Actor Ben Affleck has won the million-dollar top prize on the US version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, pledging the funds to his non-profit foundation, the Eastern Congo Initiative. Affleck, 53, competed alongside Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding on the game show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
The Path to the Million-Dollar Jackpot
Affleck and Ding entered the episode with two remaining questions to secure the grand prize. The $500,000 question asked what achievement occurred just two months after a New York Times article claimed it would not happen for one million to 10 million years.
The choices included splitting the atom, cloning a mammal, the first airplane flight, and the polio vaccine. Ding immediately identified the first plane flight, which Affleck confirmed from his own recollection.
I only remember this because it was a time in my life where I spent time looking up examples that the press got things wrong,
Affleck explained.
Despite their initial inclination toward the Wright brothers’ flight in 1903, the pair used their 50:50 lifeline to remove two incorrect options. Left with splitting the atom and the first plane flight, they locked in the correct answer to advance to the final round.
Securing the Final Prize With Lifelines
The million-dollar question asked which names, apart from one, had been given to turkeys pardoned by a US president in the annual Thanksgiving tradition. The options were Peanut Butter & Jelly, Tater & Tot, Mac & Cheese, and Spaghetti & Meatball.
To navigate the final tier, Affleck and Ding utilized their Ask-the-Host lifeline. Host Jimmy Kimmel backed the final option, Spaghetti & Meatball. While a subsequent Phone-A-Friend attempt to consult one of Ding’s acquaintances went unanswered due to the time limit, the pair followed Kimmel’s guidance. Choosing Spaghetti & Meatball secured the million-dollar win, resulting in a celebration featuring falling confetti and a large novelty cheque presented to the Eastern Congo Initiative.
Did you know? Ben Affleck’s win follows a previous celebrity victory on the show by his close friend Matt Damon, who competed alongside Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings last year and also claimed the $1 million prize, as reported by the Press Association.
Celebrity Wins on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
The current season of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has featured a broad roster of celebrity contestants, including Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Keaton, Awkwafina, Leslie Odom Jr., and Colin Jost.
Affleck and Ding join a select group of celebrity pairs who have successfully claimed the top prize on the game show. Previous celebrity winners include Ike and Alan Barinholtz in 2024, followed by Oscar Nunez and Kate Flannery in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What organization received Ben Affleck’s winnings?
The $1 million prize was pledged to Affleck’s non-profit foundation, the Eastern Congo Initiative, which supports community-based organizations in an African region impacted by a very traumatic war.
Who competed alongside Ben Affleck on the show?
Affleck competed alongside Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding.
Which lifelines did Affleck and Ding use?
The pair used their 50:50 lifeline during the $500,000 question, followed by the Ask-the-Host lifeline, where Jimmy Kimmel advised them on the final question.
Who won the million dollars on the show previously?
Previous celebrity winners include Matt Damon in the previous season, Ike and Alan Barinholtz in 2024, and Oscar Nunez and Kate Flannery in 2025.
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