A “Wheel of Fortune” contestant had an incredible run on the game show but left fans in disbelief after a heartbreaking loss in the Bonus Round—missing out on a brand-new Ford Bronco in the process.
Ryan Halsey, a Santa Barbara, California native, dominated most of the game and looked poised for a huge win—until the final puzzle stumped him, despite many viewers thinking it was an easy solve.
Strong Start for Halsey
Halsey got off to a solid start, ringing in first on the opening toss-up puzzle with “Hula Dance Instructor,” securing an initial $1,000. He competed against Hawanya Jackson-Elliott from Detroit, Michigan, and Jo Ann Bomkamp from Woodstock, Illinois.
Jackson-Elliott, a social worker for developmentally disabled adults, secured the second toss-up puzzle with “Green Sea Turtles,” bringing her total to $2,000. But it was Halsey, a self-proclaimed “hotel nerd”, who took an early lead after solving “Margarita, Mojito, Mimosa, Mudslide”—earning him $8,900 in the process.
Halsey Takes Over
The momentum continued as Bomkamp, a retired teacher, hit “Bankrupt”—though with no winnings yet, she had nothing to lose. Halsey, on the other hand, built up a strong streak, solving most of the next puzzle while collecting a Wild Card. But luck wasn’t entirely on his side, as he too landed on “Bankrupt”, cutting his turn short.
Jackson-Elliott guessed a letter, but it wasn’t on the board. Bomkamp then hit “Bankrupt” again. Halsey bounced back quickly, solving “Taking a break from social media,” bringing his winnings to $12,400.
Huge Win—and a Costa Rica Getaway
Halsey’s hot streak continued when he landed on the Express Strip, allowing him to rack up $13,050 in just one round. He confidently solved “Another perfect day” and, to top it off, won a trip to Costa Rica.
In the Triple Toss-Up round, Halsey and Jackson-Elliott each solved a puzzle for $2,000 apiece, before Halsey claimed a third win for another $2,000.
By the time the final puzzle rolled around, Halsey was in prime position, but after landing on “Bankrupt”, his turn ended abruptly. Jackson-Elliott collected nearly $4,000 before the final spin, but it was Bomkamp who secured a last-minute win by solving “Dreams Really Do Come True,” earning $3,700.
Halsey finished as the night’s biggest winner, walking away with $39,450 and his vacation package.
Bonus Round Heartbreak
Halsey picked “Phrase” as his Bonus Round category and had his parents, Tim and Jerry, cheering him on.
The letters R, S, T, L, N, and E filled in, and he added G, F, H, and O. That left him staring at:
_ O_L _E EL_GHTE
He tried guessing “I am delighted” and muttered a few other phrases, but time ran out before he could land on the correct answer:
“I WOULD BE DELIGHTED.”
Host Ryan Seacrest revealed the prize envelope—Halsey had missed out on a brand-new Ford Bronco.
Ryan Seacrest and Ryan Halsey in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
Ryan Seacrest and Ryan Halsey in a ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode, Photo Credit: Wheel of Fortune/Youtube
Fans React
The moment quickly went viral on YouTube, with fans expressing their sympathy and frustration over the loss.
“Ouch, that hurt,” one viewer wrote.
“How did he not get that Bonus Round? He was bright all night and then bam!” another commented.
Others acknowledged the difficulty of the puzzle, with one fan saying, “Tough solve.”
Despite the disappointment, Halsey still walked away with nearly $40,000 and a luxury vacation, proving he had an impressive night—just not the perfect ending.