Ben Affleck had a standout moment on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire this week, securing the show’s elusive $1 million jackpot during a celebrity edition appearance.
The 53-year-old Oscar-winning actor, whose mother Chris Anne recently died following a battle with pancreatic cancer, teamed up with Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding for the high-stakes charity run.
Their seven-figure prize is set to benefit Affleck’s Eastern Congo Initiative, the nonprofit organization he co-founded in 2010 to support communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Affleck and Ding made it all the way to the final $1 million question on Wednesday night’s episode of the ABC quiz show, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
For the deciding question, the pair were asked: “In an annual Thanksgiving tradition, all but which of these have been the names of turkeys pardoned by a U.S. president?”
The multiple-choice options were Peanut Butter & Jelly, Tater & Tot, Mac & Cheese, and Spaghetti & Meatball.
Ben Affleck, 53, won the rare $1 million prize during his celebrity appearance on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
The Academy Award winner partnered with Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding to claim the major charity payout
Affleck and Ding decided to use the Phone-A-Friend lifeline to call Ding’s longtime trivia partner Stephen Morrison.
Kimmel explained to the duo that they also still had the Ask-The-Host lifeline, which prompted the actor to jokingly say to ring up Ding’s pal.
‘No. We might as well have Jimmy help,’ the Hollywood star then expressed.
The late night talk show host playfully quipped, ‘Alright, I don’t have to give you any of my f***ing thoughts, if you don’t want.’
But Affleck replied, ‘Actually, you’re very good with cooking and food, current events, too. Actually, you might know this.’
Kimmel eventually suggested that the answer could be D: Spaghetti & Meatball.
‘I could see me adding a big bowl in Donald Trump’s hands and him slurping up the spaghetti and meatballs,’ he then joked, before adding, ‘That one sounds like it wasn’t the one to me.’
Affleck shared that the host was ‘probably the best person in the world to ask this question to.’
Affleck and Ding faced the final $1 million question during Wednesday’s episode of the ABC game show, with Jimmy Kimmel hosting
The answers included: Peanut Butter & Jelly, Tater & Tot, Mac & Cheese, and Spaghetti & Meatball
Kimmel explained to the duo that they still had Ask-The-Host lifeline, which prompted the actor to jokingly say to ring up Ding’s pal
But Affleck replied, ‘Actually, you’re very good with cooking and food, current events, too. Actually, you might know this’
‘If I’m wrong, I’m so sorry,’ Kimmel said before locking in Spaghetti & Meatball as his own final answer
‘If I’m wrong, I’m so sorry,’ Kimmel said before locking in Spaghetti & Meatball as his own final answer.
To be extra safe, Affleck and Ding decided to still call up Morrison.
‘Jimmy, you might like this friend of mine. I mean, Harvard-educated, father, we’re two years apart,’ Ding began.
‘But we’ve been through a lot of trials and tribulations together. Just like Ben and Matt.’
With a deadpan expression, Kimmel then joked, ‘Are you looking for trouble?’
Ding then quickly fired back to go along with the joke by asking, ‘Are you looking for trouble?’ which caused the live audience to laugh.
After calling Morrison, however, he was unable to guess the correct answer.
‘But listen, you know what? He’s smart because if you don’t know it, you don’t know it, right?’ Kimmel said of Morrison.
To be extra safe, Affleck and Ding decided to still call up Morrison. However, he was unable to guess the correct answer
Affleck and Ding decided to trust Kimmel’s guess and also locked in with Spaghetti & Meatball
After a few lingering seconds, it was revealed that the pair had guessed correctly and won the $1 million prize
The pair jumped to their feet and excitedly hugged each other as confetti fell down onto the stage
The money will be donated to Affleck’s Eastern Congo Initiative which he co-founded with Whitney Williams in 2010; seen in May in Beverly Hills
Affleck and Ding decided to trust Kimmel’s guess and also locked in with Spaghetti & Meatball.
After a few lingering seconds, it was revealed that the pair had guessed correctly and won the $1 million prize.
The pair jumped to their feet and excitedly hugged each other as confetti fell down onto the stage.
Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Affleck for comment, but has yet to hear back.
The money will be donated to Affleck’s Eastern Congo Initiative which he co-founded with Whitney Williams in 2010.
The nonprofit organization helps ‘support locally led organizations to expand access to essential services, strengthen economic opportunities, and promote justice.
‘Our work is designed to create scalable, sustainable impact across eastern Congo,’ per the official website.
The year prior, Affleck’s close friend and collaborator Matt Damon also scored the same million-dollar prize on the game show; seen in April in San Francisco
‘But when I told him, he seemed surprised and delighted. I think he was prepared to do it on his own. He’s very smart, that Ben Affleck,’ Kimmel said of Affleck
The year prior, Affleck’s close friend and collaborator Matt Damon also scored the same million-dollar prize on the game show.
At the time, The Odyssey star had been paired with Ken Jennings. The winnings went to Damon’s clean-water nonprofit Water.org.
‘I’m not sure Ben knew that he was paired with a champion when he agreed to do the show,’ Kimmel told Variety earlier this month.
‘But when I told him, he seemed surprised and delighted. I think he was prepared to do it on his own. He’s very smart, that Ben Affleck.’
