Pat Sajak 'Misses' the Camaraderie' of 'Wheel of Fortune' After Retirement: 'He's Not Finding It Easy'

"Pat spent his whole career on Wheel of Fortune; he still has so many friends that are working on the show, people he has known for years," the insider revealed. "They are truly like family to him, so having his daughter working there now is a dream come true. He loves talking shop with her and keeping up on all the latest. It's not in a malicious way; he just wants to feel like he's still a part of the team."

While Pat enjoys his new-found free time, including playing golf, he can't shake off the feelings of loss.

"Not going in to do the show and having that whole cohort of colleagues and friends that he sees or talks to pretty much daily has left a huge hole in his life," the source added. "He's not finding it easy to adjust to the change. He misses the camaraderie, he misses the star treatment, even the drive to the studio. Sure he can golf every day if he wants, but it doesn't fulfill him the way his job did."

Pat emphasized the show's role in shaping moments for families, saying, "But gradually it became more than that, a place where kids learn their letters, where people from other countries honed their English skills, where families came together, along with friends and neighbors and entire generations. What an honor to have played even a small part in all that. Thank you for allowing me into your lives."

"As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years. We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season," said Suzanne Prete, the Executive Vice President of Game Shows at Sony Pictures Television. "Pat has agreed to continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year hosting, so we're thrilled to have him remaining close to the Wheel of Fortune family!"