‘Wheel of Fortune’ Bonus Puzzle Sparks Outrage as Contestant Misses $50,000 After Costly Guess

A nearly perfect performance ended in disappointment for Wheel of Fortune contestant Kyle MacDonald, who walked away without a $50,000 Bonus Round prize after stumbling over a single word. His loss sparked fresh criticism from viewers, who were already frustrated by a string of unsuccessful Bonus Round attempts on the long-running game show.

Note: This story was originally published in May 2025 and is being republished.

The episode, which aired on May 8, featured MacDonald, an associate dean at Brown University, competing against Kiran Makhani of Portland, Oregon, and Jeanette Cothron of Tuscola, Illinois. MacDonald performed strongly throughout the game, accumulating $27,950 in cash and prizes, including trips to Costa Rica and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

However, the final puzzle became the defining moment of his appearance.

One Word Stands Between MacDonald and $50,000

MacDonald brought his husband, Andrew, along as his guest for the taping. When he reached the Bonus Round, he chose the category “Person.”

After receiving the standard letters R, S, T, L, N and E, he selected D, M, P and O. The board then displayed the pattern:

“_ _ _OMPL_S_ED _ _ _ _TOR.”

With only seconds left, MacDonald guessed “Accomplished Author.” He had correctly identified the first word but failed to solve the second.

The actual answer was “Accomplished Aviator.”

That single incorrect word cost him the additional $50,000. Host Ryan Seacrest, who was in his debut season on the show, announced the result sympathetically as MacDonald’s chance at the bonus slipped away.

Fans Question the Bonus Round’s Difficulty

MacDonald’s near-miss quickly drew reactions from viewers online. With the episode marking the eighth consecutive Bonus Round loss of $50,000, some fans expressed growing frustration over the repeated disappointments.

One YouTube viewer complained that another failed attempt was turning into a disaster, while another described the moment as painful to watch and questioned how many more contestants would miss out on the prize before the streak ended.

The reaction renewed debate about whether the Bonus Round puzzles had become too difficult, particularly when contestants came so close to winning a substantial amount of money.

Contestant Reflects on a Memorable Experience

Despite missing out on the extra cash, MacDonald remained positive about his time on the show.

After filming, he reflected on the experience on Instagram, describing it as “the fastest 22 minutes of my life.” He also called it “the experience of a lifetime” and said he still could not believe it had happened.

For MacDonald, appearing on Wheel of Fortune carried a personal significance beyond the competition. He recalled watching the show with his grandmother while growing up in Canada and credited it with helping him learn his ABCs and nurturing his lifelong love of game shows.

He added that his grandmother would have been thrilled to see him take part.

How the Other Contestants Finished

Although MacDonald attracted the most attention, his fellow contestants also left with winnings. Cothron finished the episode with $5,550, while Makhani took home $2,000.

MacDonald’s $27,950 total remained an impressive result, even without the additional $50,000. Still, his near-win became the episode’s biggest talking point, leaving viewers wondering when someone would finally break the Bonus Round losing streak.