"If I wouldn't have left 'Wheel of Fortune,' I'd be making about $10 million a year now," Woolery recalled in a 2003 interview.

Chuck Woolery, the game show veteran who was the original host of "Wheel of Fortune" and went on to host "Love Connection," has died at 83.

However, Pat Sajak was ultimately given the hosting role following Woolery's departure in 1981 over a contract dispute. Woolery later acknowledged that he would have been earning a higher salary if he hadn’t left the game show, as reported by Parade.

Woolery became a household name as the host of the dating show Love Connection, which ran from 1983 to 1994, and was also the original host of Wheel of Fortune before Pat Sajak took over the role. His career in entertainment spanned decades, evolving from music to television to political podcasting.

Chuck Woolery, the American game show, talk show host, actor, and musician has died aged 83. The news was confirmed on X, formerly known as Twitter by his pal, Dr. Mark Young, with a tribute reading: "It is with a broken heart that I tell you that my dear brother @chuckwoolery has just passed away.