Forty-one years ago, Pat Sajak became the host of a new game show called “Wheel of Fortune.” That game show has become a huge hit and a part of popular culture, but the show is about to change forever.

In 2023, Sajak announced that he would be leaving “Wheel” behind in favor of retirement after one final season hosting the show. Now, we are down to those final shows. Sajak will host the show for the last time on the episode airing Friday June 7, 2024.

As Sajak is about to walk away from the show that made him a household name, we have some parting thoughts from him. His daughter, Maggie Sajak, who is the Social Media Correspondent for “Wheel of Fortune,” sat down with him for an interview. During the interview, she asked her father questions everyone wants to know, such as how Sajak feels about retiring. He answered, “Surprisingly okay.”

He added that he looks forward to the next phase of life. He said, “I’m perfectly happy if it just means that I’ll continue with my crossword puzzles and play with grandchildren – hint, hint, hint, no pressure.”

While Sajak is ready for retirement, he also appreciates what the show has meant to the world. He explained, “I do know that somewhere along the line we became more than a popular show, we became part of the popular culture, and more importantly, we became part of people’s lives. And that’s been awfully gratifying.”

During the interview, Maggie actually seemed slightly more emotional about her dad’s retirement than he did. She said, “This show means the world to us. It’s been such a gift. You’ve made what could have just been Hangman into a cultural phenomenon. So thank you for these amazing 40-plus years.”

Sajak’s decision to retire does not mean the end of “Wheel of Fortune.” Instead, Ryan Seacrest will step in as his replacement.

Watch the video below to hear more of Sajak’s thoughts about walking away from “Wheel of Fortune.”

Do you think Seacrest will be a good replacement for Sajak? Do you think Sajak will enjoy retirement as much as he thinks he will, or do you think he’ll end up missing “Wheel of Fortune”?