsare sparking something stronger than disappointment—suspicion.After a string of near-wins and increasingly obscure puzzles, longtime viewers are starting to wonder: isWheel of Fortunerigging the game to cut down on big payouts? The July 01, 2025 episode was the last straw for many, when contestantAndrew Leachko came within one word of winning $1 million.His narrow loss follows a pattern that fans say is becoming too hard to ignore—impossibly tricky clues, repetitive low-dollar prizes, and barely any major wins.Now, the beloved bonus round isn’t just frustrating, it feels like a setup.
What Has Been Going on With the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Bonus Rounds Lately?
It all started whenLeachkowas close to making history and becoming the fifth person towin $1 million inWheel of Fortunehistory. Leachko’s performance throughout the main game was pretty solid and he ended upsolving the $2K Toss-Up and even won big in the AARP mystery round.The pressure was already building since Leachko had to win the game without hitting bankrupt. Once he successfully did that, his $100,000 envelope in the bonus round was replaced by a $1 million envelope.
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Unfortunately, he failed to solve the puzzle, “Our Yearly Bash” byonly the last space after guessing “Fast,” “Past” and “Case”before his time ran out. Leachko walked away with $40,000 and the fans took to social media to refer to the close call as the “million-dollar heartbreaker.” But the bigger problem is that this is only the latest addition in a string ofdisappointing bonus roundsthat the show has recently aired. Fans onReddithave pointed out that the latest bonus round puzzles have been increasingly difficult. Phrases like “On the Jukebox,” “Buzzing Around,” “Rummaging in the Backyard,” and “Aquatic Birds” have left the contestants scratching their heads. Not to mention that these puzzles have alsoincluded rare letters such as “J,” K,” and “Q”which only proves that they are designed to be impossibly difficult.
The Bonus Round Puzzles Feel Like a Shot in the Dark
While these puzzles are definitely creative, they are nothing like the show’s usual pattern of well-known phrases, idioms, and common sayings that contestants are likely to encounter in everyday conversation. The recent bonus round puzzles have felt vague, random, and seem to be making obscure references that theaverage viewer or contestant would never be able to guess. When the show disconnects from the commonly used language that made it accessible and fun for everyone, the audience is bound to feel like the contestants are being set up to fail. The show then becomes nothing more than aguessing game where knowledge takes a backseat.
Aren’t Bonus Rounds Supposed To Be a Challenge?
On the other hand, an argument can be made thatthe bonus rounds are supposed to be difficult.In fact, the high level of difficulty is exactly what makes them feel so rewarding for those who do win the big prize. However, contestants have consistently failed to solve the bonus puzzle in the weeks leading up to the May 9 episode, so it does come off as suspicious. Some Reddit users believe this could be a deliberatestrategy the show is using to save moneyand keep the profits from going down.
This suspicion is only fueled by the show’s consistent use of the $40,000 prize envelope, which has become a staple of the bonus round. According to game show recapperAndy Nguyen, the $40,000 prize was awarded 61 timesduringWheel of FortuneSeason 42, Week 20. Plus, a car prize only came up 11 times, a $50,000 prize came up 10 times, and a $75,000 prize came up six times. Meanwhile $100,000 or $1 million prizes have only sprung up three times each. These statistics bring the future of the bonus round into question. If lower prizes become the norm going ahead, that automatically lowers the show’s stakes for many viewers whotune in for the second-hand excitement of winning big.
Wheel of FortuneSeason 42 airs weeknights on ABC.
Wheel of Fortune
