From Wheel of Fortune to McLaren F1

Born and raised in California, we now know him as the Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Racing. Zak Browns’ path to Formula 1 began with an American show called “Wheel of 

Fortune.”

(Image credit to @aplasticplant on Instagram)

The Wheel of Fortune has run continuously since January 6, 1975. In the game, contestants guess letters to solve word puzzles and earn prizes through spinning a wheel.

Although Brown has loved the sport of racing since he was a kid, his family lacked the funds for him himself to become a racer in F1. “I didn’t come from a racing background. I didn’t come from a privileged background,” Brown said to The Athletic.

In 1984, the big game show came to town and kids could apply to compete on “Wheel of Fortune” for Teen Week, Brown recalls. Although there were only fifteen spots of hundreds of applicants, Zak Brown ended up being one of the few selected. He also did really well and was put on spot to select his prize. “As most 13-years-olds, the first thing you do is look at the board and just go, what’s the most expensive thing I can afford? It had to be the watches.” Brown said. The intention was to sell them at some point.

Brown went on to sell the watches he won on “Wheel of Fortune” at a pawn shop in Van Nuys and he used the money to pay for a karting school and he became really good, soon making a jump to Europe after almost five years. Then he spent years building relationships, networking and getting business started.

In 2016 he was given an opportunity to work for Mclaren. He has been a major asset to the team, continuing to provide guidance and help to those in it.

“A quest is ongoing. We’re trying to fly to the moon, and we don’t only want to go to the moon once,” Zak Brown wrote in a letter to fans.

(Image credit to Forbes)

Article Written by Libuše Velíšková.