2013 episode of Wheel of Fortune, White was presented with a Guinness World Record certificate for most frequent clapper. As of January 31, 2013, it was estimated she had clapped at least 3,480,864 times across the show's 30 seasons. She had appeared in all but 10 of Wheel's 5,754 episodes to that point, during the show's modern syndicated run, which began on September 19, 1983. That works out to an average number of 606 claps per show. Personal life In the 1980s, White dated and became engaged to Playgirl centerfold/Chippendales-dancer-turned-actor John Gibson. However, Gibson was killed in a plane crash in 1986. In 1990, White married restaurant owner George Santo Pietro. She first became pregnant in September 1992. An episode of Wheel of Fortune contained "Vanna's pregnant" as the answer to a puzzle. She miscarried shortly after the episode's taping. White gave birth to a son, Nicholas (Nikko), in 1994 and a daughter, Giovanna (Gigi), in 1997, from her marriage to Santo Pietro. The couple divorced in November 2002. From 2004 to 2006, she was engaged to Southern California businessman Michael Kaye. The two never wed. Since 2012, White has been dating contractor John Donaldson, who she met through mutual friends. White is a Baptist Christian. White is sometimes described as the 'niece' of actor Christopher George. While George is not a biological relation, White's mother grew up with him, and George and his wife took White "under their wing" in Los Angeles. Also, in that same conversation, she said that her children come to Wheel of Fortune tapings many times. Philanthropy As of 2019, White has donated $1.8 million to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and plans to continue her philanthropy after her retirement. Litigation In 1993, White sued Samsung Electronics over its use of an advertisement featuring a robot turning letters on a game show, alleging a violation of her personality rights. The lower court's decision in Samsung's favor was reversed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which denied a rehearing, but Judge Alex Kozinski issued a dissent. The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari. A jury ultimately awarded White $403,000 in damages. Publications References External links Vanna White's biography on wheeloffortune.com Judge Alex Kozinski's dissent in the White v. Samsung Electronics appeal 1957 births 20th-century American women 21st-century American women 20th-century Christians 21st-century Christians American Christians American women philanthropists American women television personalities