Ryan Seacrest awards his first-ever million-dollar win on Wheel of Fortune

With the presentation of his first-ever million-dollar reward to a contestant, Ryan Seacrest opened a new chapter in his hosting career and achieved a milestone on Wheel of Fortune that will be remembered for years to come. The moment arrived when competitor Christina Derevjanik figured out the bonus round puzzle "PACK OF COYOTES," earning an astounding $1,035,155. Not only was it a significant victory for the competitor, but Seacrest himself was allegedly moved to tears when he revealed the million.

This might be one of Seacrest's most memorable moments as host since he took over in 2024. He referred to it as "my first million-dollar winner" and declared that it would be a memorable moment. Christian's winnings reached a new all-time high in show history, including a million, as well as other cash and valuable prizes like trips to Montana and Tokyo.

This article explains the win unfolded on Wheel of Fortune, the structure of the million-dollar prize during Seacrest's tenure, and the significance of this occasion for the show and its host's legacy.

The first million-dollar winner under Joey Seacrest on Wheel of Fortune

Christina Derevjanik became the first contestant to earn a grand prize of over a million dollars when Ryan Seacrest was hosting Wheel of Fortune. Records were broken by the award moment, which also caused Seacrest and the live audience to respond emotionally. Let's examine the circumstances surrounding this momentous victory, the operation of the million-dollar reward, and its implications for the future.

How the million-dollar win happened

Christina established the stage for a large payoff in the game's early rounds by collecting $35,155 in cash and prizes and securing vacations to Tokyo and Montana. She then made it to the bonus round, survived the puzzles, and won the coveted $1 million wedge. She won the big prize for correctly solving "PACK OF COYOTES" under the "Living Things" category.

Seacrest seemed extremely moved as soon as he opened the million-dollar package. He congratulated Christina, saying,

“Congratulations, you’re my first million-dollar winner,” he told Christina, adding, “I have to wipe a tear off my eye."

A standing ovation was given by the audience as the confetti soared. That type of climactic moment solidifies Seacrest's legacy as host and the contestant's place in Wheel of Fortune history.

Prize structure & what Seacrest’s milestone means

A single lump sum is not necessarily the result of winning the Wheel of Fortune million-dollar reward. Although the guidelines and amounts may change based on the terms of production, contestants can typically select between a lump-sum present value or installments spread out over 20 years.

Christina's $1,035,155 total was the biggest amount ever given and set a new franchise record. She is the first competitor to win over a million dollars under Seacrest's tutelage and the fourth in the show's history.

Seacrest's emotional response, meanwhile, reveals how much importance he places on this particular moment.

"Ecstatic doesn't even cover it — my first million-dollar win just set a new Wheel record!" he wrote on Instagram.

He also called this is "Biggest win ever" and acknowledged how he will forever cherish this memory.

There's more to this win than just money. It helps turn Wheel of Fortune into the next era and validates Seacrest's status. Now, as host, he can point to a personal achievement, a poignant moment that solidifies the show's reputation and credibility after a century.

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