Additional Coverage:
- ‘Wheel of Fortune’ fans console contestant who fumbled an easy puzzle and cost him a car (marketrealist.com)
So Close! “Wheel of Fortune” Contestant’s Bonus Round Heartbreak Costs Him a New Car
“Wheel of Fortune” fans are no strangers to the nail-biting drama of a contestant getting agonizingly close to a huge prize, only to see it slip away. This week, the spotlight was on Julio Mata, a player whose impressive run on the iconic game show culminated in a bonus round that left viewers, and Julio himself, feeling a collective “ouch” as a brand-new car drove off into the sunset without him. Even host Ryan Seacrest had to step in with a reminder of the significant cash prize Julio did secure.
Before his bonus round challenge, Mata had already made headlines of his own, having visited all 50 U.S. states before hitting the big 3-0 – talk about an adventurer! His trivia prowess shone brightly throughout the game, earning him a respectable $22,800 before he even spun for the final prize. With three supportive friends cheering him on from the audience, Julio was ready to tackle the ultimate challenge.
Opting for the ‘Phrase’ category, Julio was given the standard R, S, T, L, N, E. He then strategically picked D, H, C, and O, hoping to unlock the mystery. The board lit up with “O N _ _ _N THE _ORLD.”
Julio quickly nailed the last three words: “IN THE WORLD.” But those first two words proved to be a real head-scratcher.
As the 10-second timer ticked down, the correct answer, “Moving up in the world,” remained just out of reach. When the solution was finally revealed, and Seacrest opened the prize envelope to show “Hyundai,” Julio’s reaction summed it all up – hands to mouth, a whispered “No.
Oh my God.” It was a tough pill to swallow.
Ever the gracious host, Seacrest was quick to remind Julio that walking away with $22,800 was still a fantastic achievement, a sentiment that seemed to help ease the sting of the missed car. Fans watching from home were right there with Julio, flooding social media with messages of sympathy.
Many agreed the puzzle was particularly tricky, with one fan noting, “I knew the last words were The World, but the layout of the RSTLNE really made this tricky. Even a puzzle expert with common sense and knowledge will struggle.”
Another viewer quipped about the “ING trap” and the loss of the “Hyundai EV,” while others simply lauded Julio’s good try and celebrated his solid $22,000 win.