A Million-Dollar Moment Slips Away
In a recent Wheel of Fortune episode, fans were left stunned when contestant Sam Oh froze during the Bonus Round — with a $1 million prize on the line.
Meet the Contestants: More Than Just Players
Aired on May 13, the episode followed a special “Bragging Rights” theme. All three contestants — Sam Oh from Cypress and coworkers Peter Jung and Daniel Park from Houston — work at the same pediatric office.
The competition quickly turned personal and hilarious. Host Ryan Seacrest cracked jokes after discovering Jung had once been Park’s pediatrician. “Still waiting for him to grow,” Jung teased. Seacrest shot back, “People say the same about me — better watch it!”
A Side Bet Adds Pressure
To raise the stakes, the group agreed: losers would wear “Wheel of Misfortune” T-shirts designed by Jung’s wife. Oh boldly declared he wouldn’t need one — and he came out strong.
Sam Oh Takes the Lead
Oh gained early momentum. He scored $2,000 in the second toss-up, then solved “Giving a Little Pep Talk” during the Jackpot Round for another $2,000 — plus a trip to Costa Rica. He followed up with “Surround Sound System,” pushing his total to $18,600.
Jung kept pace. He grabbed the coveted $1 million wedge and solved “Macadamia Nut Cookies,” winning a Maui vacation and $14,000. Park joined in late, solving the final puzzle, “This Girl Is On Fire,” and ended with $1,700.
Show host Ryan Seacrest and contestant Sam Oh in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
Bonus Round Pressure Mounts
Oh finished the main game with $28,050, ahead of Jung’s $16,450. That sent him to the Bonus Round — with a chance to unlock the million-dollar envelope.
The category was “Phrase.” With teammates cheering (and wearing their “loser” shirts), Oh faced the puzzle board and a life-changing shot.
A Freeze at the Worst Time
After the standard letters — R, S, T, L, N, E — were revealed, Seacrest asked for three more consonants and a vowel. Oh started with “C” but froze. Time ticked. Seacrest encouraged him: “Take a guess.”
Oh finally added “G, M, and O.” The puzzle read: “O_T O_ _ _ C.” He guessed “Out of” — but couldn’t finish it. The answer? “Out of Whack.”
Inside the envelope was $40,000. The million-dollar card? It sat on the “M” in “America.”
Fans React to the Miss
The loss marked the show’s twelfth straight Bonus Round fail. Fans had thoughts.
“Sam took WAY too long to pick his letters,” one Redditor commented. “I get he was trying to be strategic, but it gave him an unfair advantage.”
Another viewer added, “Not surprised he missed it. The pressure from that million-dollar hype was intense.”
On YouTube, someone summed it up: “Twelve straight Bonus Round losses? That’s some serious misfortune.”
One Winner, Two Losers — All in Good Fun
Backstage, Maggie Sajak chatted with the trio as they showed off their shirts. One even had a wedge labeled “Lose a Job.” Jung, the boss, joked he was safe — but with Oh taking home the most money, they teased he might be in trouble now.
Final Takeaway
Although the million-dollar dream slipped away, Sam Oh still walked away as the night’s top winner — just not the biggest winner in Wheel history.
