At a Glance
- Vanna White wed real estate developer John Donaldson in a private ceremony after more than a decade together.
- The couple announced their marriage on Instagram Wednesday, Jan. 21, with the caption “Surprise! We got married!”
- White previously told News Of Los Angeles in 2023 that the pair felt “married” without paperwork and rarely discussed tying the knot.
- Why it matters: The beloved Wheel of Fortune co-host’s quiet wedding ends years of fan speculation.
Vanna White has officially made her relationship of 12 years legal. The 68-year-old television mainstay and longtime partner John Donaldson exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony and revealed the news to fans via Instagram on Jan. 21.
Surprise Announcement
White’s post featured a photo from the celebration alongside the caption, “Surprise! We got married!” She elaborated in the caption that the couple chose to formalize their bond in a private setting “a little while back” and were “excited to share this new, joyful chapter.”
Donaldson, who owns a California-based construction and development firm, first met White in 2012 when a mutual friend brought him to one of her barbecues. Reflecting on that night in a 2019 interview with News Of Los Angeles, White recalled, “I remember looking at him and thinking, ‘He’s really cute.’ We ended up talking for a long time that night.”
No Drama, Just Love
Throughout their courtship, the couple kept details largely out of the spotlight. White told News Of Los Angeles in 2019 their relationship succeeded because “He lets me be me, I let him be him … There is no drama.”
In an October 2023 conversation with News Of Los Angeles, White explained why they had not rushed into marriage despite more than a decade together:
- “We’ve been together 12 years, and I feel like we are married.”
- “Do we have to get married? No, because we feel comfortable in our relationship.”
- “We don’t really talk about it, but you never know.”
She added that the two operated as though already married, noting, “I know that he’s the one. He knows I’m the one.”
Similar Spirits
White previously described Donaldson as “the male version” of herself, emphasizing their aligned personalities. “We really are very similar,” she said.
Both White and Donaldson have been married before. White’s earlier marriage to restaurateur George Santo Pietro lasted from 1990 to 2002. The ex-couple share two grown children: Nicholas “Nikko” Santo Pietro, 31, and Giovanna “Gigi” Santo Pietro, 28.
Key Takeaways
- Vanna White and John Donaldson wed privately after 12 years of dating.
- The couple announced the marriage on Instagram Jan. 21.
- White had openly questioned the necessity of formalizing their relationship, saying the two already felt married.
- Both partners had previous marriages and share a low-key approach to public life.
