George Santo Pietro is best known to many as the second husband of Vanna White, the longtime co-host of Wheel of Fortune, but his own story extends well beyond that marriage. Before and after his years with White, Santo Pietro built a varied career spanning film production, the Hollywood restaurant scene, and eventually Beverly Hills real estate development.
Quick Facts About George Santo Pietro
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | George Santo Pietro |
| Date of Birth | December 12, 1946 |
| Birthplace | Beverly Hills, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Former restaurateur, film/TV production crew member, real estate developer, and Vanna White’s ex-husband |
| First Wife | Linda Evans (married 1981) |
| Second Wife | Vanna White (married December 31, 1990; divorced May 15, 2002) |
| Current Wife | Melissa Mascari (married since 2005) |
| Children | Andria (with Evans); Nikko and Gigi (with White); Chiara (with Mascari) |
| Restaurants | Santopietro’s, Sushi-Ko, and reportedly Trattoria Don Pietro |
| Current Profession | Real estate developer |
| Net Worth | Estimated $5–14 million (unconfirmed) |
His Early Life and Background
George Santo Pietro was born on December 12, 1946, in Beverly Hills, California, growing up close to the entertainment industry that would eventually shape much of his career. Multiple biographical sources describe his heritage as biracial — part Native American and part white. Long before real estate brought him significant wealth, Santo Pietro was drawn to the film business as a young man, a pull that led him onto television and movie sets well before he became known for the restaurant ventures that later defined his public reputation.
Career Beginnings: From Film Sets to Restaurants
Santo Pietro’s earliest professional work took place behind the camera rather than in a kitchen. He held production roles, including positions within camera and electrical departments, on shows that would go on to become genuine cultural touchstones — his documented credits include work connected to The X-Files, Alias, Northern Exposure, Star Trek: Voyager, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, True Blood, Pushing Daisies, and L.A. Doctors. He also stepped in front of the camera on occasion, including a small acting credit in the 1985 film Prizzi’s Honor and a role in the 1984 series The New Mike Hammer.
While his production career developed quietly in the background, Santo Pietro was simultaneously building the foundation for the business venture that would eventually make him a familiar name within Hollywood’s social circles.
Santopietro’s and Sushi-Ko
In the 1980s, Santo Pietro opened an Italian restaurant called Santopietro’s, tucked into a low-key strip mall near Mulholland Drive in Bel-Air. It quickly became something of an open secret among Hollywood’s elite, offering celebrities a place to dine without the usual public attention — a discretion that kept the restaurant popular for years.
Building on that success, he later opened a second restaurant in the same complex, a sushi spot called Sushi-Ko, which developed its own loyal, high-profile following. Some sources also reference a later venture, Trattoria Don Pietro. Together, these restaurants established Santo Pietro’s reputation in Los Angeles well before most of the country came to know his name through his marriage to Vanna White.
His Marriage to Linda Evans
Before his well-known marriage to Vanna White, George Santo Pietro was married to actress Linda Evans, best recognized for her role in the primetime soap opera Dynasty. The couple married in 1981 and had a daughter, Andria Santo Pietro, born in 1982. The marriage didn’t last, and the two separated a few years later.
His Marriage to Vanna White
George Santo Pietro met Vanna White in 1985 in Studio City, reportedly introduced through mutual friends who arranged for the two to join a dinner together. The relationship eventually led to marriage on December 31, 1990. During their years together, Santo Pietro’s involvement in the entertainment industry grew further, as he became more engaged in television and film production work alongside larger studios.
You May Also like this: Jason Carden: D’Arcy Carden’s Husband and His Career in Comedy Production
The couple had two children together — son Nikko (Niko) Santo Pietro and daughter Gigi (Giovanna) Santo Pietro. After twelve years of marriage, George Santo Pietro and Vanna White divorced on May 15, 2002.
Life After Vanna White
George Santo Pietro remarried in 2005, to Melissa Mascari. Public records and available biographical sources indicate the two have children together, including a daughter, Chiara, born in 2007. Unlike his earlier, more publicly documented marriage, this chapter of his life has remained almost entirely outside entertainment media coverage — one reason detailed information about his life since 2005 is considerably harder to find compared to his years with Vanna White.
His Real Estate Ventures and Net Worth
After stepping back from active restaurant ownership, Santo Pietro built a second career in Beverly Hills real estate development. He’s associated with a large Beverly Hills property spanning roughly 30,000 square feet, designed by architect William Hablinski and featuring nine bedrooms and fifteen bathrooms among other high-end amenities. That property reportedly sold for around $23.5 million after originally carrying a considerably higher valuation.
He was also connected to another Beverly Hills estate — a property he acquired with Vanna White in the early 1990s — which was later rented out for a reported $150,000 a month before eventually selling for tens of millions of dollars years afterward. Estimates of George Santo Pietro’s personal net worth vary across different sources, generally ranging from around $5 million to $14 million depending on the year cited. As is typical with privately held real estate portfolios, there’s no single official public figure, so these estimates should be treated as informed approximations rather than confirmed financial data.
Where Is He Now?
George Santo Pietro largely stays out of the public eye today. Unlike his ex-wife Vanna White, who remains a fixture of the celebrity press circuit, most current information about Santo Pietro comes from real estate records and occasional biography roundups rather than fresh interviews or public appearances.
Final Thoughts
George Santo Pietro’s story reflects a career built across several distinct industries rather than one defined solely by a famous marriage. From early work on film and television production crews to founding two beloved Hollywood restaurants and later transitioning into high-end real estate development, Santo Pietro has consistently built professional identities independent of his personal relationships — even as his marriages to Linda Evans and Vanna White brought him wider public recognition. Today, he continues living privately with his wife, Melissa Mascari, having built a life and career that extends well beyond his connection to daytime television’s most recognizable letter-turner.
FAQs About George Santo Pietro
Is George Santo Pietro still married?
Yes — current sources indicate he’s been married to Melissa Mascari since October 2005.
How many children does George Santo Pietro have?
He has four children across multiple relationships: Andria (with Linda Evans), Nikko and Gigi (with Vanna White), and Chiara (with Melissa Mascari).
What restaurants did George Santo Pietro own?
He’s best known for Santopietro’s, an Italian restaurant in Bel-Air, and Sushi-Ko, a sushi restaurant in the same complex.
What is George Santo Pietro’s profession today?
He’s primarily known as a real estate developer, following earlier careers as a restaurateur and film/TV production crew member.
