Who is Vanna White ex-husband George Santo Pietro? What happened?

Vana White has made a career for herself out of game shows. The TV hostess is primarily known for starring in the game show, The Wheel of Fortune. At 66 years of age, Vana has enjoyed an illustrious career and is still going strong. And while things may be going smoothly for her in her career, her personal life hasn’t been as successful. Over the years, Vanna has married twice. Her first husband was the  Playgirl centerfold/Chippendales dancer-turned-actor, John Gibson. The pair married in the early 1980s, but Vanna lost John to a plane crash in 1986. White’s second marriage and the subject of this article is the restaurant owner George Santo Pietro. The pair got married in 1990 and stayed together till 2002. 

George Santo Pietro is an American restaurateur, real estate developer, camera technician, and producer. He is mostly known as the ex-husband of television personality Vanna White, who is the hostess of the game show Wheel of Fortune. He is also known for his work in the camera and electrical department of several movies and television series, such as Beverly Hills Cop III, The Silence of the Hams, L.A. Law, and The Mandalorian. He owns a couple of restaurants in California, such as Santopietro, an Italian restaurant in Bel-Air, and Sushi-Ko, a sushi restaurant that was popular among Hollywood celebrities.

Early Life:

George Santo Pietro was born on the 12th of December 1946 in Beverly Hills, California. Born and raised in California, George has shared very little about his early life and his parents. His educational background remains a mystery as well.

Professional Career:

While George rose to fame following his relationship with Vanna White, he made quite a lot of money before he even met her. Vanna has often disclosed that George was pulling in a considerable amount of net worth long before he met Vana. George owns a restaurant in Bel-Air named Santopietro’s. The restaurant was a hub for celebrities in the early 1980s. George continued to expand his business over the years and soon established another restaurant, Sushi-ko. 

Meeting Vanna:

George and Vanna met in the mid-1980s. Vanna was recovering from the untimely death of her first husband, and George was single. So, in 1985 his friends Tracy Vaccaro, and Jessie Eastland dragged George to have dinner with Vanna White. The spark was instant and the pair were soon dating. In the years that followed, the pair’s relationship continued to go stronger and the pair got engaged soon after. In 1990, George and Vanna tied the knot in a lavish ceremony.

A family man:

Vanna first announced her pregnancy in September 1992. She did so in an episode of the Wheel of Fortune where “Vanna’s pregnant” was the answer to a puzzle. But she suffered from a miscarriage, days after the episode’s taping. She became pregnant again and gave birth to Niko Santo Pietro in 1994. The pair had a second child a baby girl in 1997 and named her Gigi Santo Pietro.

The dreaded divorce:

Things were on the rise for the pair who were achieving success in their respective careers. This was until the pair’s unexpected divorce in 2002. The divorce was finalized on the 15th of May 2002 citing irreconcilable differences. 

Going different ways:

Even though the pair continued to remain friends for the sake of their kids, they moved on with their lives. Vanna got engaged to businessman Michael Kaye and enjoyed a short-lived relationship. They were together from 2004 to 2006 but never got married. On the other hand, George married TV producer Melissa Mascari in 2005. The pair have been together ever since and are nearing 17 years as a married couple. The pair have a baby girl, Chiara Santo Pietro born in 2007. 

Net Worth:

Over the years, George has been involved in show-biz as well. He worked as a producer for many TV series including, L.A. Doctors, True Blood, Buffy the Vampire Slayers, Alias, and Pushing Daisies. George later sold his Beverly Hills Italian Villa in 2007, which was valued at around 50 million. As of now, George has a net worth estimated to be around USD 14 million. 

Social Media:

George Santo Pietro does not seem to have a strong social media presence. He does not have his official Instagram and Twitter accounts. He also does not have a Facebook page or a YouTube channel. He prefers to keep a low profile and avoid the spotlight. He is mostly known for his work as a real estate developer, restaurateur, and camera technician.

A quick write on Vanna White:

Vanna White is an American television personality and actress best known as the hostess of the game show “Wheel of Fortune.” She was born on February 18, 1957, in South Carolina.

White’s family moved to North Myrtle Beach when she was a child, and she graduated from the local high school. She then attended the Atlanta School of Fashion and worked as a model and actress in Atlanta, Georgia.

White’s big break came in 1982 when she was chosen to replace Susan Stafford as the hostess of “Wheel of Fortune.” She quickly became a popular fixture on the show, known for her stunning wardrobe and cheerful demeanor. She has remained with the show for over 38 years, making her one of the longest-running female game show hosts in history.

In addition to her work on “Wheel of Fortune,” White has made guest appearances on several television shows and movies, including “The King of Queens,” “Super Mario Bros. Super Show!,” and “Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.”

George Santo Pietro Wiki/Bio Facts:

Name	George Santo Pietro
Birthdate	December 12, 1946
Age	76 years old
Birthplace	Beverly Hills, California, United States
Nationality	American
Parents	Not Known
Sexuality	Straight
Profession	Restaurant Owner, Producer
Net Worth	$14M (approx)
Relationship Status	Committed
Marital Status	Married
Spouse	Melissa Mascari (m. 2005-present), Vanna White (m. 1990–2002)
Children	Niko Santo Pietro, Chiara Santo Pietro, Chiara Santo Pietro
Zodiac	Sagittarius