‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Turns Heads After Failing To Solve This Tough $40,000 Puzzle

“Wheel of Fortune” viewers are buzzing after a recent episode left fans divided over a contestant’s heartbreaking loss in the Bonus Round. While some believe the puzzle was nearly impossible, others argue the player should have nailed it.

The contestant, Adam Wredberg, dominated the main game, walking away with nearly $30,000 in cash before heading into the final challenge. His early momentum was impressive—he solved the very first puzzle of the night and quickly took the lead. By the Mystery Round, Wredberg had scored $13,100 in cash plus a dream Tahitian cruise.

He didn’t stop there. In the Express Round, Wredberg snagged another big prize—a Trafalgar tour of America’s National Parks valued at $9,800, according to Andy Nguyen’s recap blog. By the end of the regular game, his total winnings stood at $29,900 along with two incredible trips.

Then came the high-stakes Bonus Round.

Standing alongside new host Ryan Seacrest, and joined by his brother Andy and sister-in-law Jessica, Wredberg picked the category “What Are You Wearing?”—a bold and uncommon choice. After selecting his letters, the board revealed this: “M _ F _ N _ _ _ L O T _ E S.”

With the standard “R, S, T, L, N, E” already in place, Wredberg added “M, F, G, and O” as his extra letters. That left him with just 10 seconds to solve the three-word phrase.