Wheel of Fortune’ Player Turns Heads After Winning $64k On ‘Easy’ Puzzle #50

One lucky Wheel of Fortune contestant couldn’t believe his good fortune when he reached the Bonus Round and was given a puzzle so easy, he had to hold back from answering too soon.

Rich Rinaldi, a contestant from Narberth, Pennsylvania, went head-to-head with Cherie Mohr from Henderson, Nevada, and Unnecia Gathright from Bolingbrook, Illinois, on a recent episode of the popular game show. Not only did he come out on top, but he also walked away with a major cash prize and a dream vacation.

A Strong Start in the Game

Rinaldi wasted no time making his mark on the game, correctly solving both the first and second toss-up puzzles—”Cracking Open A Coconut” and “Put Down The Phone”—earning him a quick $3,000. However, luck wasn’t entirely on his side at first. When he finally got his chance to spin the wheel, he landed on “Lose a Turn”, giving his competitors a shot at the board.

Despite some tough breaks for Gathright, who hit “Bankrupt” multiple times, Rinaldi managed to solve the first puzzle of the game, “Working on Vacation,” adding $1,150 to his total and securing a Wild Card along the way.

The Competition Heats Up

Mohr, a concierge at a Las Vegas hotel, took control of the “Before and After” round, solving “Orange Chicken Little” and securing a $10,000 wedge to boost her earnings to $18,200.

During the Prize Puzzle round, Gathright made a strong effort, but another Bankrupt set her back. Rinaldi took advantage and solved “Gazing up at the Clouds,” winning himself a trip to Aruba and raising his total to $14,365.

Rinaldi’s momentum continued as he swept through all three Triple Toss-Up puzzles, adding $10,000 to his bank and putting him firmly in the lead. Gathright finally got on the board by solving “Cooking with Gas” for $4,500, while Mohr finished with $18,200. But it was Rinaldi who walked away as the night’s champion with $24,365 and that trip to Aruba.

The Bonus Round: Too Easy?

Moving to the Bonus Round, Rinaldi chose “Place” as his category. Standing beside his friend Hannah and his wife’s cousin Danielle, he explained that his wife was home with their two baby sons, making it impossible for her to travel.

Given the standard letters R, S, T, L, N, E, he then selected B, G, H, O, and D using his Wild Card. When the letters appeared, the puzzle read:

G _ _ E B O

At that moment, Rinaldi couldn’t contain his amusement. Just as he was about to shout out the answer, host Ryan Seacrest had to pause him, reminding him that he needed to complete his pre-answer speech first.

As soon as the clock officially started, Rinaldi wasted no time, immediately saying “Gazebo!” and securing an extra $40,000 in winnings. That brought his final total to an impressive $64,365.

Checking Off a Bucket List Item

Following his big win, Rinaldi took to Reddit to share his experience, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity.

“Thanks everyone for the well wishes. It was an unbelievable experience being on the show. Everyone was so very kind, and I checked an item off my bucket list!” he wrote.

He also explained his thought process behind selecting “Place” as his category, stating that “What Are You Doing” can be tricky due to uncertain letter choices, and “Thing” is often too broad. That left him with the best option: “Place.”

Although his Wild Card selection didn’t end up giving him any extra letters, he admitted it boosted his confidence going into the final puzzle. And with $64,365 and a vacation to Aruba, it’s safe to say Rinaldi walked away a winner in more ways than one.

Sources: TV Insider