Vanna White and Nikko Santo PietroMonica Schipper/Getty Images
Vanna White is widely recognized for her iconic role turning letters on Wheel of Fortune, but one of her greatest sources of pride is being a mother.
She shares two children, Nikko and Gigi Santo Pietro, with her ex-husband George Santo Pietro, to whom she was married from 1990 to 2002. Even after their divorce, Nikko revealed that he and his father continued to watch White regularly on Wheel of Fortune
“You know the truth when my mom and dad separated, my dad would watch Wheel of Fortune, so I probably ended up watching it more than she did,” he candidly told People in October 2025.
Likewise, White openly expresses her pride in the accomplishments her children have made in their own careers.
Related: Who Is Vanna White’s Husband? Everything You Need to Know About John Donaldson
“I love bragging! My son works at a real estate agency and does an amazing job. He’s dedicated and driven to close deals,” the game show star told Parade in September 2024. “My daughter graduated from New York University with an art degree and is now a talented tattoo artist. She loves turning her art into something permanent on someone’s body, and the work she does is stunning.”
Keep reading to learn more about White’s children:
Nicholas ‘Nikko’ Santo Pietro
Nikko was born on June 10, 1994. He studied agriculture at Oregon State University before launching his career as a real estate agent, joining The Agency’s elite group The Umansky Team
One of Nikko’s greatest passions is cooking—a love he inherited from his father, who owned two iconic Los Angeles restaurants, Santo Pietro’s and Sushi Ko. According to his bio on The Agency website, “He grew up tending to a garden and vineyard, where guests were welcomed daily, and communal meals were prepared and shared.” (White previously revealed that both of her children moved back to L.A. during the COVID-19 pandemic.)
Fans may also recognize Nikko from his cooking videos, which appear on both his Instagram page and his mother’s official account. His social media following continues to grow, with many commenters dubbing him a “hearthrob.”
“I’ve had an outpour from her fans just really being kind and saying all kinds of interesting stuff in the comments,” Nikko told Entertainment Tonight in December 2024, reflecting on the fan response.
Giovanna ‘Gigi’ Santo Pietro
Vanna White and George Santo Pietro welcomed Gigi on July 1, 1997. She went on to study photography at New York University and now works as a tattoo artist, sharing some of her creations on Instagram.
In October 2023, White revealed she was open to getting a tattoo from Gigi in the future.
“You know what, I want to have matching hearts where she’ll do a little heart on me and she’ll do one on herself. I feel like I need to do that because it’s her and it would be her on me,” the Wheel of Fortune icon told People, adding she “never dreamed” her daughter would pursue tattooing but is thrilled with her choice.
“I said, ‘Gigi, why tattooing?’ She goes, ‘Mom, my art is on someone’s body for the rest of their lives.’ I was like, ‘That’s pretty cool,’” White explained. “You have to be so good and confident. You can’t mess up. She absolutely loves it, has been doing it for the past three years, and is doing a great job. I’m so, so proud of her.”
White also highlighted that both of her children have always been creative.
“They’re both artistic,” she said. “Nikko does artwork for fun. That’s his escape from the real world his real life is in real estate, which is good for him. So he’s loving that as well.”
Vanna White’s Son Showed Support After Her Wedding to John Donaldson
In January 2026, White announced her marriage to longtime boyfriend John Donaldson after more than a decade together.
“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,” she captioned a photo of Donaldson carrying her in his arms as she wore a white beaded gown. “We’re excited to share this new joyful chapter in our lives with all of you! Love, Vanna and John.”
Fans, friends, and fellow celebrities flooded the comments section with congratulatory messages for the newlyweds.
“Congrats!! 🎉🍾” Nikko wrote.
White later responded to everyone’s kind messages, saying, “Thank you all for the sweet well wishes!!! We are so thankful for all the love and congratulations.”
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