According to People, Ben Affleck participated in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" alongside Jamie Ding, a Jeopardy! legend who won 31 consecutive games. Their competition, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, was split into two episodes, airing on 22/7 and 29/7 on ABC.

In the final episode, Ben Affleck and Jamie Ding faced two remaining questions. Question 14, worth 500,000 USD, asked: "Which achievement occurred two months after The New York Times published an article stating it wouldn't happen for 'one to 10 million years'?" The four options were: (A) atomic fission, (B) mammalian cloning, (C) the first airplane flight, and (D) polio vaccine.

Ding chose C, and Affleck agreed. The actor recalled the incident, stating he had once researched examples of inaccurate press reporting and stumbled upon this event. He guessed the event took place in 1905 or 1903, 1904, while his teammate thought it was 1903. Uncertain about the correct answer, they used the 50:50 lifeline to eliminate two incorrect options.

Actor Ben Affleck, 54 (left), and teammate Jamie Ding. *Photo: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire*

With options A and C remaining, they decided to stick with Jamie Ding's initial choice. Ben Affleck expressed confidence in his teammate, saying, "Look, man, I'm with you. Lead the way. I'm always on your side. If you feel good about it, let's go with it." The host confirmed that Jamie Ding had correctly recalled the time of the first airplane flight, announcing their answer was right. "1903 was exactly when the Wright brothers flew their airplane, and I guess the skeptics at The New York Times didn't believe it," Kimmel said.

For the final challenge, they had to identify the names of the pair of turkeys that had not yet been pardoned by the US President, according to the annual Thanksgiving tradition. Their four options were: Peanut Butter and Jelly, Tater and Tot, Mac and Cheese, and Spaghetti and Meatball.

Ben Affleck and Jamie Ding did not know the answer, so they used the "ask the host" lifeline. The host admitted he wasn't entirely certain but guessed Spaghetti and Meatball. They then used the "phone a friend" lifeline, contacting Ding's long-time friend. Since the friend didn't know the answer, they decided to trust Jimmy Kimmel and won. According to Affleck, the one million USD prize money would be donated to the Eastern Congo Initiative, a charity co-founded by the actor.

Born in 1972, Ben Affleck is an American actor, director, and screenwriter. He is known for films such as Pearl Harbor, Argo, Gone Girl, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Throughout his film career, Affleck has won two Oscars and three Golden Globe Awards. He has three children with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner. After divorcing Garner, Affleck married singer Jennifer Lopez in 2022, but they divorced after two years.

"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" first aired in the US in 1999, based on the original British version which debuted in 1998. In 2019, show representatives confirmed the program's cancellation, according to Variety. A year later, the show was revived with Jimmy Kimmel as host, allowing celebrities to participate with their guests (relatives or experts).

Ben Affleck's close friend, actor Matt Damon, previously won one million USD in 2025 while partnering with contestant Ken Jennings. Other celebrity winners include "The Office" actors Kate Flannery and Oscar Nuñez (who played together in 2025), actor Ike Barinholtz and his father (2024), and chef David Chang (2020). All participating artists competed for charity.

Phuong Thao (via People)