A contestant on Wheel of Fortune had a remarkable victory, winning $72,000 after successfully guessing the Bonus Round puzzle. This thrilling moment unfolded when her opponent made a costly error by calling out a letter already present on the board.
Beth Barbee, hailing from Durham, North Carolina, faced off against Twyla Arbuckle from San Diego, California, and Bryan Babler from Oak Creek, Wisconsin, on Monday, April 21, 2025. The episode was particularly festive, as Wheel of Fortune was celebrating Disney Princess Week, featuring puzzles related to beloved Disney characters and offering enticing prizes for Disney Parks.
Barbee, who has been passionate about genealogy for over 40 years—coincidentally the same length of time she has been married—was eager to showcase her skills on the game show. Arbuckle, a human resources naval officer, kicked off the game by solving the first toss-up, while Barbee quickly followed suit, solving the second. This initial success put $2,000 in each of their banks.
Barbee's first significant win came when she solved the puzzle “Snow White Chocolate,” which landed her on the Disney Princess Wedge, granting her a trip. She continued her winning streak by solving the next two puzzles, including the Prize Puzzle round, which significantly boosted her lead.
However, the momentum shifted during the round categorized as “What Are You Doing?” where Arbuckle made an unfortunate blunder. When it was her turn, the puzzle appeared as “_ _LLO_ING _ _ BL_ _ _.” Arbuckle mistakenly called for a “B,” despite it already being in the puzzle. “Just kidding. We already have a ‘B’,” she admitted sheepishly. Host Ryan Seacrest responded, “Uh huh,” before informing her that they had to go with her first call. Arbuckle, acknowledging her mistake, said, “That’s fine. I messed up.” Seacrest humorously replied, “I know. I didn’t write the rules.”
Barbee capitalized on this error, solving the puzzle “Following My Bliss,” which earned her a trip to the Bahamas aboard the Disney Wish cruise ship. The audience shared mixed feelings about Arbuckle's mistake, with one Reddit user expressing sympathy, stating, “Aww. I felt bad for her.”
As the game progressed, Arbuckle managed to solve two of the Triple Toss-Ups, while Babler, a former live music venue owner, solved one, contributing to his total. Arbuckle concluded the episode with a respectable $9,800, while Babler took home $2,000.
Barbee emerged as the night’s big winner, racking up a total of $32,392 in cash and prizes. In the Bonus Round, she selected the category “What Are You Doing?” and received the letters “R, S, T, L, N, and E.” She then chose “P, G, F, O, and C” thanks to her Wild Card. The puzzle was displayed as “P_C_ _ NG PRO_ _CE,” and Barbee confidently solved it as “Picking Produce.” This correct answer added an impressive $40,000 to her bank.
Overjoyed, she hugged Ryan Seacrest and her husband, celebrating her grand total of $72,392. This episode of Wheel of Fortune not only highlighted Barbee's impressive skills but also showcased the unpredictable nature of the game, where a single mistake can change the course of the competition.
Fans of Wheel of Fortune can catch the show weeknights; check local listings for times.
