Snohomish woman wins $147,000 on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

SNOHOMISH — Cindy Kling not only won a lot of money in her recent appearance on “Wheel of Fortune,” she’s in the show’s record books.

“I’m the second-highest winner of all time,” said Kling, 57, of Snohomish.

Kling won $147,000 in cash on the show, which was recorded last September and aired Friday. She was told that’s second only to the slightly more than $1 million won by Michelle Loewenstein in 2008. The show has been on the air since 1975.

Kling gathered about 40 people in the community room at her father’s apartment complex in West Seattle to watch the show Friday evening, she said. “We had two big-screen TVs,” she said.

Kling was sworn to secrecy about the outcome from September until the airing of the show, which was a tough secret to keep, she said.

“The first thing everyone asked when I told them I was on the show was, ‘How much did you win?’” she said.

She did tell her husband — sort of. She made him guess. He started at $10,000 and went up by $10,000 increments, she said. “I kept saying higher, much higher.”

Her son was on the show about 15 years ago and won $15,000, Kling said.

She’s been applying online for 12 years to be a contestant, and last year was finally invited to an audition at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle.

She was one of about 75 people there. “I was the first contestant to line up,” more than an hour early, she said.

Her sister, aunt and two nieces accompanied her to the show’s taping in Los Angeles. They also were obligated to keep the secret, she said.

The show didn’t start well.

“The first half of the show, I had no money and the guy next to me had $24,000,” Kling said.

On “Wheel of Fortune,” contestants solve word puzzles by filling in missing letters after spinning a wheel to determine dollar amounts.

Kling got rolling by solving one puzzle for $2,000, then another for $3,000 in the “speed round,” she said. Then she solved another puzzle in which each letter was worth $6,000, for a sum of $42,000, bringing her total to $47,000.

This got her to the bonus round.

“I solved the puzzle and won $100,000 on it,” she said.

Relatives traveled thousands of miles for the viewing party Friday. Her sister Diane, who was present at the show, and brother-in-law and niece came from the Dallas area. Her aunt Kay, who was at the show, her 92-year-old uncle and a cousin rode up on the train from California.

The event doubled as an 80th birthday party for Kling’s father, Dick Cihak.

“We had a blast,” she said.

Kling now must wait until late April to get her money, she said — 120 days after the show’s air date.

Kling is a contract instructor for Boeing and teaches part time at Everett Community College. She and her husband plan to use some of the money to remodel their home and for investment.

Anything else?

“We’re just going to take a nice little trip to Europe,” she said.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.

Watch the big win

The final round of Cindy Kling’s appearance on Wheel of Fortune, when she won biggest chunk of her $147,000, may be seen on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/bafc2wh.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Everett
Everett police: Man sold drugs to woman prior to fatal overdose

The man, who faces a charge under the state’s controlled substance homicide law, remains in Snohomish County Jail on more than $1M bond.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Missing Marysville boy, 10, found safe and sound

Police said the boy was last seen Sunday morning before leaving to go for a run at a nearby middle school.

Red tape hangs in the front of the entrance to a burned down Center for Human Services building along 204th Street on Monday, July 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood fire destroys behavioral health nonprofit building

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The building housed an intensive mental health support program for youth and families.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Gold Bar in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Lynnwood man dies in fatal crash on US 2 near Gold Bar

The Washington State Patrol said the driver was street racing prior to the crash on Friday afternoon.

Thousands gather to watch fireworks over Lake Ballinger from Nile Shrine Golf Course and Lake Ballinger Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Thousands ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at Mountlake Terrace fireworks show

The city hosts its Independence Day celebrations the day before the July 4 holiday.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.