A recent Wheel of Fortune episode ended not in celebration, but in disappointment—both for the contestant on stage and the fans watching at home.
On May 8, Kyle MacDonald, an associate dean from Brown University, came heartbreakingly close to winning the \$50,000 Bonus Round prize. But like seven contestants before him, he fell just short—marking the eighth consecutive Bonus Round loss on the show.
A Strong Game, A Tough Ending
MacDonald competed against Kiran Makhani from Portland, Oregon, and Jeanette Cothron of Tuscola, Illinois. He delivered a standout performance during the main game, earning \$27,950 in cash and prizes, including exciting trips to Costa Rica and Myrtle Beach.
But when it came to the Bonus Round, the wheel had other plans.
Kyle chose “Person” as his final category. Given the usual R, S, T, L, N, and E letters—and his own picks of D, M, P, and O—he was left staring at this puzzle:
_ _ _OMPL_S_ED _ _ _ _TOR
With just seconds ticking down, he guessed “Accomplished Author.”
A solid try—but not quite. The correct solution? “Accomplished Aviator.”
The miss cost him a \$50,000 prize.
Fans Frustrated by Another Blow
Host Ryan Seacrest, still settling into his new role, broke the news gently. But fans weren’t as calm.
“Another Bonus Round loss? This is turning into a disaster,” one viewer wrote on YouTube.
“This is painful to watch,” said another. “How many more contestants have to lose \$50K before someone breaks the streak?”
The loss only added fuel to an ongoing debate: Has the Bonus Round become too difficult?
Kyle Keeps His Spirits High
Despite the costly miss, MacDonald remained in good spirits. After the episode aired, he shared his thoughts on Instagram:
“The fastest 22 minutes of my life,” he wrote. “It was the experience of a lifetime, and I still can’t believe it actually happened.”
He also opened up about his personal connection to the show, recalling how he grew up watching Wheel of Fortune with his grandmother in Canada.
“She would’ve been thrilled to see this,” he said. “It’s how I learned the ABCs and fell in love with game shows.”
A Bittersweet Finish
While MacDonald’s near-win stole the spotlight, the other contestants didn’t walk away empty-handed. Jeanette Cothron earned \$5,550, and Kiran Makhani took home \$2,000.
But it’s the Bonus Round miss that stuck with viewers—another close call in what’s starting to feel like a streak of heartbreaks.
As fan frustration grows louder, one question looms:
Is it time for Wheel of Fortune to re-think its toughest puzzle?
