Yes, it is indeed possible for contestants to leave Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? with no winnings, despite the show's tiered prize structure. While most versions of the popular game show have "safety nets" or "guaranteed sums," a contestant can lose everything if they answer incorrectly before reaching the first guaranteed amount.
The Structure of Winnings
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? typically features a money tree with increasing prize amounts for each correct answer. Contestants aim to answer 15 multiple-choice questions correctly to win the top prize. However, rules are in place that can result in a contestant leaving with nothing.
In many iterations of the show, especially the original UK version, there are specific "guaranteed sums" that a contestant is assured to take home once they reach that question and answer it correctly. For instance, in the UK, these safety nets were traditionally set at £1,000 and £32,000. If a contestant answers a question incorrectly before reaching the first guaranteed amount, they forfeit all their accumulated winnings.
Here's a simplified example of how the money tree and safety nets might work:
| Question Number | Prize Money | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £100 | - |
| 2 | £200 | - |
| 3 | £300 | - |
| 4 | £500 | - |
| 5 | £1,000 | Guaranteed |
| 6 | £2,000 | - |
| ... | ... | - |
| 10 | £32,000 | Guaranteed |
| ... | ... | - |
| 15 | £1,000,000 | - |
If a contestant answers Question 4 correctly, they have £500. If they then answer Question 5 incorrectly, they would leave with nothing, as they failed to secure the £1,000 guaranteed amount.
Notable Instances of Winning Nothing
One prominent example of a contestant leaving with absolutely no money occurred in the UK version of the show. John Davidson became the first contestant on any version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? worldwide to win nothing at all. He incorrectly answered his £1,000 question, thereby missing the first guaranteed sum and departing empty-handed.
This scenario highlights the high-stakes nature of the game, where a single incorrect answer at a crucial point can have significant financial consequences, even if a contestant has answered previous questions correctly.
For more details on specific contestants and their game progress, you can refer to detailed fan wikis and show archives, such as the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Wiki.
