‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Contestants’ Emotional $63k Win Inspires Fans
Wednesday night’s Wheel of Fortune episode had viewers reaching for the tissues as one contestant’s big win became a powerful family moment—and a life-changing experience.
Gerard Amento of Beaumont, California, didn’t just walk away with over $63,000 in cash and prizes. He also walked away one step closer to his dream—and with his wife in tears by his side.
The show, a rebroadcast from its original October 16, 2024 airing, featured Amento competing against April Kutchinski from Chandler, Arizona, and Donna Jones of Collinsville, Alabama. While all three players brought energy to the game, it was Amento’s comeback performance and emotional Bonus Round that stole the spotlight.
Amento, a stay-at-home dad with aspirations of becoming a teacher, arrived with his wife Leah cheering from the audience. By the end of the standard game, he had banked $23,440, secured a luxury vacation to Greece and Turkey, and earned a spot in the Bonus Round. Jones closed out her night with $3,350, and Kutchinski with $3,000.
Amento’s game got off to a rocky start when he landed on a Bankrupt wedge—a moment that typically signals trouble for most players. But the former professional yo-yoer didn’t miss a beat. He quickly rebounded, solving several challenging puzzles with minimal letters revealed—an impressive feat that kept the crowd rooting for him.
As host Ryan Seacrest guided him into the final round, he couldn’t help but point out Leah’s visible emotion. “She might be more excited than I am,” Amento said, smiling. “She really wants to go to Greece.”
Seacrest, ever the showman, asked if the tears would keep flowing if he landed a big bonus. “No,” Leah replied, dabbing her eyes. “I’m just really happy for him.”
Amento chose “Phrase” as his category, with the letters R, S, T, L, N, and E automatically revealed. He added C, B, M, and A—and the board filled in just enough to show: “T_HE _A_E A BR__HT _U_TURE.”
With just seconds ticking away, Amento confidently solved it: “They have a bright future.” And just like that, $40,000 more was added to his total—bringing his final winnings to a stunning $63,440.
Seacrest handed Amento the prize envelope, and the stunned contestant bent over in disbelief before rushing to lift his wife off the ground in a joyous embrace. Seacrest even passed Leah a handkerchief as she joined her husband on stage, still wiping away tears.
“How did you solve that so fast?” the host asked in amazement.
Since the original broadcast, Amento has graduated from college with a teaching degree—proof that dreams really do come true when the right puzzle pieces fall into place.
