Ben Affleck wins elusive $1M prize with ‘Jeopardy!’ champ Jamie Ding on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’

Winner takes all. Ben Affleck and “Jeopardy!” champion Jamie Ding won the elusive $1 million prize on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” On Wednesday night’s episode of the hit…

Winner takes all.

Ben Affleck and “Jeopardy!” champion Jamie Ding won the elusive $1 million prize on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

On Wednesday night’s episode of the hit game show, the “Gone Girl” star and Ding answered the 15th and final question correctly to take home the grand prize — which will go to Affleck’s foundation, the Eastern Congo Initiative. 

The episode began with the pair having only two questions left to answer.

The $500,000 question read: “What achievement occurred just two months after a New York Times article said it wouldn’t happen for ‘1 million to 10 million years’?”

Jamie Ding and Ben Affleck sitting at the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" game show set.
Ben Affleck and “Jeopardy!” champion Jamie Ding (both seen above) won the rare $1 million prize on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” Disney
Jamie Ding and Ben Affleck celebrate on the game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?".
The pair (seen above) had to answer the final question: “In an annual Thanksgiving tradition, all but which of these have been the names of turkeys pardoned by a US president?” Disney

The four answers listed were: the first airplane flight, splitting the atom, cloning a mammal and the polio vaccine. 

Ding initially thought the answer was the first airplane flight and Affleck agreed. 

“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. Yeah, just randomly,” the Oscar winner, 53, explained.

“And I sort of, vaguely, in my subconscious remember the Times and the Wright brothers and that whole thing was 1905, 3 or 4, or something,” Affleck added.

Ding added: “I think ‘03.”

Ben Affleck and Jamie Ding celebrating with Jimmy Kimmel on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
After their Phone-A-Friend ran out of time to give an answer, the actor and Ding listened to host Jimmy Kimmel’s advice and picked Spaghetti and Meatball. Disney
Jamie Ding, Jimmy Kimmel, and Ben Affleck on the set of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
The answer was correct, winning the duo (seen above with Kimmel) $1 million. Disney

Host Jimmy Kimmel quipped that Affleck was “so much smarter” than his close friend Matt Damon, who also won the $1 million prize on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” alongside “Jeopardy!!” star Ken Jennings last year.

Affleck and Ding then decided to use the 50:50 lifeline to eliminate two answers, leaving them to choose from splitting the atom and the first airplane.

They correctly chose the first airplane and advanced to the million-dollar question, which read: “In an annual Thanksgiving tradition, all but which of these have been the names of turkeys pardoned by a US president?”

The four answers listed were: Peanut Butter & Jelly, Tater & Tot, Mac & Cheese, and Spaghetti & Meatball.

Ben Affleck hugs Jamie Ding as confetti falls on the set of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," with Jimmy Kimmel standing to the right.
Affleck and Ding (seen above with Kimmel) celebrated as confetti fell everywhere. Disney
Jamie Ding, Jimmy Kimmel, and Ben Affleck holding a giant check for one million dollars for the Eastern Congo Initiative.
The money will go to the actor’s foundation, the Eastern Congo Initiative. (Pictured: Affleck, Ding and Kimmel holding a check.) Disney

The “Good Will Hunting” actor said, “You must be kidding me,” and suggested they use their Phone-A-Friend lifeline.

When Ding’s friend didn’t answer in time, the pair took Kimmel’s advice and chose Spaghetti and Meatball and won $1 million.

After choosing the correct answer, Affleck and Ding held each other as they jumped up and down while confetti fell from the ceiling.

“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” airs Wednesdays on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.

The post Ben Affleck wins elusive $1M prize with ‘Jeopardy!’ champ Jamie Ding on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ appeared first on Page Six.