Who Was Vanna White’s First Husband? Inside Her Marriage, Divorce, and Life Before John Donaldson

Vanna White, the longtime co-host of Wheel of Fortune, recently confirmed a new chapter in her personal life by announcing her marriage to longtime partner John Donaldson. The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony after dating for nearly 14 years, with White sharing photos from the intimate wedding on social media. While her second marriage has drawn widespread attention, it has also renewed public interest in her first marriage and family life.

Before marrying John Donaldson, Vanna White was previously married to George Santo Pietro. Much like her current husband, Santo Pietro also built his career in real estate, though he initially made his name as a successful restaurateur. During the 1980s and 1990s, he owned several well-known Los Angeles eateries, including Santopietro’s and the celebrity-favorite Sushi-Ko, before moving into real estate development and occasional work in film production.

The couple reportedly met through mutual friends in the late 1980s, following the tragic death of White’s former fiancé, John Gibson. Their relationship progressed steadily, and they married on December 31, 1990, in Aspen. Together, they welcomed two children: a son, Nicholas “Nikko” Santo Pietro, born in 1994, and a daughter, Giovanna “Gigi” Santo Pietro, born in 1997.

White has previously spoken about the emotional challenges she faced during her first pregnancy, including a miscarriage that occurred after she publicly announced it on Wheel of Fortune. She later described the birth of her two children as deeply healing experiences.

After more than a decade of marriage, White and Santo Pietro separated in 2001 and finalized their divorce in 2002. The split was cited as due to irreconcilable differences and was described as amicable, with both remaining committed to co-parenting their children.

More than two decades later, White surprised fans by revealing her marriage to John Donaldson, sharing her happiness in a heartfelt post that read:

“Surprise! We got married! John and I have been in love for more than a decade, and a little while back, we wanted to make it official in a private ceremony. We’re excited to share this new joyful chapter in our lives with all of you! Love, Vanna and John.”