John Donaldson is a California construction executive who has spent more than a decade alongside “Wheel of Fortune” star Vanna White — and he’s now officially her husband. White surprised fans on Jan. 21 when she announced on Instagram that she and Donaldson had quietly gotten married in a private ceremony after years of building a life together. Here’s what you need to know.
1. John Donaldson & Vanna White Secretly Got Married After More Than a Decade Together
In a surprise Instagram post on Jan. 21, White revealed that she and Donaldson had already gotten married in a private ceremony before sharing the news publicly.
“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,” White wrote.
“We’re excited to share this new joyful chapter in our lives with all of you!”
White later added a second message that made the announcement simple and direct: “Surprise! We got married!”
White and Donaldson began dating in 2012, keeping their relationship relatively low-key while occasionally appearing together at public events. The wedding news marked a new chapter for a couple that fans have followed for years.
2. The Newlyweds Met at a Barbecue & She Instantly Noticed Him
White has shared that she met Donaldson through friends when he attended one of her barbecues. She later said she immediately thought he stood out.
“He’s really cute,” White recalled during an October 2019 conversation.
White also explained what helped the relationship work long-term, saying they kept things simple and supportive.
“It just works,” she said. “He lets me be me, I let him be him. There is no drama.”
The two continued dating privately, and over time Donaldson became a familiar face beside White at select events.
3. Vanna White Said John Donaldson Was ‘The One’ Years Before They Made It Official
Long before the couple got married, White said she already viewed Donaldson as her life partner. In October 2023, she told People she didn’t feel pressure to get married because their relationship already felt committed.
“I mean, we’ve been together 12 years, and I feel like we are married,” White said. “Do we have to get married? No, because we feel comfortable in our relationship.”
White added that the feeling was mutual and left little mystery about how serious their relationship was.
“I know that he’s the one. He knows I’m the one,” she said.
4. Donaldson Built His Career From Construction Laborer to Luxury Home Builder
Donaldson was born and raised in Santa Monica, California, and started working in construction at a young age. According to his business background, his career began with hands-on work as a laborer in the San Fernando Valley.
His early duties included packing lumber for $5 per hour on a commercial job site, according to the about page on his company’s website. From there, he moved into carpentry and spent time driving through neighborhoods looking for framing work. Donaldson eventually worked his way up into leadership roles, including becoming a head foreman on luxury homes in the Hollywood Hills.
Over time, Donaldson’s projects connected him to high-profile names. His résumé has been described as including celebrity clients such as Richard Dreyfuss, Dan Aykroyd, and Martin Mull.
While White has been on television for decades, Donaldson built his reputation in a different world — through construction experience, job sites, and long-term development work across California.
5. John Donaldson Runs JDC Construction + Development Group in California
Donaldson later earned his contractor’s license and reached a major professional goal: launching his own business. He is the president and building developer of JDC Construction + Development Group, a California-based company that was previously known as John R. Donaldson, Inc. until July 2014.
The company highlights its focus on practical building knowledge and renovation expertise.
“JDC prides itself on its tradesman roots and the insight which years of hands on experience provides to property owners, architects and engineers in developing realistic plans for revitalization projects, as well as finding appropriate solutions to renovation challenges,” the company states on its website.
While Donaldson tends to stay out of the spotlight, White has made it clear she values the stability he brings. In a 2023 interview, she described him as the “male version” of herself.
“We really are very similar. We get along so well,” White said. “He’s easy, and he lets me be me, and I let him be him.”
