Jay Leno is turning his well-known love of cars into a prize for a “Wheel of Fortune” contestant. The comedian and former late-night host is set to donate a 2026 Chevrolet Corvette C8 to the final winner of Big Money Week, adding a high-profile car giveaway to the game show.
Leno made the announcement alongside Vanna White during the show’s May 11 episode. The car will be awarded on Friday, May 15, after all five winners from the week return for a bonus-round face-off.
A luxury car prize with a familiar Leno touch
The giveaway is part of a collaboration between Leno and Yaamava’ Resort & Casino. A pre-taped segment shown at the start of Monday’s episode featured Leno driving White to the California resort to see the vehicle before it reaches the show’s winner.
The prize car is a 2026 Chevrolet Corvette C8, with a reported price of around $70,000. White reacted strongly to the sleek white finish, saying, “Wow, it’s gorgeous. They are going to love this one.”
Leno framed the giveaway as a chance to give contestants something aspirational. He said, “They know I’m a car enthusiast, so they’ll pick cool cars to give away,” and described the Corvette as “America’s sports car.”
Why the Corvette fits Leno’s image
Leno has long been known for his car collection and automotive interests, in addition to his comedy and television career. He keeps part of his collection in airline hangars at Burbank Airport near his home in California, and he also hosted the car-focused series “Jay Leno’s Garage” from 2015 to 2022.
That reputation makes him a natural fit for a car-centered prize on a game show. The Corvette has also been a recurring favorite for Leno, who previously praised the model’s mix of performance and value in a 2019 interview with Fox News.
“You get Lamborghini performance at Chevrolet prices,” Leno told the outlet. He also pointed to the Corvette ZR1’s 755 horsepower and noted that, because it is a Chevrolet, “you can fix it with a hammer and BOOM.”
Another Corvette giveaway from the same partnership
This is not the first time Leno has worked with Yaamava’ Resort & Casino on a car giveaway. In March, he helped give away a red 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 through the same partnership.
At the time, he wrote on Instagram, “Usually, I’m the guy keeping the cars… but this time, I’m helping give one away!” He added that the car was “American muscle turned up to 11,” calling it the kind of vehicle that makes people feel like a kid the first time they hit the throttle.
The new “Wheel of Fortune” prize continues that pattern, linking Leno’s automotive image with one of television’s most recognizable game shows. For the winning contestant, the reward will not just be cash or a standard bonus prize, but a Corvette chosen to stand out as a dream car.
Read more at: www.usatoday.com
