'Wheel of Fortune' contestant's mistake cost $1 million in prize money – NBC New York

Originally appeared on E! On-line

A Wheel of Fortune The participant was barely able to earn a million dollars.

Vivian Tranwho took part in the game show'S September 16th ConsequenceShe lost the grand prize when she couldn't solve the first word in a three-word puzzle in the bonus round.

“My heart is racing” Ryan Seacrest– who acted as host following Pat Sayak's retirement– said during the round. “This is a first for me. You're playing for $1 million.

When Vivian made it to the bonus round after landing on the “One Million” wedge in the final round, the $100,000 prize was replaced with $1 million. To win the prize, she had to land on the million dollar envelope, which she did, and solve the puzzle correctly.

What was the mystery? The phrase “offer help.”

Unfortunately she was missing four lettersfirst in the first word and ultimately lost the money.

Ryan opened the envelope to show she had landed on the correct envelope as she folded it in disbelief. Although it was a disappointment, Vivian left with a cash prize of $27,300, a trip to Europe and in good spirits.

“It turned out great,” she said told Wheel of Fortune's Social correspondent Maggie Sayak after the show, “a little painful, but I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

“He kind of cornered me and said, 'Vivian, I don't know if you want to see this,'” Vivian recalled of the moment she lost. “I knew the last two words, but I just couldn't get the first one into the syllables. It lasted 10 seconds and when I got to the eighth second I missed it.”

But she is grateful to have had the opportunity. She added: “Despite everything, I will look back on it positively.”

Season 42, which began September 9, is the first without Pat after he retired series in June after more than four decades. Although it's a bittersweet moment for the longtime letter writer Vanna Whiteshe has high hopes for it American Idol Host.

“He does an incredible job,” Vanna said E! News in a joint interview with Ryan this month. “It is not easy. He makes it look easy.”

And she sees it as a new chapter for the popular game show.

“Pat has decided to retire after 41 years and God bless him,” she said. “He was happy and they said Ryan was next and I said, 'Great.' Because he's so talented, he's so professional, he's so good at what he does, I'm so grateful.

And for Ryan, the opportunity was a given.

“If Wheel of Fortune “You get offered, you just don’t say no,” he emphasized. “You’ll have bad karma for the rest of your TV life.”