WoF host Ryan Seacrest debuts full beard while ‘diving into’ new hobby as fans ask ‘when do you sleep?’

RYAN Seacrest is sporting a new look ahead of his debut as Wheel of Fortune's new host.

The 49-year-old TV star showed off a full beard in new pictures shared on Instagram, marking a departure from his typically clean-shaven style.

In the accompanying caption, Ryan told fans about his latest hobby, explaining that he's "diving into winemaking."

He wrote, "Learning something new with every sip.

"I've been diving into winemaking, trying to learn how to create an organic wine with minimal sulfites," Ryan continued, under the post shared on Wednesday, August 28.

He wished his followers on the occasion of National Wine Day, before asking them to share their "favorite kind of wine."

Ryan's fans praised his time management skills, with one person recapping all of his personal and professional endeavors in a comment on Instagram.

"Let's see. On Air with Ryan Seacrest, Wheel of Fortune, American Idol, makes or made olive oil, now wine," their message read. "Slow down before you burn out."

Another person commented, "In your spare time? Seriously when do you sleep? By the way, love your hair like that!"

A third comment, praising Ryan's new look, read, "Beard game strong!"

"Hair ON POINT!" a fourth Instagram user wrote. "Looking good & ready to spin the wheel!!"

Ryan is currently gearing up to take over from Pat Sajak as Wheel of Fortune's new host, after the official announcement last June.

He will join long-term co-host Vanna White to usher in a new era at the CBS game show, which first premiered nearly 50 years ago.

"I'm truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak," Ryan said in a statement, following news of Pat's retirement.

"I can say, along with the rest of America, that it's been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them," he continued.

Ryan also paid tribute to Pat's Wheel of Fortune legacy on Instagram last year, congratulating the veteran broadcaster "on an incredible run".

Wheel of Fortune host timeline

Premiering in 1975, the beloved game show has had a few different iconic hosts in its nearly 50 seasons.

1975 - 1981 : Chuck Woolery was the original host of Wheel of Fortune until he departed in 1981.

1981 - June 2024: Pat Sajak took over and became a beloved Wheel of Fortune host for over 40 years.

September 2024: Ryan Seacrest was declared the newest host as Sajak announced his retirement.

He shared a picture of himself, Vanna, 67, and Pat, 77, together on the set of the game show at the time, while praising their "iconic" partnership in the caption.

"You’ve set the standard for hosts everywhere, and this marks the end of an era," Ryan wrote. "Best wishes for all your future endeavors!"

RYAN'S HOBBIES

In 2021, Ryan opened up about his secret passion for olive farming, in an interview with Parade magazine.

When asked whether he makes New Year resolutions, the host of Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve told the outlet, "I try to add a new layer to life every new year.

"This year my passion has migrated into the world of farming. I have personally planted two different olive groves in California," he explained.

"I’m studying how to cultivate those to create my own organic olive oil one day," Ryan continued.

He highlighted a gap in the market for a "very, very coveted organic olive oil brand", while adding, "I really am interested in that."

'HYPE-BEAST'

Ryan began filming new episodes of the beloved game show last month, with a source telling The U.S. Sun that his hosting style couldn't be more different to Pat's.

"Ryan is simply not doing the low-key version of the show that Pat did,” a source close to the production said.

“He's brought every bit of his 'hype-beast' morning radio and New Year's Eve energy to the production of his first episodes.

"It's a pretty big shift and an obvious grab for a younger generation of viewers than Pat had," the source continued.

“Ryan just makes the whole Wheel experience feel hipper, faster and less sleepy than the version of the show that Pat did for all those years," they added.

Wheel of Fortune returns to TV screens on September 9, 2026.