Gameplay Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (U.S. game show)

1 gameplay

1.1 core rules
1.2 format history
1.3 payout structure
1.4 lifelines
1.5 top prize winners

gameplay
core rules

screenshot illustrating how question text , answer choices appear on-screen

at core, game quiz competition in goal correctly answer series of fourteen (originally fifteen) consecutive multiple-choice questions. questions of increasing difficulty, except in 2010–15 format overhaul, contestants faced round of ten questions of random difficulty, followed round of 4 questions of increasing difficulty. each question worth specified amount of money; amounts cumulative in first round, not in second. if contestant gives wrong answer question, game on , winnings reduced (or increased, in first 2 questions) $1,000 tier-one questions, $5,000 tier-two questions, , $50,000 tier-three questions. however, contestant has option of walking away without giving answer after being presented question, in case game ends , contestant guaranteed walk away money have received. exception of shuffle format, upon correctly answering questions 5 , ten, contestants guaranteed @ least amount of prize money associated level. if contestant gives incorrect answer, winnings drop down last milestone achieved. since 2015, if contestant answers question incorrectly before reaching question five, or leaves $1,000, on first question worth $500. celebrities, minimum guarantee nominated charities $10,000. prior shuffle format, contestant left nothing if (s)he answered question incorrectly before reaching first milestone. in shuffle format era, contestants incorrectly answered question had winnings reduced $1,000 in round 1 , $25,000 in round two.

format history

on abc versions, ten contestants competed in preliminary fastest finger round right play main game on each episode. contestants presented question , list of 4 answers needed put in specific order. using keys on podiums, each of contestants attempted enter correct order in shortest amount of time, maximum time limit of 20 seconds. if main game ended , there still time available game, remaining contestants played fastest finger round chance play main game. in event of tie between 2 or more contestants, contestants played additional fastest finger question break tie. if contestants answered question incorrectly, round repeated question. fastest finger eliminated gameplay when syndicated version premiered in 2002.

from 2008 2010, time limits used each question. contestants given 15 seconds each questions 1 through five, 30 seconds each questions 6 through ten, , 45 seconds each questions eleven through fourteen. unused time banked, , if contestant reached question fifteen, or given 45 seconds plus amount of time banked. if clock reached 0 before contestant provide final answer, contestant forced walk away winnings had @ point. during clock format era, millionaire menu introduced, in categories revealed each question @ beginning of game, , made visible contestant future reference. prize levels changed @ start of season eight. of episodes in season 8 (from million dollar tournament of ten onward) featured special celebrity questions mid-level in monetary value, , provided notable individuals identities not revealed until contestant reached special questions.

when ninth syndicated season began on september 13, 2010, format overhauled. ten questions asked in round one, each assigned 1 of ten different money amounts randomized @ beginning of game, questions themselves. difficulty of questions not tied dollar value. dollar values each question remained hidden until contestant either provided correct answer or chose jump question. value of each question answered correctly added contestant s bank, maximum total of $68,600. contestant completed round walk @ subsequent point money in bank, or walk without completing round half amount (e.g., contestant banked $30,000 leave $15,000). after completing round one, contestant moved on second round of gameplay (the classic millionaire round), in 4 non-categorized questions played set non-cumulative values , correct answer augmented contestant s winnings point, in older formats. shuffle format changes, including randomization , double-round distribution of questions, reverted fourteenth syndicated season.

from 2011 2014, weeks of show designated double money weeks. in those, pre-selected question in round 1 designated double money question. when contestant answered such question correctly, monetary value behind question doubled , added or bank, giving him or possibility of adding $50,000 or bank on single question; under these special rules, possible contestant finish round 1 maximum total of $93,600 in bank. however, when contestant jumped question, forfeited doubled money.

in event contestant leaves , little time remains (in final part of episode), randomly selected audience member given 1 chance win $1,000 answering next question intended previous contestant (or $2,000 if next question on double money episode). regardless of outcome, audience member receives special prize. in seasons 9 , ten, prize copy of millionaire video game; of season eleven, audience members receive 20 free playings facebook game based on show s format. in season thirteen, gave game name thousandaire , question audience player faced did not come previous player s stack, instead separate question. 2 additional audience games introduced , played in season thirteen: team millionaire , 2 audience members both presented single question , lock in individual answers separately chance win $500 , bonus question can double money; , fastest feet , variation of fastest finger 4 audience members play chance split $1,000.

payout structure

five different ladders have been used season or more on course of series.

the original primetime payment structure used first 2 seasons of syndicated version. third syndicated season saw reduction in values questions ten through twelve. in eighth syndicated season, lower question values adjusted raise first safe haven $5,000. when shuffle format used, first ten questions had random amounts $100 $25,000, listed above. in addition, number of questions needed win million reduced 14, removing $50,000 level; last 4 values remained same round two. when shuffle format ended @ start of 2015–16 season, switch 14 questions retained; first safe haven kept @ $5,000, second raised $50,000.

the $500,000 , $1,000,000 prizes lump-sum payments, changed annuities in september 2002 when series moved syndication. contestants winning either of these prizes receive $250,000 thirty days after show broadcasts , remainder paid in equal annual payments. $500,000 prize consists of $25,000 per year 10 years, while $1,000,000 prize consists of $37,500 per year 20 years.

any contestant answers 1 of first 5 questions incorrectly still receives $1,000 consolation prize, contrary home audience told. in contrast old format, in contestants answered 1 of first 5 questions incorrectly left nothing @ all.

lifelines

contestants given series of lifelines aid them difficult questions. can use many lifelines desired per question, each lifeline can used once per game. 3 lifelines available start of game. depending on format of show, additional lifelines may become available after contestant correctly answers fifth or tenth question. in clock format, usage of lifelines temporarily paused clock while lifelines played.

the show s original 3 lifelines 50:50 , in computer eliminates 2 of incorrect answers; phone-a-friend , allowed contestant make 30-second call 1 of number of friends (who provided phone numbers in advance) , read them question , answer choices, after friend provided input; , ask audience , in audience members use touch pads designate believe correct answer be, after percentage of audience choosing each specific option displayed contestant. 50:50 eliminated @ end of show s sixth syndicated season, restored in season fourteen. phone-a-friend removed on episode aired january 11, 2010, after determined there increasing trend of contestants friends using search engines , other internet resources, unfairly privileging individuals had computer access on did not, , contrary original intent of lifeline friends supposed provide assistance based on knew. 2004 2008, there fourth lifeline called switch question , earned upon answering question ten, in computer replaced, @ contestant s request, 1 question of same monetary value; however, lifelines used on original question not reinstated new question. switch question returned cut question on special week of shows child contestants aired in 2014.

during super millionaire spin-off, 2 new lifelines introduced: double dip , allowed contestant make 2 guesses @ question, required them play out question, forbidding them walk away or use further lifelines; , 3 wise men , in contestant allowed ask sequestered panel of 3 people chosen producers, appearing via face-to-face audio , video feeds, answer believed correct, within time limit of 30 seconds. when clock format implemented, double dip replaced 50:50, , show introduced new lifeline called ask expert , 3 wise men had 1 person (usually celebrity or former millionaire contestant) functioning expert instead of panel of 3 people, lacked time limit of predecessor, , allowed contestant , expert discuss question. ask expert available after fifth question, moved beginning of game after phone-a-friend removed.

the show s lifelines used corporate sponsorship. phone-a-friend lifeline sponsored original at&t throughout run of abc primetime show , in first season of syndicated version, current at&t 2009 primetime episodes. 2004 2006, ask audience sponsored aol, allowed users of instant messenger add screen name millionaireim buddy list , receive instant message question , 4 possible answers, users replied choices. in addition, ask expert lifeline sponsored skype live audio , video feeds.

during shuffle format era, show introduced new lifeline, jump question , able used twice in single game seasons 9 through twelve. @ point prior selecting final answer, contestant use jump question skip current question , move on next one, reducing number of questions had correctly answer. however, if contestant used jump question, did not gain money question chose skip (for example, contestant not gain typical $100,000 if jumped $250,000 question). lifeline not used on $1 million question, since final question in game. plus 1 lifeline, introduced in season thirteen, allows contestant bring companion him or podium in answering question. introduction of lifeline reduced number of jump question lifelines available 2 one. on occasional specially designated weeks, starting halloween-themed week aired october 29 november 2, 2012, shuffle format used special lifeline called crystal ball , allows contestant see money value of round 1 question prior giving answer. jump question removed @ end of show s thirteenth syndicated season. show s fourteenth season, during special week of college shows, players got lifeline called , played plus 1 , allowing companion player; however, used after plus 1 used.

top prize winners

the first contestant correctly answer 15 questions , win top prize of $1,000,000 john carpenter, on episode aired november 19, 1999. in 2000, million dollar top prize awarded 5 times: dan blonsky on episode aired january 18, joe trela on march 23, bob house on june 13, kim hunt on july 6, , david goodman on july 11.

in january 2001, when no contestant had won $1 million in show aired on period of 5 months, top prize changed flat $1 million accumulating jackpot increased $10,000 each episode top prize not won. on april 10, 2001, kevin olmstead correctly answered final question , won $2,180,000, making him biggest winner in television history @ time. top prize correctly answering final question returned $1 million following olmstead s win , has remained unchanged since; 5 days after olmstead s win, standard $1 million prize awarded bernie cullen. last top prize winner on original network version ed toutant, on episode aired september 7, 2001; had appeared on episode aired january 31, 2001 when jackpot $1,860,000, ruled have answered $16,000 question incorrectly, when discovered there mistake in question, toutant invited , won $1,860,000 jackpot. on super millionaire spin-off, robert essig won $1,000,000 after answering twelfth question , walked away, not reaching final question $10,000,000.

on syndicated version s first season, 2 contestants correctly answered 15 questions , won top prize of $1,000,000: kevin smith on february 18, 2003, , nancy christy on may 8 of same year. during million dollar tournament of ten aired in november 2009, sam murray, had supplied correct responses eleven questions, risked winnings on special $1,000,000 question; contestant answer question correctly.