Does ANYONE win the Wheel of Fortune? I investigated

For months, I spun the Wheel more times than I care to admit — always landing on “Better luck next time.” So naturally, I started to suspect something was up. Maybe the wheel wasn’t real. Maybe no one ever actually won.

I began quietly collecting evidence. I asked around the office. I inspected spin patterns. I may have even started a spreadsheet. (Don’t judge me.)

Then came the twist.

We reached out to previous winners to check in and see how they spent their lucky winnings. I expected silence. But what happened next shook my conspiracy to its core. Video entries flooded in. Grinning faces, celebratory dances, proud declarations of “I won the Octopus Wheel of Fortune!”

Of course, I thought the same thing you’re thinking…who paid these people to lie? For what reason, and to what end?

Well, I decided to make a couple housecalls to uncover the truth. What I found SHOCKED me:

So yes, as it turns out — people really do win. All the time, actually.

Want more proof it works? Just search #BlessedByTheWheel on X and you’ll find loads of customers celebrating their victories — from little wins to the big ones.

And it’s not just about the prizes. The wheel has quietly made meter readings — that important but often-overlooked and let's face it, boring task — fun. Without meter readings we have to estimate your usage, so submitting them keeps your bills accurate and genuinely avoid nasty surprise bills. Plus, when you have a smart meter, you get extra spins which help us keep the grid greener and more balanced, using the latest info to make smarter energy decisions.

Want to dig even deeper? Check out this behind-the-scenes blog by Gilly, the brilliant coder who built the wheel.

So, to everyone who’s ever muttered, “I bet no one ever wins this thing” — I hear you. I was you.

But I’ve seen the light.

The wheel is real. The wins are real. The joy is real.

(I just hope I’m next.)

— Xander

Former Sceptic, Current Believer