Wheel of Fortune Player Misses Easy $45K Puzzle
A Wheel of Fortune competitor is currently enduring a flood of shocked responses after failing to solve what countless spectators considered one of the easiest Bonus Round puzzles of the entire season—a blunder that deprived him of a massive $45,000.
Josh Post, a retired Coast Guard veteran hailing from Magnolia, Texas, took his place at the wheel on Friday, November 14. He faced off against two other military veterans: Aaron Graham from Los Angeles, who served in the United States Army, and Arlene Kruser of Grove, Illinois, a Marine veteran who revealed she joined the armed forces because her brother challenged her to do so.
The evening kicked off with Graham conquering the initial Toss-Up puzzle, accurately guessing “Great Courage.” Kruser swiftly secured the second puzzle with “Guessing Someone’s Age,” applying immediate pressure on her opponents. She subsequently surged into the lead with an impressive solve—”Try Restarting Your Computer”—bringing her total to $9,750 and establishing dominance early on.
Post started to gather speed during the Crossword puzzle, which fell under the “In My Desk” category. He not only acquired the highly coveted Wild Card but also deciphered the board: “Food, Mousetrap, Pens, Staples,” elevating his earnings to $6,400. His fortune persisted when he successfully cracked “Taking a Speed Boat Tour,” securing an extra $3,200 alongside a lavish vacation to Montenegro. This triumph catapulted him into the lead with $18,573.
The Triple Toss-Up puzzles injected a massive wave of excitement into the soundstage. Graham claimed two victories in the comical “Absurd Bird” category, banking $4,000, while Kruser snagged the remaining $2,000. Presenter Ryan Seacrest even added his own commentary, noting, “That was a fun category for whoever came up with that. Thank you for entertaining us.”
Later in the broadcast, Graham managed to solve the concluding puzzle of the primary game—”You Had to Be There”—yet it was insufficient to propel him forward. He wrapped up his appearance with $11,000. Kruser concluded her run with $11,750. Meanwhile, Post, possessing both the highest score and the Wild Card, moved on to the Bonus Round, encouraged by his sister Melissa and his niece Alexis from the studio audience.
For his final challenge, Post chose “People” as his category. Following the reveal of the default letters “R, S, T, L, N, E,” he contributed “C, D, M, A, and Y” to complete the board. His ultimate puzzle displayed as follows:
_ _ C E Y _ A N S
While the timer relentlessly ticked away, Post silently attempted to piece it together. With mere seconds remaining on the clock, he guessed, “Juicy Fans,” an answer that completely bewildered the viewers. Seacrest playfully remarked, “Some of the best fans are juicy,” before unveiling the accurate phrase: “Hockey Fans.”
This misstep deprived Post of $45,000—and the online audience exploded in response.
Spectators saturated the comment sections with pure disbelief.
“HOW DID YOU NOT GET THAT?” one YouTube watcher exclaimed.
Another fan contributed, “I solved it the moment those letters appeared.”
“This guy must not follow sports,” a third observer noted. “Those letter picks were perfect!”
One spectator flawlessly encapsulated the collective aggravation: “I had it solved before the buzzer even came close.”
Even with the heartbreaking outcome of the Bonus Round, Post still exited the studio clutching more than $18,500 and an incredible getaway—but internet users are refusing to let him forget what he almost won.
Sources: TV Insider