What disease does Vanna White have? None, yet her life included major personal struggles
Vanna White does not have any known diseases but has experienced several tragedies, including the deaths of her mother and fiancé. The long-term Wheel of Fortune co-host has been on the iconic game show since 1982, earning fans across generations.
Source: UGC
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Key takeaways
- Vanna White's mother, Joan Marie, died in 1980 before she found her television breakthrough on Wheel of Fortune.
- In the mid-1980s, Vanna had planned to marry actor John Gibson, but he tragically died in a plane crash.
- The game show host has credited Wheel of Fortune fans for helping her cope with loss.
Vanna White's profile summary
Full name | Vanna Marie Rosich |
Date of birth | February 18, 1957 |
Age | 68 years old (as of November 2025) |
Place of birth | Conway, South Carolina, United States |
Heritage | Mixed Puerto Rican, German, and Italian |
Height | 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m/168 cm) |
Ex-husband | George Santo Pietro (1990 to 2002) |
Children | Nikko Santo Pietro, Gigi Santo Pietro |
Parents | Miguel Angel Rosich, Joan Marie Nicholas-Rosich, Hebert White (stepdad) |
Siblings | Herbert 'Chip' White III |
Alma mater | North Myrtle Beach High School |
Profession | Game show hostess, TV personality |
Social media |
Vanna White's biological dad was not present
Vanna's mother, Joan Marie, was married to Miguel Angel Rosich, a Puerto Rican from Ponce. They divorced shortly after her birth in 1957, and Miguel vanished from her life. He moved to Florida, where he remarried Irmgard Margaret in 1960.
Miguel met a tragic end in July 1987 at the age of 56. He was buried at the Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park, according to his obituary.
Joan Marie remarried Herbert Stackley White Jr., who adopted Vanna and raised her as his own in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The TV star took his last name. Herbert worked as a real estate broker at White's Realty.
Source: Original
Vanna lost her mother to cancer
Joan Marie battled ovarian cancer shortly after Vanna White moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. She passed away on July 10, 1980, at the age of 44. The game show host was 23 and had yet to achieve television stardom. She landed her role on Wheel of Fortune about two years later, in 1982, replacing Susan Stafford.
Herbert White Jr. remarried after Marie's death but maintained a close father-daughter bond with Vanna White. He died on April 1, 2022, at the age of 96. In a tweet, the TV personality celebrated him for being the best dad ever.
He lived a full and happy life and will be remembered as one of the kindest and most wonderful human beings of North Myrtle Beach. I love you so much, Dad.
Source: Instagram
Vanna White's fiancé died in a plane crash
White started dating actor John Gibson in the early 1980s. He had appeared on projects like One Life to Live (1968), Young and the Restless (1973), and The Warriors (1979).
Tragedy struck on May 17, 1986, when Gibson's plane crashed near Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles while trying to land. He was the pilot and only occupant in the rented Socata Trinidad TB20. He was 37.
Vanna shared in a 2019 interview with People that she fell to her knees the moment she heard about the crash. She revealed that the support she got from her Wheel of Fortune fans helped her cope with the major loss.
I heard from so many people who had shared the same experience of losing someone instantly in an accident, and that really helped me. I didn't feel like I was alone. Because when something like that happens, you immediately think you're the only one.
Source: Getty Images
Vanna initially struggled with fertility
The TV star found love again when she met George Santo Pietro, a restaurateur and real estate developer. They tied the knot in 1990.
Vanna White experienced tragedy in 1992 when she got pregnant with her and Pietro's first child. She announced the pregnancy on Wheel of Fortune through a puzzle whose answer was "Vanna's Pregnant." She unfortunately lost the pregnancy a week later.
George and Vanna later welcomed two children. Their son, Nicholas 'Nikko', was born in June 1994, while their daughter, Giovanna 'Gigi', arrived in July 1997. The couple had an amicable divorce in November 2002 after 12 years of marriage.
Source: Instagram
How much does Vanna White weigh now?
The TV personality revealed in a 2012 interview with psychotherapist Jean Fain for HuffPost that her weight has ranged between 112 pounds and 118 pounds ever since she was in high school. She assured the interviewer that she was not obsessed with her weight and encouraged people to eat healthily.
Vanna White also maintains good health and a youthful appearance through exercise. Her fitness routine is light with indoor cycling, 10 lb weights, and pull-ups. She told Women's Health Magazine in September 2025 that she likes to play golf and crochet to relax her mind.
Source: Getty Images
When did Vanna White have cancer?
Despite rumours, Vanna White has never battled ovarian cancer, which claimed her mother's life. The game show host is also not diabetic.
The only confirmed illness that affected Vanna White is COVID-19. She tested positive for the disease in August 2023 and had to miss taping a week's worth of Wheel of Fortune episodes. She fully recovered.
Do Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest get along?
There is no tension between the Wheel of Fortune co-hosts despite rumours. The pair has been working together since Ryan Seacrest joined the game in September 2024 following the retirement of Pat Sajak.
Ryan and Vanna have reportedly been friends for two decades. They celebrated their friendship during the National Best Friend Day on June 8, 2025.
Fans of Wheel of Fortune will continue to see Vanna White a little longer. In September 2023, she signed a contract extension through the 2025/2026 season. In her July 2025 interview with Forbes, she said, "We'll go from there" when her contract expires.
Source: Instagram
Conclusion
While a lot has happened to Vanna White, she seems healthy with no reported illness. The game show host remains a fixture on Wheel of Fortune. Vanna is close to her two kids and her long-term boyfriend, contractor John Donaldson, whom she has been dating since 2012.
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Source: Briefly News
