Vanna White and John Donaldson Tie the Knot in a Heartfelt Surprise Ceremony

Vanna White and John Donaldson.
Credit:

Courtesy of Vanna White and John Donaldson

What You Need to Know

• Wheel of Fortune host Vanna White is married to John Donaldson.
• White and Donaldson wed in a private ceremony after more than a decade of dating.
• The couple announced their marriage on Instagram on Wednesday, January 21.

Vanna White and John Donaldson have officially tied the knot.

The 68-year-old host of Wheel of Fortune and her longtime partner revealed the news in an Instagram post on January 21, stating, “Surprise! We got married!”

Vanna White and John Donaldson.

Courtesy of Vanna White and John Donaldson

In her post, White expressed her joy, stating, “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.”

White first met Donaldson in 2012 when a friend introduced the real estate developer at one of her barbecues. Reflecting on their initial meeting in a 2019 interview, White recalled, “I remember looking at him and thinking, ‘He’s really cute.’ We ended up talking for a long time that night.”

Vanna White and John Donaldson.

Courtesy of Vanna White and John Donaldson

“It just works,” she added about their relationship. “He lets me be me, I let him be him … There is no drama in our relationship.”

In October 2023, White discussed the couple’s long-standing relationship, stating, “We’ve been together 12 years, and I feel like we are married. Do we have to get married? No, because we feel comfortable in our relationship. I know that he’s the one. He knows I’m the one.”

Vanna White and John Donaldson.

Courtesy of Vanna White and John Donaldson

At that time, White noted that marriage hadn’t been a central topic for them. “We don’t really talk about it, but you never know,” she said. “In my eyes and his eyes, we are married.”

White also described their compatibility, stating that Donaldson is “the male version” of her, emphasizing their similarities.

Vanna White and John Donaldson.

Courtesy of Vanna White and John Donaldson

Both have previous marriages; White was formerly wed to restaurateur George Santo Pietro from 1990 to 2002, with whom she shares two children, Nicholas “Nikko” Santo Pietro, 31, and Giovanna “Gigi” Santo Pietro, 28.