‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans Slam ‘Stupidest Puzzle Ever’ as Contestant Misses Out on $75,000

Wheel of Fortune fans are in an uproar after a puzzling puzzle and a tough bonus round cost a contestant the opportunity to win an additional $75,000. The incident has sparked a flood of frustration on social media, with viewers accusing the show’s producers of making the puzzles unnecessarily difficult.

The drama unfolded during the first puzzle of the game, a Tossup worth $1,000, where contestant Paulomi Dholakia correctly guessed “Chief Happiness Officer” under the Occupation category. While Dholakia’s answer was technically correct, fans were quick to criticize the puzzle, with many expressing disbelief that such an obscure and, in their opinion, silly occupation would appear on the show.

The “Chief Happiness Officer” Controversy

The answer “Chief Happiness Officer” caught both the contestant and viewers off guard. Host Ryan Seacrest even commented, “I wasn’t aware that was a thing either, but every company should have one. Don’t you think?” Fans on Reddit were particularly vocal, with one user calling it “the stupidest puzzle ever.” Another fan questioned the legitimacy of the occupation, writing, “If they are going to state something as an occupation, it should have to be a legit occupation.”

Others joined in with similar frustrations about the increasing complexity of the puzzles, suggesting that the show had started “playing fast and loose” with both the puzzles and categories. Despite the mixed reactions to the first puzzle, Dholakia performed admirably throughout the game, and with the early victory, it looked like she would advance to the Bonus Round.

The Bonus Round Blunder

Despite Dholakia’s strong performance, it was another contestant, Celina Alvarado, who advanced to the Bonus Round. Alvarado, who had accumulated $30,350 and a trip to Costa Rica, was faced with a Person category puzzle that read: “TRI_I_ _ _ _ _.” After the standard letters R, S, T, L, N, and E were revealed, Alvarado chose the letters M, P, D, and I. Unfortunately, she couldn’t solve the puzzle in time, and the answer “Trivia Buff” remained elusive.

Seacrest revealed that Alvarado missed out on a chance to win an additional $75,000, which would have boosted her total winnings to more than $105,000. Despite the disappointment of missing out on the grand prize, Alvarado remained upbeat, grateful for her winnings and her trip to Costa Rica.

Fans React: The $75,000 Cursed Envelope

Fans took to social media to express their frustration with the tough bonus round and the seemingly “cursed” $75,000 envelope. “The $75,000 envelope is obviously cursed at this point since no one won it at all this season,” one commenter said on YouTube. Another fan quipped, “It’s amazing how close someone could be, but it’s still so far away.”

There was also speculation about how a simple letter could have helped Alvarado solve the puzzle. “The letter F would’ve given at least her fight chance,” one viewer commented, noting that the absence of a key letter led to the puzzle’s difficulty. Fans also lamented the missed opportunity for Alvarado to walk away with a significantly larger prize.

Rising Tension Across Shows

While Wheel of Fortune fans continue to gripe about tricky puzzles, Seacrest’s other show, American Idol, is facing similar frustration over emotional sob stories. Audiences seem to be growing tired of both Wheel of Fortune’s increasingly difficult puzzles and American Idol’s tendency to focus on contestants’ backstories instead of their performances.

In the case of Wheel of Fortune, the intense reactions to the bonus round failure highlight the challenges contestants face when the puzzle setups don’t feel fair. The “Chief Happiness Officer” answer, combined with the tough bonus round, has only intensified calls for the producers to reconsider the difficulty of the puzzles moving forward.

Conclusion

While Wheel of Fortune continues to deliver thrilling moments, the backlash against certain puzzle choices—like “Chief Happiness Officer”—reflects how crucial it is for the show to strike a balance between challenging and fair. Fans’ frustrations are growing, with the $75,000 prize becoming the symbol of unfulfilled potential. As for Alvarado, she may have missed out on a huge prize, but her perseverance and good spirits serve as a reminder that sometimes the journey, not the final amount, is the true reward.