‘Wheel of Fortune’ Bride-to-Be Misses Out on $55,000 Bonus, Leaving Fans Stunned

A bride-to-be walked away from Wheel of Fortune with $25,598 in winnings, but a missed Bonus Round puzzle cost her the chance to take home an additional $55,000 for her wedding. Olivia Bordenet’s near miss on the October 22 episode sparked disbelief among viewers, many of whom felt the final puzzle should have been solvable before the clock ran out.

Olivia Bordenet Builds an Impressive Lead

Bordenet, who is from Chicago, competed against Diana Baker of Miami and Larry Lam of Benson, North Carolina. During the October 22 game, Bordenet solved two Fortune Frenzies, while Baker solved one.

Lam, a social worker who enjoys running, got on the scoreboard by solving “Sitting In the Front Row” for $1,750. Baker, who is passionate about abandoned dogs and cats, made several correct letter guesses in the “Brainy” crossword puzzle category. However, she lost her turn after choosing an “A” that did not appear in the puzzle.

Lam took advantage of the opportunity, solving “Insightful, Wise, Intelligent” to earn $5,100.

Bordenet soon emerged as the contestant to beat. She solved “Adrenaline Rush” to win a trip to Australia and take the lead with $21,598. She strengthened her position by solving two of the three Triple Toss-Ups, while Baker claimed the remaining puzzle.

The final puzzle of the main game went to Lam, who solved “That’s a Big Number” during the final spin to collect $1,500. He finished with $6,650, while Baker ended the game with $3,000.

Bordenet secured $25,598 in total winnings, giving her a substantial amount to put toward her wedding. But she still had one final chance to increase her prize money.

A $55,000 Bonus Slips Away

For the Bonus Round, Bordenet selected the category “Phrase.” She was joined by her mother and fiancé, Jack, as she prepared for the final challenge.

The show provided the standard letters R, S, T, L, N and E. Bordenet then chose C, H, V and O in an attempt to reveal enough of the puzzle to identify the phrase.

The board displayed:

“THE _ _ _ T _S OVER”

With the countdown underway, Bordenet tried several possibilities, including “The Best Is Over,” “The Worst Is Over,” “The Most Is Over” and “The Mist Is Over.”

Despite her attempts, she couldn’t find the correct solution before time expired.

The answer was “The Wait Is Over,” but the missed puzzle meant she forfeited the chance to win the $55,000 hidden in the envelope. Had she solved it, her total winnings would have climbed to $80,598.

“Bummer,” Bordenet said after the disappointing reveal.

Host Ryan Seacrest offered a playful observation, telling her, “You’ve found the perfect man. The wait is over.”

The near miss came just one day after another Wheel of Fortune contestant, a groom-to-be, reportedly missed out on more than $100,000 intended for his wedding.

Fans Debate the Missed Puzzle

Bordenet’s Bonus Round performance quickly became a talking point on Reddit, where viewers shared their reactions to the episode.

“I enjoyed it as always. Can’t believe she missed the final puzzle,” one viewer wrote.

Another commenter was more emphatic, saying they had solved the puzzle themselves and describing it as “so d**n easy.” They added that they were disappointed Bordenet had missed out on the $55,000.

The reactions highlighted how frustrating a Bonus Round loss can be, particularly when a major prize is at stake and viewers believe the answer was within reach.

Although Bordenet still left with $25,598, the additional $55,000 would have made a significant difference to her wedding fund.

Could you have solved the final puzzle before the buzzer?

Wheel of Fortune airs on weekdays. Check local listings for broadcast times, or stream episodes the following day on Hulu and Peacock.