Connecticut resident Christina Derevjanik re-introduced herself to American television audiences Wednesday morning, making an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” the day after her record-breaking performance on the network’s iconic “Wheel of Fortune” game show.
Derevjanik became the first player to claim the $1 million prize since 2014 and, thanks to a series of cash winnings earlier in the game, left with the largest payout ever in “Wheel of Fortune’s” 49-year history. With some time to reflect before the pre-recorded segment aired Tuesday evening, Derevjanik decided that her first expenditure will be one many Americans can relate to.
“The first thing that I am spending that on is getting rid of all my student loans,” Derevjanik said on Good Morning America. “It’s something that, you know, the last 15 years I’ve been out of college, I’ve just been like, ‘How am I ever going to pay this off?’ And now, it is just going to be such a relief and then hopefully, invest in a home in the next couple of years.”
Derevjanik was overcome by emotion after her historic bonus round win, crossing the stage to give host Ryan Seacrest a staggering hug before remarking that she had been “manifesting” the $1 million prize. Part of this manifestation process included a running joke with her boss – she currently works as a marketing manager at New York-based energy provider Con Edison, according to her LinkedIn profile – and culminated in an on-screen promise that Derevjanik says she won’t be keeping.
Before she inserted the fateful $1 million card, host Seacrest pointed out that her boss was at the Burbank, Calif., studio and asked the Connecticut resident what she would do if she were to win the seven-figure prize, to which Derevjanik joked that she “may be putting in my two weeks [notice].”
“We joked like, ‘Well, if you win the $1 million, I may be going home by myself in the office, might have to fill your spot,'” Derevjanik said. “So that was just a running joke. Never thinking it would ever happen. But yeah, I’m going to be staying at work.”
Derevjanik’s victory aired at 7:30 p.m. on ABC, part of the game show’s historic 43rd season, which began in early September. However, her episode will be available for the next week to watch on Hulu and Peacock for the next week.
This article originally published at CT resident discusses her plans after winning the largest prize in ‘Wheel of Fortune’ history.
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