Ben Affleck Wins $1 Million Prize on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,’ One Year After Matt Damon Did the Same

He was accompanied by Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding, and the winnings were earmarked for Affleck’s Eastern Congo Initiative, a charitable effort focused on Central African development. The win follows a similar million‑dollar victory by fellow actor Matt Damon exactly one year prior, as noted by Variety. People.com emphasized the collaboration between Affleck and Jamie Ding, describing the prize as “rare” and highlighting Ding’s role. Deadline reported that the win would benefit Affleck’s Eastern Congo Initiative, linking the celebrity’s appearance directly to his philanthropy.

USA Today quoted Jamie Ding praising Affleck’s “clutch moves” that led to the victory. Yahoo provided a concise report confirming the million‑dollar win, while Variety placed the episode in broader context by referencing Matt Damon’s earlier success on the same show. The show’s format allows contestants to answer a series of escalating questions for a chance at a seven‑figure prize, and celebrity participants often play for charitable causes. Jamie Ding’s participation brings a Jeopardy! champion’s expertise to the competition, underscoring the high‑stakes nature of the episode.

Affleck’s Eastern Congo Initiative, repeatedly mentioned in the coverage, is a personal charitable platform aimed at supporting development projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The recurrence of high‑profile actors winning for charity, illustrated by both Affleck’s and Damon’s wins, highlights a trend of leveraging entertainment platforms for fundraising. Future reporting is likely to focus on how the million‑dollar prize will be allocated within the Eastern Congo Initiative, as the coverage does not yet detail distribution plans. Continued attention to celebrity‑driven charitable wins on quiz shows is expected, with potential follow‑up stories from the same media sources tracking the impact of the funds on the initiative’s projects.