After 41 years and over 8,000 episodes, final turn as the renowned host of 鈥淲heel of Fortune鈥� will air on Friday.

In a farewell message released ahead of Friday鈥檚 episode airing, Sajak thanked the viewers of the beloved game show for granting him the 鈥渋ncredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes, night after night, year after year, decade after decade.鈥�

He noted that he always found it important to keep the daily half-hour show a 鈥渟afe place for family fun,鈥� excluding any social issues or political topics from the banter he shared with contestants and his co-host and letter turner, Vanna White. He said he wanted to keep the show 鈥渏ust a game,鈥� before noting that to many, it became a part of their daily lives.

鈥淕radually, it became more than that,鈥� Sajak continued. 鈥淎 place where kids learned their letters, where people from other countries honed their English skills, where families came together along with friends and neighbors and entire generations. What an honor to have played even a small part in all that.鈥�

to her partner on Thursday鈥檚 episode, calling him 鈥渓ike a brother鈥� and a 鈥渢rue lifelong friend.鈥� In the pre-recorded video that featured clips and photos of their 41 years as co-workers, she added that their personal friendship has meant even more than their professional collaboration.

Sajak announced in June 2023 that he would at the end of the show鈥檚 41st season, with . White will stay on as Seacrest鈥檚 co-host through the 2025-2026 season, based on a she signed in September.

In a recent interview for with Sajak鈥檚 daughter Maggie, who serves as the show鈥檚 social correspondent, the host said he felt 鈥渟urprisingly OK鈥� given that he announced his retirement almost a year before his final show.

鈥淚鈥檝e had time to sort of get used to it and it鈥檚 been a little bit wistful and all that, but I鈥檓 enjoying it and taking it all in and reflecting on a great run,鈥� he said.

Looking back on his time with the popular game show, Sajak said he is grateful for how audiences across the country connected with the show and made it a part of their daily routines.

鈥淪omewhere along the line, we became more than a popular show. We became a part of popular culture, and more importantly, we became a part of people鈥檚 lives,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been awfully gratifying.鈥�

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