Contestant Loses Jeep in Tense “Wheel of Fortune” Bonus Round
Viewers of Wheel of Fortune were left stunned Monday night as a nerve-wracking Bonus Round cost contestant Michael Soltis a brand-new Jeep — and even made him blank on the breed of his own dog under pressure.
Early Struggles and Shifting Momentum
The episode featured three players: Michael Soltis from Pittsburgh, Eimi Smith from Austin, and LaShauan Swift from Chicago. Soltis, a union carpenter for over two decades, got off to a slow start. Smith quickly seized control, sweeping the toss-ups and solving the first full puzzle, “Accidentally on Purpose,” to push her total to $9,050. She extended her lead to $10,350 by solving “Sleeping Bag of Tricks.”
Momentum shifted in the Prize Puzzle round. Soltis earned a Wild Card and correctly guessed the song title “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” winning a trip to Africa and raising his total to $14,690. He also locked in two of the three triple toss-ups, while Swift, a retired Chicago Fire Department paramedic, finally entered the board by solving one.
Show hostess Vanna White in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
Soltis Takes the Lead
The night continued to favor Soltis. He cracked the final puzzle, “The Wild Wild West,” even with just three letters filled in. “You got that one quickly,” host Ryan Seacrest remarked as the round ended. Soltis finished the regular game with $20,240. Smith left with $10,350, and Swift took home $2,000 — plus the satisfaction of a bucket-list appearance.
Bonus Round Nerves
The Bonus Round began with lighthearted banter. Seacrest asked Soltis about the dog he hikes with. Nervous, Soltis stumbled, describing him as “half-weiner, half-beagle,” before correcting himself. Seacrest teased, “Have you met him?” Soltis laughed but the pressure was clear.
The puzzle category was “Places.” After the standard letters R, S, T, L, N, and E were revealed, Soltis used his Wild Card to pick five more: K, C, Y, D, and O. The board displayed:
With the clock ticking, Soltis guessed: “My Old Plants,” “My Old Points,” and “My Old Chonts.” None were correct. When time ran out, Seacrest revealed the answer: “My Old Haunts.” Soltis missed the chance to drive home in a Jeep Wrangler.
Fans React
Viewers quickly took to social media, sharing their sympathy. One wrote, “That one was brutal — haunts never came to mind.” Another said, “I had no idea. Tough puzzle.” A third added, “Never heard that phrase before.”
The episode left fans asking: could you have solved “My Old Haunts” before the buzzer?
