Ben Affleck stunned audiences by winning the $1 million top prize on the US edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, securing the jackpot for charity during the latest episode of the popular game show. The 53-year-old actor teamed up with Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding to compete for the grand prize, which will benefit the Eastern Congo Initiative, Affleck's non-profit organisation that promotes peace, resilience and economic opportunities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Path to the Jackpot
The pair successfully answered the $500,000 question, identifying the Wright brothers' first powered flight as the achievement that occurred just two months after a New York Times article predicted it would not happen for between one million and 10 million years. For the final $1 million question, they were asked which of four names had not been used for turkeys pardoned by a US president during the annual Thanksgiving tradition. The options were Peanut Butter & Jelly, Tater & Tot, Mac & Cheese, and Spaghetti & Meatball.
Unsure of the answer, Affleck and Ding consulted host Jimmy Kimmel, who suggested "Spaghetti & Meatball." After also using their Phone-a-Friend lifeline without receiving a definitive answer, they chose Kimmel's suggestion, which proved correct and secured the $1 million prize. The studio erupted in celebration as confetti fell and the duo embraced before receiving a ceremonial cheque for the charity.
Affleck's Reasoning
During the game, Affleck explained how he reasoned through the $500,000 question, recalling reading about historical media predictions involving the Wright brothers. "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 said. "I vaguely, in my subconscious, remember the Times and the Wright brothers and that whole thing was 1905, 3 or 4, or something."
Kimmel praised the actor's reasoning, joking: "So much smarter than Matt," in reference to Affleck's longtime friend Matt Damon, who also won the top prize on the show in 2025. Affleck now joins a small group of celebrity contestants who have successfully claimed the $1 million jackpot on the US version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
