It was only a matter of time before the Ryan Seacrest era of Wheel of Fortune would have its first million-dollar winner. As the calendar changes from September to October, Wheel of Fortune contestant Christina Derevjanik isn't falling into a pile of leaves — she's falling into a pile of cash. She's not just a million-dollar winner; she is the biggest winner in the history of the show with a cash prize of $1,035,155. For most contestants, that kind of payday might once have meant dreams of sports cars or luxury vacations.

But in 2025, for a generation buried under student loans and rising housing costs, a million dollars hits differently nowadays. There is less fantasy spending, more survival milestones. But Derevjanik wasn't just lucky during her spot on the show. Joining

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