After a year of retirement, Wheel of Fortune audiences were surprised by Pat Sajak’s current appearance instead of his elegant suits.

PAT Sajak cut a casual figure as he enjoyed a steak lunch a year after he stepped down from hosting Wheel of Fortune.

The TV star, 78, joined friends for a two-hour lunch at the fancy eatery, Larsen’s Eatery in the Los Angeles suburb of Encino.

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Former Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak looks very different in his retirementCredit: Getty

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Pat rocked an all-gray look during lunch with friends in L.ACredit: Coleman-Rayner

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Pat enjoyed a two hour lunch one year after stepping away from the showCredit: Coleman-Rayner

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Pat hosted Wheel of Fortune for 40 yearsCredit: Coleman-Rayner
Pat looked relaxed in a gray shirt, matching gray loafers and dark gray chinos for his lunch date with pals.

The Wheel of Fortune legend wore the shirt in a loose open-button style and with the sleeves rolled up.

Pat’s lunch outfit was a very different style to his usual formal shirt and tie which he wore during his 40 years hosting the popular TV game show.

He announced on June 12, 2023, that he would be stepping down from his role as Wheel of Fortune host after starting on the game show in 1983.

Later that month, American Idol host, Ryan Seacrest confirmed that he would be taking over as Wheel of Fortune’s new host.

Following his exit as host, a network representative revealed Pat agreed to stay on the show as a consultant for three additional years.

Pat was joined on Wheel of Fortune by co-host Vanna White in 1982, and she remains on the show.

While Pat has kept a low profile since his retirement, he was spotted having lunch with Vanna in September last year.

Prior to the entertainment industry, Pat worked as a disc jockey and played various stints at radio stations.

He also landed a job serving in the US Army as a DJ for the American Forces Vietnam Network during the war, entertaining soldiers out in Vietnam.

‘Nepo baby’ Maggie Sajak chats with Vanna White’s son on Wheel of Fortune set

While hosting Wheel of Fortune, Pat received 19 Emmy nominations for the Outstanding Game Show Host and has won in the category three times.

Pat has been married to photographer Lesly Brown since 1989 and they are parents to two children, Maggie and Patrick.

Wheel of Fortune’s big changes

The game show has undergone a major transformation now that Ryan Seacrest has taken over hosting duties for Pat Sajak.

-Ryan and Vanna White now host on a brand-new set, featuring a blue-toned stage, a green screen and art-deco wheel design.

-Ryan and Vanna make their big entrance from behind new sliding, brightly lit doors.

-Vanna turns – or now, touches – a modern, digital puzzle board controlled by lasers.

-Ryan brings a new hosting style, and has ditched Pat’s signature cue cards.

-The prizes have also been upgraded, and now include tickets to NFL games, and tickets to A-list concerts.

Maggie has become a regular fixture on Wheel of Fortune as the show’s digital correspondent, where she would interview contestants and the hosts for web-exclusive gameshow extras.

In January 2020, when Pat was recovering from a surgery, Vanna took over as host while Maggie stepped into Vanna’s shoes as the letter-turner.

According to the show’s website, Maggie visited the set non-stop when she was a child.

The aspiring country music artist whose songs have appeared in movie soundtracks graduated from Princeton and completed a postgrad program at Columbia.

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Ryan Seacrest has taken over hosting Wheel of FortuneCredit: Instagram / ryanseacrest

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Pat’s daughter, Maggie, remains a presenter at the showCredit: Getty