Ben Affleck wins Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? jackpot
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Updated / Thursday, 30 Jul 2026<br>15:42
Getty
Ben Affleck - The actor competed on the US version of the game show alongside Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding
Ben Affleck has won the million-dollar top prize on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in the US.
The Hollywood actor, 53, competed on the US version of the game show alongside Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding.
The money was pledged to Affleck's non-profit foundation, the Eastern Congo Initiative.
At the start of the episode, Affleck explained that the foundation supports community-based organisations in the African region, which he said had been "severely impacted by a very traumatic war".
Ben Affleck and Jamie Ding 👀💰 See how their #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire journey unfolded. pic.twitter.com/5zNGGjml7q
— Millionaire TV (@MillionaireTV) July 30, 2026
After appearing on the previous episode, Affleck and Ding had two more questions before securing the jackpot.
The $500,000 question was: "What achievement occurred just two months after a New York Times article said it wouldn't happen for one million to 10 million years?"
The possible answers were: splitting the atom, cloning a mammal, the first aeroplane flight, or the polio vaccine.
Ding immediately said C – the first plane flight – and Affleck agreed.
The actor said: "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. Yeah, just randomly. And I sort of, vaguely, in my subconscious, remember The Times and the Wright brothers and that whole thing was 1905, 3 or 4, or something."
Ding said: "I think '03," which prompted host Jimmy Kimmel to joke he was "so much smarter than Matt", referring to Affleck's close friend Matt Damon, who competed on the show last year with Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings and also won $1 million.
However, the pair were not completely confident and used their 50:50 lifeline to eliminate two incorrect answers, leaving the options of splitting the atom and the first plane flight.
They correctly chose the latter, giving them the chance at the million-dollar question, which was: "In an annual Thanksgiving tradition, all but which of these have been the names of turkeys pardoned by a US president?"
The possible answers were: Peanut Butter & Jelly, Tater & Tot, Mac & Cheese, and Spaghetti & Meatball.
Affleck and Ding used their Ask-the-Host lifeline, with Kimmel backing the final option.
Using their final lifeline – Phone-A-Friend – they called one of Ding's friends, but he did not answer in time.
Backing the answer chosen by Kimmel, they opted for Spaghetti & Meatball – and won a million dollars.
They were then covered in confetti and handed a huge cheque for the foundation.
Other celebrity contestants featured on this season of the game show have included Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Keaton, Awkwafina, Leslie Odom Jr, and Colin Jost.
Other celebrity pairs to win the million dollars have included Ike and Alan Barinholtz in 2024, and Oscar Nuñez and Kate Flannery in 2025.
Source: Press Association
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