Full Breakdown
Ben Affleck and Jeopardy! Champion Jamie Ding Win $1 Million for the Eastern Congo Initiative
7/30/2026, 3:50:32 AM
Core Event: Celebrity Pair Secures Million-Dollar Prize
Actor Ben Affleck, 57, teamed with “Jeopardy!” champion Jamie Ding on ABC’s *Who Wants to Be a Millionaire*. In the season-5, episode 2 broadcast on a Wednesday, the duo answered the 15th question correctly and claimed the $1 million top prize for charity. The final question asked which pair of turkey names had not been pardoned by a U.S. president; they selected “Spaghetti & Meatball,” which was confirmed as correct.
Background & Context: Celebrity Editions and Charity Focus
Since Jimmy Kimmel began hosting in April 2020, five celebrity duos have won the million-dollar prize, including Matt Damon with *Jeopardy!* host Ken Jennings (2025) and “The Office” stars Oscar Nuñez and Kate Flannery (2025). Affleck’s win follows a similar pattern: he previously appeared with Damon, whose 2025 victory funded Water.org. Affleck’s charitable vehicle is the Eastern Congo Initiative, a U.S.–based organization that supports community-based projects in the war-torn region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Data & Statistics
- $1 million awarded to the Eastern Congo Initiative.
- This marks the fifth celebrity win during Kimmel’s tenure.
- Prior celebrity winners include David Chang (2020), Ike and Alan Barinholtz (2024), Damon and Jennings (2025), and Oscar Nuñez and Kate Flannery (2025).
Official Statements & Responses
Jimmy Kimmel, the show’s host, noted that he was “not 100 % sure” of the turkey answer but offered his best guess, which the contestants ultimately trusted. In a July interview, Kimmel said Affleck seemed “surprised and delighted” when he learned he was paired with a trivia champion, emphasizing that Affleck appeared prepared to play without assistance.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Two People articles provide different dates for the episode’s airing. One source states the win occurred on the July 30 episode, while another lists the milestone as happening on July 29. No additional clarification is offered, leaving the exact broadcast date unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I have such a stomach ache right now.” — Jimmy Kimmel. While Kimmel
- “No. We might as well have Jimmy help,” — Ben Affleck, champion
- “This is the person that would actually be paying attention to every pardoned turkey’s name,” — Ben Affleck, champion
- “Jimmy, you might like this friend of mine,” — Jamie Ding, champion
- “She’s so much smarter than I am though. And she knows this stuff,” — David Chang
