‘Wheel of Fortune’: Teacher Curses After Losing Car as Show Introduces New Twist
"Wheel of Fortune" contestant Lloyd Saunders solving the Bonus puzzle on October 19, 2026 - Wheel of Fortune/Hulu
Wheel of Fortune was ready to bleep out their winner when he cursed after not winning a car. The contestant, who is a teacher in NYC, stole his opponents’ bank in a new twist, but still couldn’t figure out the bonus puzzle.
For Hitting It Rich week, there is a special coin on the wheel. If a contestant lands on that wedge and solves the puzzle, they win not only what they have collected, but also what is in the other contestants’ banks, including wedges, wild cards, etc.
Lloyd Saunders, from Brooklyn, New York, played against Pete Lukach, from Deptford, New Jersey, and Robin Stinnett, from Livingston, Michigan, on October 19. Lukach, a retired educator after 35 years, solved two Fortune Frenzies, giving him $2,000.
After only guessing three letters, Lukach solved the first puzzle — “Breaking a Sweat.” This gave him $4,500.
Lukach guessed most of the letters to the “Before & After” puzzle, but landed on “Lose a Turn.” So, the turn shifted back to Saunders, a P.E. teacher, who had the HIR coin and solved “Word Search Party.” He got $8,500 and a Wild Card after stealing his opponents’ banks.
Despite Saunders solving most of the next puzzle, Stinnett, a big Stevie Wonder fan, solved “Living The Good Life” with only two letters left to guess. She won a trip to Portugal and Spain, giving her $15,598.
Both Saunders and Lukach solved a Triple Toss-up. Time ran out on the third one, meaning no one solved “Flying Lessons.” Saunders solved the final puzzle — “Doubling Down.” This gave him a final total of $16,200, putting him in the lead.
Stinnett left with $15,598. Lukach left with $6,500. Saunders chose “Event” for his Bonus Round category.
Wheel of Fortune gave him “R,S,T,L,N, and E.” Saunders rounded out his puzzle with “G,H,C,I, and K,” with the Wild Card.
The puzzle then looked like “_RI_ _TE _ _SH.” As the clock counted down, Saunders guessed “Crusty Fish,” “Cristy Fish.” He couldn’t solve “Private Bash.”
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The game show contestant lost out on taking home the BMW. He turned and said, “D**n!” which caused host Ryan Seacrest and the audience to laugh.
“He was not happy about missing that puzzle,” a Reddit user said.
“Finally! Someone says what we’re all thinking we would have said! (Or worse,)” another commented.
Could you solve the final puzzle? Let us know in the comments.
Wheel of Fortune, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock
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Source: Entertainment
