'Wheel of Fortune' co-host Vanna White shares video of her cooking with son Nikko: Watch
When Vanna White is not turning puzzleboard letters as the longtime co-host of "Wheel of Fortune" and "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune," the TV and fashion icon enjoys spending time with her family, according to her official game show biography.
Recently, White shared a video of herself cooking with her son, Nicholas "Nikko" Santo Pietro. In the clip, the two prepare one of White's favorite dishes — a chicken recipe featuring ginger and onions. Nikko steps ups in the kitchen, as White humorously admits she's "not a good cook."
"In celebration of Fabulous Food Week, Nikko and I are whipping up Uncle Roy's Chicken. YUM! 😋," she wrote in the caption. "Screenshot the recipe at the end and give it a try at home!"
White, who has been a co-host of "Wheel of Fortune" since 1982, is now part of the show's 42nd season alongside new co-host Ryan Seacrest, which premiered on Sept. 9.
Ahead of the season 42 premiere, White told "Good Morning America" why she keeps coming back and the key advice she gave Seacrest.
"When he came on, I said, 'Just be yourself.' That's the best advice I can give you and he has been himself," White said.
"It's such a happy show. It's fun, too," White added about the game show. "It never gets old. There's always new puzzles. I have a new dress. You never know what's going to be said."
Below, get to know White and her family before the "Wheel of Fortune" season 42 premiere.
John Donaldson
White is in a relationship with longtime boyfriend John Donaldson and has shared photos with him on social media, including a holiday card featuring him and her kids in December 2023.
White was formerly married to ex-husband George Santo Pietro, and they share two children.
Nicholas 'Nikko' Santo Pietro
White's eldest child, a son named Nicholas "Nikko" Santo Pietro, was born June 10, 1994.
Nikko Santo Pietro appeared on his mom's game show as a young boy alongside then-co-host Pat Sajak's daughter Maggie Sajak, who now serves as the show's social correspondent.
The two reminisced about their time on the show in an Instagram video shared in May 2023.
Today, Nikko Santo Pietro is a real estate agent with The Agency, a Los Angeles real estate brokerage led by Mauricio Umansky, who starred in the reality TV series "Buying Beverly Hills" and is a "Dancing With the Stars" alum.
In a May Instagram post, White shared a photo of her son posing next to an open house sign and applauded one of his professional milestones.
"Congratulations to my son for closing his first #homesale since becoming a real estate agent! So proud of you, @nikkoshow!" she wrote at the time.
Giovanna 'Gigi' Santo Pietro
Three years after welcoming son Nikko, White welcomed her younger child, daughter Giovanna "Gigi" Santo Pietro on July 1, 1997.
Gigi Santo Pietro now works as a tattoo artist for Lincoln Tattoo Company in Los Angeles.
White celebrated her daughter in a July birthday tribute post.
"Happy 27th to my amazing daughter @gigisantopietro! You are so beautiful, smart, kind and a talented artist! I love you Gigi!" the proud mom wrote.
When White co-hosted a "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" episode featuring Snoop Dogg, she said she earned "mom points" by introducing her daughter to the iconic rapper and TV personality.
"On 'Celebrity,' we had Snoop Dogg and my daughter, who is a huge fan of his -- I mean, she meets a lot of celebrities -- she goes, 'Mom! Can I meet him? Is there any way I can come and meet him? I would love to meet him.' So she did. I said, 'Come on over,'" White recalled to "Good Morning America." "She was so happy!"
