Houston pastor Matt Popovits walked away with $56,350 from ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ but the biggest win was the special moment he shared with his family. The lifelong fan turned game show contestant after bonding with his son over the show.
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For Matt Popovits, a Houston pastor at St. Mark Houston, appearing on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ wasn’t just about getting money—it was about family.
Popovits made it to the bonus round in a November taping at Sony Pictures Studios in California. He has been a fan of the game show for a long time. He quickly solved the last problem as it flashed on the screen, winning $56,350. The show aired on Monday, and everyone saw his big win.
But the real story began years ago when Jack Popovits, the Popovits' 10-year-old son, was diagnosed with dyslexia. Popovits wanted to help, so he suggested they watch "Wheel of Fortune" together to improve their writing and reading comprehension. Jack made an audition tape for his dad because the evening routine became a special bonding time between them.
Because of that interview, Popovits got a spot on the show, and he flew his family to California to be there for the taping. His wife Lisa and daughter Ava went with him. He relaxed while waiting 12 hours for his turn by watching other people play. When it was his turn to spin the wheel, he was sure of himself.
Popovits said, "You never know what's going to happen." "Maybe life will give you a crazy adventure you'll never forget or feel bad about."
Popovits' win showed that sometimes the best wins don't happen on the board. It went from a simple father-son routine to a memorable family moment.
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