Ben Affleck Wins $1 Million on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ Matt Damon Did It First

Ben Affleck has achieved a notable milestone in Hollywood by winning the $1 million grand prize on ABC’s ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.’ Teaming up with trivia expert Jamie Ding, Affleck’s victory comes with an intriguing twist, as it occurred almost exactly one year after his close friend and ‘Good Will Hunting’ co-star Matt Damon also clinched the million-dollar prize on the same show.

The episode aired on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, and it was announced that the winnings from Affleck and Ding’s success will be donated to Affleck’s Eastern Congo Initiative, an organization dedicated to supporting communities in the African region through advocacy and grant-making.

Affleck had significant support during the game, as Ding is a champion from ‘Jeopardy!’, making their pairing another example of a celebrity teaming up with a trivia expert to achieve the top prize.

Damon had a similar setup when he appeared on the show in July 2025, partnering with Ken Jennings, the long-time ‘Jeopardy!’ champion who now hosts the quiz show. Damon and Jennings also secured $1 million for charity.

For Affleck and Ding, the toughest challenge arose with the final question, one that neither contestant seemed to know. The question inquired about which pair of Thanksgiving turkeys had not been pardoned by a U.S. president, with the options being Peanut Butter & Jelly, Tater & Tot, Mac & Cheese, and Spaghetti & Meatball.

With a million dollars at stake, they decided to use a lifeline and consulted host Jimmy Kimmel for assistance. Kimmel, while uncertain, suggested Spaghetti & Meatball.

However, Affleck and Ding were not immediately convinced. They utilized another lifeline to call Ding’s trivia partner, Stephen Morrison, but he also did not know the answer and chose not to make a guess.

This left Affleck and Ding with a decision to make. Ultimately, Affleck decided to trust Kimmel’s suggestion, stating, “I would bet on Jimmy,” and they locked in their answer. The studio audience held their breath as Kimmel expressed his own nerves, saying, “I have such a stomach ache right now,” as the show prepared to reveal the answer.

The moment of truth arrived, and Spaghetti & Meatball was confirmed as the correct answer. Confetti filled the studio as Affleck and Ding celebrated their monumental win, embracing in disbelief that Kimmel’s uncertain guess had indeed saved the day.

According to the show, Affleck and Ding are now the fifth winning team during Kimmel’s tenure as host, which began in 2020. They join a list that includes David Chang, Ike and Alan Barinholtz, Damon and Jennings, and ‘The Office’ stars Oscar Nuñez and Kate Flannery.

Kimmel had previously commented on Affleck’s participation before the episode aired, expressing uncertainty about whether Affleck realized he was paired with a ‘Jeopardy!’ champion. “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 shared with Variety.

With this win, Affleck now shares another connection with Damon: both stars of ‘Good Will Hunting’ have officially entered the millionaire club.

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