‘Wheel of Fortune’ Player Turns Heads After Failing To Solve $1M Puzzle

A heart-stopping moment on Wheel of Fortune left one contestant just shy of an unforgettable million-dollar payday—and viewers stunned by how close she came to making game show history.

Jesse Larson, a contestant on a recent episode of the popular game show, was riding high after an impressive series of wins, including grabbing both the elusive Wild Card and the coveted $1 million wedge. Her luck didn’t stop there—Larson also nailed the puzzle “Taking the Perfect Pic,” scoring a luxury vacation to Panama and vaulting into the lead.

As the game rolled into the high-stakes Bonus Round, Larson had already racked up $16,400. Her closest competitor had only managed a $2,000 consolation, making Larson the clear frontrunner heading into the final puzzle that could change her life.

Before the critical spin, Larson introduced her husband Adam—a firefighter—who joined her onstage. Host Ryan Seacrest, stepping into his new role with all the flair fans have come to expect, ramped up the tension: “This is a big moment,” he said, as he revealed that the usual $100,000 bonus card had been swapped out for a $1 million prize envelope.

Larson’s spin landed between the “Game” and “Spin” markers on the wheel, and she selected the “Phrase” category. The board lit up with the standard set of letters—R, S, T, L, N, and E. Using her Wild Card advantage, she guessed H, M, C, O, and added B for good measure.

As the letters filled in to reveal: “HE _ O_ THE C_R_E,” the pressure mounted. With just seconds on the clock, Larson looked stumped. She muttered some unsure guesses, shook her head, and time ran out.

Seacrest revealed the answer with a sympathetic smile: “Ahead of the Curve.”

The disappointment was palpable. Not only did Larson miss out on a $40,000 bonus, but she also lost the shot at the million-dollar envelope, which had been placed on the “S” in “America’s” on the prize wheel. Viewers immediately took to social media, sharing her frustration.

One viewer on YouTube admitted, ‘That puzzle was seriously challenging.’ “I only figured out ‘of the curve.’ Never would’ve guessed the full phrase.” Another chimed in, “Imagine being one word away from a million bucks. Brutal.”

While Larson didn’t walk away a millionaire, her performance and near-win made for a memorable episode—and a stark reminder of just how quickly fortunes can turn on one of America’s most beloved game shows.