Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

The show was originally created in the UK and hosted by journalist Chris Tarrant, beginning in 1998. In the United States, the daytime and primetime versions were famously hosted by Regis Philbin starting in 1999. Later American iterations featured popular syndicated hosts like Meredith Vieira, who hosted the daily version from 2002 to 2013.

In the original format, contestants are given distinct lifelines to help them answer difficult questions: '50:50' (which removes two wrong answers), 'Phone-a-Friend,' and 'Ask the Audience.' The 2020 revival of the US version updated these to include the 'Switch the Question' lifeline and removed 'Phone-a-Friend'. These lifelines are crucial safety nets for navigating the increasingly difficult multiple-choice questions.

Yes, numerous contestants worldwide have successfully answered the final 15th question to win the $1 million grand prize. The first US winner was John Carpenter in 1999, who famously used his 'Phone-a-Friend' lifeline on the final question just to tell his dad he was about to win the money. His confident, clean sweep of the questions remains one of the most iconic moments in game-show history.

The game show requires contestants to answer a series of 14 or 15 multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty to win the top prize. Each correct answer multiplies the prize money, leading up to the million-dollar top prize. The show popularized the use of dramatic lighting, intense sound effects, and complete silence during the question-answering phase to build tension.