It's Wheel of Fortune's Biggest Win Ever

A Connecticut woman made game show history Tuesday night, becoming the biggest winner in Wheel of Fortune's 49-year history. Christina Derevjanik of Stamford took home a record $1,035,115 after a strong performance that included a $35,115 haul during the standard rounds. She advanced to the bonus round, chose the "Living Things" category, and accurately solved the puzzle, "PACK OF COYOTES," to claim what turned out to be the million-dollar grand prize, per WTNH. Derevjanik is only the fourth contestant to secure Wheel of Fortune's million-dollar grand prize and the first in over a decade. She's also the first to do so under the tenure of new host Ryan Seacrest.

"Congratulations, you're my first million-dollar winner," Seacrest told Derevjanik. "I have a tear in my eye." Derevjanik, who also picked up trips to Montana and Tokyo over the course of the episode, was nearly speechless after the event, simply saying, "I have no words." Earlier in the show, the marketer noted her boss was in the audience and joked that if she won the grand prize, she "may be putting in my two weeks' (notice)," per USA Today. After the win, Derevjanik noted, "We'll have a discussion once I get back to the office." The win was celebrated both on set and back home, with Stamford fans gathering at a local restaurant to watch Derevjanik set a new bar for future contestants.