Vanna White Marries Longtime Partner John Donaldson

Vanna White, the beloved co-host of Wheel of Fortune and a familiar face to millions of Americans, has taken a spin into a new chapter of her life. On January 21, 2026, White surprised fans and friends alike by announcing her marriage to longtime partner John Donaldson in an intimate, private ceremony. The news broke through a heartfelt Instagram post, where White, now 68, shared a carousel of photos capturing joyful moments from their big day and throughout their years together.

“Surprise! We got married!” White wrote, her excitement palpable even through the screen. She continued, “John and I have been in love for more than a decade and a little while back, we wanted to make it official in a private ceremony. We’re excited to share this new joyful chapter in our lives with all of you! Love, Vanna and John.” The announcement was met with a flood of congratulatory messages, not just from fans but also from celebrities and colleagues. Maggie Sajak, the daughter of former Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak, chimed in with a simple, heartfelt “🤍.” The show’s official account added, “Congratulations!! 🥰🥰.”

The couple’s journey began in 2012, when a mutual friend brought Donaldson, a real estate developer, to a barbecue at White’s home. The spark was immediate. “I remember looking at him and thinking, ‘He’s really cute,’” White reminisced in a 2019 interview with People. “We ended up talking for a long time that night.” That conversation marked the start of a relationship that would quietly grow for more than a decade, mostly outside the public eye, despite the curiosity of White’s many admirers.

Throughout their time together, White and Donaldson have kept things refreshingly simple. In interviews, White has often spoken about the ease and comfort of their bond. “It just works. He lets me be me, I let him be him ... There is no drama in our relationship,” she told People. And though many fans wondered when, or if, the pair would ever make things official, White made it clear that the formalities of marriage were never a pressing concern. “We’ve been together for a long time and we are just happy the way it is,” she explained to E! News in December 2025. “Maybe people want to see us get married. When you’ve been with someone for so long, you kind of feel like you’re already married. You don’t have to have that piece of paper.”

Indeed, for White and Donaldson, their relationship was already woven into the fabric of family life. Donaldson has joined in on cherished family traditions, including annual Christmas vacations in Hawaii with White’s children, Nicholas “Nikko” Santo Pietro, 31, and Giovanna “Gigi” Santo Pietro, 28. White shares these two adult children with her former husband, restaurateur George Santo Pietro, to whom she was married from 1990 to 2002. “On Christmas Eve, we get to open one gift, and then we have to wait for Christmas Day to open the rest of them. It’s always been that way,” White once shared, describing the warmth and continuity of their family rituals.

The wedding itself was a private affair, with White donning a stunning white beaded gown and silver heels, while Donaldson looked sharp in a suit with a slightly undone button-up shirt and black-rimmed glasses. One of the images posted to Instagram shows Donaldson carrying White bridal-style down an arched stone hallway, both of them beaming. Other photos offered glimpses of the couple over the years, from the early days of their romance to recent celebrations, underscoring the depth and longevity of their connection.

The announcement of White’s marriage comes at a significant moment in her career as well. She is fast approaching her 45th anniversary as co-host of Wheel of Fortune, a milestone few in television can claim. Following Pat Sajak’s retirement in 2024 and Ryan Seacrest stepping into his role, some fans speculated about White’s future on the show. However, in December 2025, White put those rumors to rest by signing a two-year contract extension. “At this point, I’m happy with my job, I’m continuing on Wheel, and we will take one year at a time and go from there,” she told E! News. “You never know what’s around the corner. You just don’t. Something might come to me that I want to be involved in. I just take one day at a time.”

White’s down-to-earth approach to both her personal and professional life has long endeared her to fans. Despite decades in the spotlight, she has managed to maintain a sense of normalcy and privacy, sharing just enough to keep viewers invested but never courting unnecessary drama. Her marriage to Donaldson, after 14 years together, feels like a natural extension of that philosophy—a joyful step taken on their own terms, away from the glare of paparazzi or the pressures of public expectation.

The reaction to the news has been overwhelmingly positive. Friends, family, and fans have all expressed their delight, with social media flooded by messages of support and celebration. “Wonderful! Congratulations, Vanna and John!” one Instagram user wrote, echoing the sentiments of many. Another simply exclaimed, “ABOUT TIME! CONGRATULATIONS, VANNA! 🤍.”

As White and Donaldson embark on this new chapter, it’s clear that the foundation of their relationship—built on mutual respect, understanding, and a shared sense of humor—will serve them well. For White, who has spent decades helping contestants spell out their dreams on national television, it seems only fitting that she now gets to spell out her own happiness, letter by letter, alongside the man she loves.

With her signature grace and optimism, White continues to remind fans that life’s biggest moments don’t always need a spotlight. Sometimes, the most meaningful milestones are celebrated quietly, surrounded by love, and shared when the time feels just right.