California teen who won $3,050 on Wheel of Fortune and bought a go-kart with the money grew up to be the CEO of McLaren Racing
Published on Jun 08, 2026 at 5:15 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jun 08, 2026 at 5:15 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
A teenager who won $3,050 on Wheel of Fortune and purchased a go-kart with his winnings would go on to be the CEO of McLaren Racing.
Zak Brown has served as the CEO of McLaren Racing since 2018, following on from decades of experience in the motorsports world.
He’s been recognized as a significant figure by various media outlets, but he had humble beginnings.
Back in the 1980s, he appeared on a teenager version of Wheel of Fortune, where he won big.
The CEO of McLaren Racing got his start on Wheel of Fortune
Brown has an impressive resume, there’s no doubt about it.
He began his racing career back in 1986, going on to compete in Formula Ford 1600, North America’s Toyota Atlantic Series, and the 1994 British Formula Three Championships.
When the 2000s rolled around, he began setting up businesses like United Autosports.
His involvement with McLaren began in 2016 when he was announced as a executive director.
Two years later, he was appointed as the CEO of McLaren Racing, where he spearheaded a transformation.
McLaren Racing now holds a dominant place in the motorsport arena, and that is reflected in the numerous accolades bestowed upon Brown.
Time Magazine bestowed him with a TIME100 Impact Award in 2025.
He has also received praise from publications including The Financial Times, Sport Business Journal, and PROMO Magazine, all of which have included him in their rankings of influential figures.
This is all very impressive to behold, so who could have imagined this all began on Wheel of Fortune?
In an 1984 episode on the show’s ‘Teen Week’, Brown competed won big time by identifying ‘Wild Bill Hickok’ – an American folk hero from the Old West – as the correct answer to the puzzle.
“I had no idea who this Wild Bill someone is,” Brown admitted in a 2025 interview with ESPN.
“K is a pretty popular letter, so I went with K.”
He was only 13 when he walked away from the show with $3,050, a TV, a bike, and $1,800 worth of watches.
It sounds like any teenager’s dream, right?
Lest we forget, $3,050 is like a jackpot when you’re 13 years old.
So how did he spend that cash haul?
What better way to spend your winnings as a teenage boy?
For any lovers of watches, these next few sentences may make you wince.
“I went and sold the watches at a pawn shop,” Brown said.
“I then went and paid for racing school.”
The rest of his winnings was spent on a go-kart, launching his career.
Between 1986 and 1990, he won 22 International Kart Federation races, spring boarding him into his future success.
This isn’t the first time somebody has gotten themselves a set of wheels through TV
There’s something poetic about going on Wheel of Fortune and walking away with four wheels of your own.
For one man, it was a BMW, while it was a brand new Infiniti luxury vehicle for one woman.
Unfortunately, not everyone has walked away so lucky, as one contestant knows the sting of all too well.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
