For the second time in the Wheel of Fortune’s 30 years on air, a contestant has won $1 million. On Thursday night, 30-year-old pharmaceutical saleswoman Autunm Ernhard pulled the $1 million card in the bonus round and guessed the puzzle – Tough Workout – with only two Ts, a G and an R on the board. The first Wheel of Fortune contestant to win $1 million was Michelle Lowenstein in October 2008.
"I am in complete and utter shock," Ernhard, who was cheered on by her parents and fiancé, said after her win. "I'm shaking. I came here today because I love the game, I wanted to have some fun and solve some puzzles – I feel like I'm in a dream!"
She said her parents and fiancé didn’t realize what she had won at first. "They were just off stage and couldn't see what my prize was. They were celebrating the fact that I solved the puzzle. They kept asking me how much I won, and I had to keep repeating it because no one believed me at first,” she added.
In addition to the $1 million, Ernhard won more $30,040 in the regular rounds. She plans to use some of the winnings for her wedding.
Wheel of Fortune executive producer Harry Friedman released a statement saying, "We always root for our contestants and enjoy giving away money and prizes that can change people's lives for the better. We'll stay in touch with Autumn and hopefully one day be able to show viewers how she used this money in one of our ‘Changing Lives' segments.
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