The coveted million-dollar prize on the popular game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has been won by none other than Hollywood star Ben Affleck, accompanied by Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding.
Ben, 53, took his seat alongside Jamie to compete for the $1 million jackpot, which was raised for charity. The pair faced a series of challenging questions, with the first being worth $500,000.
The question, which asked for a significant achievement that occurred just two months after a New York Times article predicted it wouldn't happen for 1 million to 10 million years, was answered correctly by the duo. They chose the first airplane flight as the correct answer, earning applause from host Jimmy Kimmel.
The final question, worth $1 million, asked about an annual Thanksgiving tradition. Ben and Jamie were faced with four possible answers: Peanut Butter & Jelly, Tater & Tot, Mac & Cheese, and Spaghetti & Meatball. After consulting Kimmel, who recommended Spaghetti & Meatball, they made their final decision and risked it all.
Luckily, Kimmel's suggestion proved to be correct, and the pair were overjoyed as confetti fell from the ceiling. They then got to hold a comically large cheque written out to Ben's own foundation, the Eastern Congo Initiative.
The Eastern Congo Initiative amplifies the voices and leadership of the Congolese people while advancing peace, resilience, and economic opportunity across Eastern Congo. The pressure was on for Ben, especially given that his best friend Matt Damon had won the competition just a year prior.
Ben's reasoning for choosing airplane flight as the answer to the $500,000 question impressed Kimmel, who quipped that Ben was "so much smarter than Matt." Ben joins a handful of other celebrity contestants who have gone all the way to the end, including Ike and Alan Barinholtz in 2024 and Oscar Nuñez and Kate Flannery in 2025.
