Wheel of Fortune Contestant Loses $61K Over “Body Pillow” Miss

A recent Wheel of Fortune episode left fans stunned after contestant Eric Handzel, a Yankees superfan from Chadwicks, New York, missed out on a $61,000 payday during the Bonus Round.

Handzel had built strong momentum throughout the game, earning $21,350 and winning a South American cruise by solving “Don’t Forget Your Phone Charger.” Despite competition from Camila Santos of California and Joanie White of North Carolina, Handzel secured the highest score to reach the final puzzle.

His father’s booming laugh from the audience became a highlight of the episode, even catching host Ryan Seacrest’s attention. But the excitement turned to disbelief when Handzel faced the Bonus Round clue: “_ _ _ _ P_LL_ _” under the category Around the House.

After guessing “pulley” and “pillow,” he missed the correct answer — “Body Pillow.” The mistake cost him $40,000 in prize money, leaving him with a final total of $21,350.

Fans quickly reacted online, calling it one of the “easiest” puzzles in recent memory.