Heather Foster, once a familiar presence on local television, made a triumphant return to the spotlight—this time as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune. The former NewsChannel 7 anchor, who stepped away from her broadcasting career in 2021 to focus on raising her children, walked away from the Thursday, February 20 episode with an impressive cash prize and a dream vacation.
A Wisconsin native, Foster traded her usual routine of museum trips and library visits with her kids for a spin at the wheel. She even shared that her idea of a rare luxury these days is sitting alone in her car in total silence—something many parents can appreciate. From 2015 to 2021, Foster brought the news to local viewers; now, she’s showing she can still shine under the spotlight.
At first, it looked like luck wasn’t on Heather Foster’s side. Her two competitors—Babatunde Oyelowo, a gaming and anime enthusiast who grew up in Japan, and Eric Dotterer, a globe-trotting marathon runner from New York—took an early lead, quickly solving the first two puzzles and leaving Foster at the back of the pack.
But true to Wheel of Fortune‘s unpredictable nature, the momentum shifted. During the third puzzle, both Oyelowo and Dotterer faltered—one picking the wrong letters, the other hitting the dreaded “Lose a Turn” wedge. That’s when Foster made her move. Stepping up confidently, she filled in the blanks and solved the puzzle, “Life-Changing Experience,” pocketing $3,700 and shifting the energy in her favor.
With momentum now fully in her favor, Heather Foster continued her winning streak in the next round—a tricky “Before & After” puzzle. Luck was on her side as she landed on the coveted \$3,500 wedge and then the \$10,000 wedge, while both of her competitors hit “Bankrupt,” losing their progress.
Seizing the moment once again, Foster confidently solved the puzzle, “Wedding Ring Toss,” sending her total soaring to \$19,550.
“I love this place,” Foster said with a laugh, capturing the energy of the moment. Host Ryan Seacrest quickly chimed in, echoing her sentiment with a grin.
Eric Dotterer mounted an impressive comeback in the next round, solving the puzzle and winning a vacation package that brought his total winnings to $19,324—just enough to edge past Foster. Meanwhile, Babatunde Oyelowo held steady at $1,000.
The Triple Toss-Up round added even more suspense. Dotterer grabbed another $4,000, briefly solidifying his lead, while Foster picked up $2,000, keeping herself within striking distance as the game edged toward its final moments.
But Foster wasn’t finished just yet. In the final regular round, she took control once more, confidently solving the puzzle and adding $8,500 to her total. That last push brought her winnings to an impressive $30,050 and locked in her place in the Bonus Round. Dotterer finished strong with $23,324, while Oyelowo wrapped up the game with $1,000.
For the Bonus Round, Foster selected the category “What Are You Doing?” and was given the standard letters—R, S, T, L, N, and E. She then chose M, D, G, and O. As the letters filled in, the puzzle slowly took shape: R_DG_NG T_E G _.
Before Ryan Seacrest could even start the countdown, Heather Foster confidently called out, “Bridging the gap.” She was absolutely right. Her quick thinking earned her an additional \$40,000, bringing her final winnings to an impressive \$89,942, plus an unforgettable cruise to Iceland.
Overwhelmed with joy, Foster threw her arms around Seacrest in a heartfelt hug as he laughed and told her, “Congratulations!” For the former news anchor and full-time mom, it truly was a life-changing experience.
