The February 25 episode of Wheel of Fortune kicked off with confusion during the Toss-Up round in the “Occupation” category.
Contestant Paulomi Dholakia hesitantly guessed “Chief Happiness Officer”—a real answer, though even
host Ryan Seacrest admitted he hadn’t heard of it. “Every company should have one,” he joked, prompting laughter.
The moment quickly went viral, with fans on Reddit calling the puzzle bizarre. Some viewers questioned whether the term qualified as a legitimate occupation.
Despite the odd start, Dholakia shined early, winning $10,200 by the first break and reaching $17,750 by the second.
She shared her unique talent, “taroapy,” a blend of tarot reading and therapy.
Her competitors included J. Mark Smith from Tennessee and Celina Alvarado from Arizona. Alvarado surged ahead by solving
“Life’s simple pleasures” in the “Things” category, using her Wild Card to win a trip to Costa Rica and boosting her total to $30,350.
In the Triple Toss-Up, Dholakia earned another $4,000, while Smith finally scored with $2,000. Alvarado maintained her lead and advanced to the Bonus Round.
Dholakia ended with $21,750, Smith with $7,100. Though she didn’t win, Seacrest praised Dholakia, saying her prize and experience were “more than okay.”
