A North Carolina sixth-grade teacher, Cory Earp, made television history by becoming the first $100,000 winner of Wheel of Fortune’s 43rd season. The Taylorsville language arts teacher, known for his signature tropical shirts, swapped the classroom for the game show stage — and it paid off big time.
Competing against fellow educators Alesha Davis from Chicago and BB Fisher from Arizona, Earp quickly impressed viewers with his lightning-fast puzzle solving. After losing momentum early on, he stormed back by sweeping all three Triple Toss Ups and finishing regular play with $26,450, enough to enter the Bonus Round.
Choosing the category “What Are You Wearing?”, Earp stunned host Ryan Seacrest and the audience by instantly guessing the phrase “Fancy Blazer.” Inside the envelope? The coveted $100,000 prize, bringing his total to $126,450.
“I’m speechless. Crazy,” Earp said after the win. Fans flooded social media with cheers, celebrating the teacher’s sharp mind and joyful spirit — proof that knowledge really can pay off.
