Kaden Nye is a 13-year-old “Wheel of Fortune” superfan from Smyrna who competed on the show during a Teen Week episode Wednesday night.
Not only did he fulfill his lifelong dream of being on the famous gameshow, but he also came back to Delaware as a winner.
Kaden won a total of $19,334 in cash and prizes during the Feb. 22 episode, including a trip to Wyoming.
What is it like to be on ‘Wheel of Fortune’?
“It was a very unique experience,” he said. “They made us feel included in the whole project and everything. It was just amazing.”
Kaden has always been a “Wheel of Fortune” fan, tuning in every night with his family to see the latest batch of contestants spin the wheel. Aside from “Wheel of Fortune,” he loves “Jeopardy!,” “Family Feud,” “Deal or No Deal” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”
As an avid singer, actor and dancer, he also is a “superfan” of “The Masked Singer.”
Although winning the episode is a great feat, meeting Pat Sajak might have been the cherry on top of the whole experience for Kaden.
“It was like meeting my idol. I got to meet the guy I watch literally every night on TV,” he said, adding that he also met Jim Thornton, the show’s announcer, along with show producers. And he got to take a look behind-the-scenes.
What does this have to do with his great-grandma?
Details on Wheel of Fortune:Tune in to ‘Wheel of Fortune’ to see if this Smyrna teen will bring home a win
Originally, Kaden planned to buy his great-grandmother a new house if he won. While he did not earn enough to do so, he still plans to help out by buying her a new security system and paying for home renovations, he said.
Kaden said the most surprising part about making it to the show he loves was seeing the set firsthand, which is much different than seeing it on his TV.
“The stage was very, very small, but I think the wheel was very, very heavy, to say the least,” he jokes.
The hardest part of the experience? As a non-morning person, it was waking up at 5 a.m.
Easy for a winner to say!
Another Delawarean on TV:Pike Creek woman wins big on ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Overall, Kaden had a blast on “Wheel of Fortune” and is grateful for the opportunity of a lifetime he knows he’ll always remember.
”I made a whole bunch of friends. Everybody was so nice and kind, and we all got along really well,” he said of the other contestants. “We still have a little group chat for each other; I talk to all of them.
“I just think it’s an honor to be on one of the best shows in history, and I’m just happy to be here.”
How can I be on ‘Wheel of Fortune’?
If you would like to be on “Wheel of Fortune,” applications can be submitted online at wheeloffortune.com/join/be-a-contestant for a chance to be invited to a virtual audition. From there, potential contestants can show off their puzzle-solving skills for a chance at being selected for the show.
If selected, each contestant goes home with a minimum of $1,000.
