Additional Coverage:
- ‘Wheel of Fortune’ contestant’s perfect run ends with a $40,000 loss after failing to solve final puzzle (marketrealist.com)
Texas Contestant’s ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Dreams Sour in Bonus Round
Austin resident Eleni Kapetanakis dominated “Wheel of Fortune,” solving multiple puzzles and racking up $17,100. Her impressive run, however, came to a screeching halt in the bonus round.
After selecting “Place” as her category, Kapetanakis was faced with the puzzle “_RAN_E R _E.” Despite choosing P, C, M, and A to supplement the standard R, S, T, L, N, and E, she was unable to solve “Orange Grove.”
The miss cost her an additional $40,000 and a trip to the Plains of Africa.
Kapetanakis, who married her husband Alexi earlier this year, took the loss gracefully. Fans, however, were less accepting, questioning the puzzle’s fit within the “Place” category.
Many viewers took to social media to express their confusion, with some claiming they had never heard of “Orange Grove” as a place. This latest incident adds to a string of controversial puzzles from season 42, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the premiere of season 43 on September 8, 2025.