Wheel of Fortune contestant misses a $40,000 prize after failing to solve a puzzle fans say they cracked in seconds! Joey Moorman had already won $22,790 and a trip to the Cook Islands before entering the Bonus Round with his mother and sister by his side. But when the board revealed “BE_ _E _OOL CO_T,” his guesses went nowhere — and the answer, “Beige Wool Coat,” never came to mind. When Ryan Seacrest opened the envelope to reveal the $40,000 prize, Moorman’s costly miss became even more painful. The correct answer would have pushed his total to $62,790, leaving viewers wondering how such a seemingly simple puzzle proved so difficult.

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‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Misses Out on $40,000 After Failing to Solve Bonus Round Puzzle

A Wheel of Fortune contestant came within one answer of turning a $22,790 victory into a $62,790 payday, but a tricky Bonus Round moment cost him the extra $40,000. Joey Moorman’s failure to solve the final puzzle left viewers stunned, with many insisting they had figured out the answer almost immediately from home.

The February 2 episode featured Moorman, an adrenaline enthusiast from Riverside, California, competing against Daria Suib of Philadelphia and Barnetta Pointer of Calumet City, Illinois. Despite securing the night’s top prize, Moorman’s run ended with a frustrating near miss.

A Competitive Game With a Big Prize at Stake

Moorman describes himself as a thrill-seeker who looks for adventure wherever he goes. His experiences include riding 162 roller coasters, bungee jumping and swimming alongside tiger sharks.

He began the game on a promising note by solving the first Toss-Up puzzle, earning $1,000. Suib answered the second Toss-Up correctly, adding $2,000 to her total, before Pointer took control of the competition.

Pointer solved the “Before and After” puzzle “Key Lime Pie in the Sky.” Landing on the Argentina trip wedge helped her raise her winnings to $9,915. She followed that success by solving “Night Fever Night Fever,” bringing her total to $12,215.

Moorman then made a decisive move in the Express Round, solving “Colorful Coral Reef.” As the Prize Puzzle winner, he also earned a trip to the Cook Islands, pushing his total to $20,790 and putting him in the lead.

Each contestant subsequently solved one Triple Toss-Up puzzle, adding another $2,000 to their respective totals.

Suib finished the main game by solving “Scaredy Cat” for $4,500, ending with $8,500. Pointer took home $14,215, while Moorman emerged as the champion with $22,790.

The Bonus Round Puzzle That Cost Him $40,000

Moorman advanced to the Bonus Round and chose the category “What Are You Wearing?” His mother, Patty, and younger sister, Emily, joined him on stage. He shared that the three had watched Wheel of Fortune together since he was a child, making the moment particularly meaningful.

The standard letters R, S, T, L, N and E appeared first. Moorman then selected C, B, D and O, leaving him with the following puzzle:

“BE_ _E _OOL CO_T”

With the clock counting down, he tried several possible answers, including “Something Wool Coat,” “Berry Wool Coat” and “Cool Coats.”

But the correct phrase — “Beige Wool Coat” — never came to him before time expired.

Host Ryan Seacrest responded sympathetically, pointing out that “beige” is not necessarily the first word that comes to mind under pressure.

Moorman simply replied, “Nope.”

The disappointment deepened when Seacrest opened the envelope and revealed that the Bonus Round prize was $40,000. Had Moorman solved the puzzle, his overall winnings would have climbed to $62,790.

Although the extra money slipped away, Seacrest congratulated Moorman on his performance and thanked him for being a longtime fan of the show.

Viewers Say the Answer Was Obvious

The missed opportunity quickly became a talking point online. Fans flooded social media and YouTube comment sections with reactions, with many claiming they had identified “Beige Wool Coat” almost instantly.

Some questioned how Moorman had failed to spot the answer despite the letters already displayed on the board. Others acknowledged that solving a puzzle from the comfort of home is very different from standing under studio lights with a countdown and $40,000 at stake.

Moorman’s experience highlights one of the enduring challenges of Wheel of Fortune: a phrase that appears straightforward to viewers can become surprisingly difficult when the pressure is on.

For the California contestant, the main-game victory was still a substantial achievement. But the Bonus Round miss turned what could have been a $62,790 night into a much more frustrating memory.