Woman who lost a car on Wheel of Fortune in the cruelest fashion ended up getting the ultimate surprise from Audi
Published on Apr 29, 2026 at 2:41 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Apr 29, 2026 at 2:41 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A woman who lost a car on Wheel of Fortune had the ultimate surprise from Audi, with the loss of the original car on the game show having been done in so cruel a fashion.
Charlene Rubush played the show in 2021 and ended up making it all the way to the final challenge with a car up for grabs.
Rubush was set to win an Audi Q3, but while she gave the correct answer, the show’s host, Pat Sajak, ruled it incorrect.
After online backlash and much controversy, Audi decided to right what many felt was a cruel wrong.
How Charlene Rubush lost the car on Wheel of Fortune
Rubush had made it all the way to the bonus round of the show in 2021.
That earned her a shot at the grand prize of a new Audi Q3, and she had just one puzzle left to solve.
She did give the correct answer, but amazingly, host Pat Sajak ruled against her.
It came down to a technicality on the game show.
Sajak ruled that due to a long pause in her response, Rubush had given an incorrect answer.
But in reality, she had said the right answer.
This one’s tough, because you said all the right words, including the word ‘word,’ but, as you know, it’s gotta be more or less continuous,” said Sajak.
Unsurprisingly, it led to some backlash on social media from fans of the show.
That is when Audi USA saw it and decided to step in.
This is how Audi gave Rubush her well-deserved prize
“You’re a winner in our eyes, Charlene. Now, let’s get you a prize,” Audi USA said in a tweet at the time.
Former Jeopardy champion Alex Jacob had also waded into the debate against the Wheel of Fortune game show.
There's no community like the Audi community. With your help, we tracked down Charlene!
— Audi USA (@Audi) December 23, 2021
More to come as we help #GiveHerTheQ3. https://t.co/WrX5xOVgIE
“Come on, @WheelofFortune, the woman literally chose the right word. Give her the car,” he said on Twitter.
Incredibly, the company did manage to track Rubush down.
It stated it would give her the Q3 they felt she had won.
Fast forward to January 2022, and the German manufacturer came good on its promise.
Rubush was able to pick her car up from an Audi dealer in Henderson, Nevada.
“The car drives so well. I’m loving it!! Much needed since my husband and I have been sharing one car since we moved here 3 years ago!” she said to TMZ.
The car company covered all the costs for the car, including the taxes, making it well worth the wait.
Wheel of Fortune timeline
1975: Created by Merv Griffin, the show officially premieres on daytime network television on NBC, featuring original host Chuck Woolery and co-host Susan Stafford managing the puzzle board
1981: After Chuck Woolery departs the show due to a salary dispute with Merv Griffin, former local weatherman Pat Sajak is selected to take over as the new primary host
1982: Following Susan Stafford’s departure to pursue humanitarian work, Vanna White officially joins the program as the regular co-host and iconic letter turner after participating in a series of on-air auditions
1983: The highly successful nighttime syndicated version of the show debuts to massive ratings, eventually cementing its legacy as the longest-running syndicated game show in American television history
1989: The daytime network version of the game show temporarily shifts its broadcasting home, moving from NBC to CBS for a brief period before eventually returning to NBC and later being canceled in 1991
1997: The production undergoes a major technological update as the iconic manual trilon-stuffed puzzle board is completely replaced with a modernized electronic touch-screen board for Vanna White to tap
2024: After an incredible four-decade run that made him a television legend, Pat Sajak officially retires from his hosting duties, paving the way for Ryan Seacrest to step in as the new host alongside Vanna White
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
