Robert Santoli Solves ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Puzzle With Just One Letter [Video]
Robert Santoli is the latest Wheel of Fortune contestant to solve a puzzle with just one letter showing.
According to CNN, the 23-year-old Yorktown, New York, man solved all but one puzzle during the show, winning $76,000 and not one, but two cruises.
Prior to Friday night’s episode, which was taped in January, Santoli and the other contestants were told their show would be sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line and would be nautical-themed. Santoli, a 2011 graduate of Soundview Preparatory School, who first tried out for Wheel of Fortune at age 19, immediately started making himself a study guide with possible puzzles and solutions. Robert Santoli also met with the 2014 Wheel of Fortune whiz Emil de Leon to talk strategy.
March 31, 2016 858a EDT Hearing about Wheel of Fortune winner Robert Santoli!wow! https://t.co/FjYy2SLprc
— Jim Bowden (@bowdenj) March 31, 2016
“The instant I got my theme, I immediately came up with an ever-growing list of puzzles themed towards cruises, sailing, fish, boats—anything on or in the water,” Santoli told the online newspaper TAPinto.net. “There are websites that keep track of past Wheel of Fortune puzzles, so I did some research on previous weeks themed toward these things and wrote them down. The show does sometimes repeat puzzles, especially themed ones. ‘Port & Starboard’ had been used at least twice before my show, both times as a Toss-Up puzzle.”
When the first puzzle popped up on the board, Santoli knew his homework and intense studying had paid off.
“As soon as I saw that ‘Places’ was the category, I had a hunch and then I saw four blanks, an ampersand (&) and nine blanks, and my face just lit up,” Santoli said. “My reflexes on that buzzer really show throughout the episode.”
The rest of the show continued in a similar fashion, with Santoli’s competitors have little to no chances of chiming in. Robert felt so bad about being a buzzer hog that he even offered them a sincere apology.
Wheel of Fortune player Robert Santoli walks away with $76,000 and two cruises… https://t.co/TGGy8CFQFo
— UK News Information (@AnglosearchNews) March 31, 2016
“As soon as I solved the Round 1 puzzle for some cash and a $6,009 cruise, I knew they had a lot of catching up to do, so I told them, ‘I’m sorry,’ ” Santoli said. “They were very nice, both before and after the show. Before they walked off the set after the final round, I told them: ‘No hard feelings.’ ”
During the first round alone, Santoli managed to win both toss-ups and the first round puzzle. Combined with the prizes, which included a cruise, Robert netted a whopping $13,000. Even after long-time host Pat Sajak told Robert to let the other contestants have a turn, he still went on to win all but one puzzle, and had racked up more than $31,000 as he headed to the Bonus Round, which he also won by guessing “goofy pictures.”
When it was all said and done, Robert Santoli managed to take home $76,000 in cash and prizes, including the two cruises. So, what does he plan on doing with all that money? Robert said he hopes to pay off his student loans and buy his own car.
“As of now, I share a car with my mother,” Robert explained. “I also plan to reimburse my parents for all the money they spent on our trip to LA, of course. The show does not reimburse you nor pay for your transportation or hotel, but they do guarantee you $1,000 just for getting on the show. I’m also a gambler, so I do plan to hit up Empire City in Yonkers with a few hundred once the check comes, and play the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ slot machines, of course!”
Watch Robert Santoli take on Wheel of Fortune below.
[Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Stringer/Getty Images]
