Ben Affleck and Jamie Yan Ding Win $1 Million on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Ben Affleck is enjoying his moment of fame. In fact, the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire champion is adding yet another accomplishment to the Academy Award winner's extensive list of honors.
The 53-year-old joined forces with Jeopardy! In the ABC game show, champion Jamie Ding will win the $1 million big prize. The actor's Eastern Congo Initiative, the first U.S.-based group offering humanitarian relief to support populations in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, will profit from their prize, even if the two are not receiving the money themselves.
In order to win the top prize, Affleck and Ding had to respond to the following question on the show's July 29 episode: “In an annual Thanksgiving tradition, all but which of these have been the names of turkeys pardoned by a U.S. president?”
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The two were rewarded with confetti and a sizable payment for Affleck's charity after correctly identifying two birds, Spaghetti and Meatballs. They celebrated the victory by jumping for delight and giving each other a hearty hug.
The actor from Good Will Hunting won the game show almost a year after his longtime friend Matt Damon and another legendary Jeopardy! performer, past champion turned presenter Ken Jennings.
“It is so awesome having Ken Jennings as your partner in a trivia game,” in July 2025, during his winning episode, Damon made a comment in response to the last question. “I can't even tell you.”
Damon and Jennings donated the winnings to Water.org after winning the ultimate prize. Five celebrity pairs have won the $1 million for different charities, including Oscar Nuñez and Kate Flannery, Ike Barinholtz and Alan Barinholtz, and David Chang with help from Mina Kimes via Phone-A-Friend.
Jimmy Kimmel, the host, teased his friend Damon's victory by saying, “I have to say this was the least dramatic million-dollar moment in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire history.”
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