Pat Sajak's daughter Maggie opens up about growing up with TV icon dad

Maggie Sajak reflects on growing up with famous father Pat Sajak and discovering his fame through public attention

Maggie Sajak has opened up about growing up with television personality Pat Sajak as her father, admitting she did not initially realise that having a parent on television was unusual.

Speaking exclusively to People at the 2026 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards on November 14, the 31-year-old reflected on her childhood and her father's long-standing career as the host of Wheel of Fortune.

“I didn’t even realize growing up that it was abnormal for your dad to be on TV,” Maggie said, explaining that watching her father on television had always been part of her everyday life.

She added that she gradually became aware of his celebrity status when people began approaching him for photographs in public.

Maggie, who works as a social correspondent for Wheel of Fortune, said her father had always demonstrated a strong work ethic, which influenced her own professional approach.

“I just learned he always works so hard and he always puts his all into everything that he does,” she told the publication.

She also expressed gratitude for having the opportunity to follow in her father's footsteps and remain connected to the popular game show.

Pat Sajak, 80, announced his retirement from Wheel of Fortune in June 2023 after hosting the programme since 1981. Maggie made her hosting debut on the show that same year, temporarily filling in for longtime co-host Vanna White.

Despite growing up around her father's television career, Maggie said she and her family enjoyed a relatively normal childhood on the East Coast, which may have contributed to her delayed understanding of his fame.

Maggie attended the awards ceremony with her boyfriend, Jackson Olson, a former 'Dancing with the Stars' contestant. The couple confirmed their relationship in April 2026.