(; English translation: Who wants to be a millionaire?), originally titled (; English translation: Who wants to be a billionaire?), is an Italian game show based on the original British format of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Every edition of the show has been hosted by Gerry Scotti and broadcast on Canale 5.
In the original version (Chi vuol essere miliardario?; 2000–2001), the main goal of the game was to win Lit. 1,000,000,000 by answering 15 multiple-choice questions correctly. There were three "lifelines" – 50:50, Phone-a-Friend and Ask the Audience. If a contestant answered the fifth question correctly, they left with at least Lit. 1,000,000. If a contestant answered the tenth question correctly, they left with at least Lit. 32,000,000. There was one winner of the show, Francesca Cinelli. In 2002, after the changeover to the euro, the show changed its name into Chi vuol essere milionario?.
In 2011, the Guinness World Records confirmed Gerry Scotti as the presenter who had hosted the most episodes of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? format (1,593, ). The record stood for many years, with 1,690 episodes hosted .. However in 2024 he was overtaken by German host Günther Jauch.
The game's prizes
Payout structure Questionnumber Question value 2000–2001 2002–2007 2008–2010 2010–2011 2018–2020 2025– 15 (10) ₤ 1,000,000,000 (€516,456) €1,000,000 14 (9) ₤ 500,000,000 (€258,228) €300,000 €300,000 13 (8) ₤ 250,000,000 (€129,114) €150,000 €150,000 €200,000 12 (7) ₤ 125,000,000 (€64,557) €70,000 €70,000 €150,000 11 (6) ₤ 64,000,000 (€33,053) €35,000 €30,000 €30,000 €100,000 10 (5) ₤ 32,000,000 (€16,256) €16,000 €20,000 €20,000 €70,000 9 (4) ₤ 16,000,000 (€8,263) €8,000 €15,000 €15,000 €50,000 8 (3) ₤ 8,000,000 (€4,131) €4,000 €10,000 €10,000 €30,000 7 (2) ₤ 4,000,000 (€2,065) €2,000 €7,000 €7,000 €20,000 6 (1) ₤ 2,000,000 (€1,032) €1,000 €5,000 €5,000 €10,000 5 ₤ 1,000,000 (€516) €500 €3,000 €3,000 €3,000 rowspan="5" 4 ₤ 500,000 (€258) €300 €2,000 €2,000 €2,000 3 ₤ 300,000 (€154) €200 €1,500 €1,500 €1,500 2 ₤ 200,000 (€103) €100 €1,000 €1,000 €1,000 1 ₤ 100,000 (€51) €50 €500 €500 €500 Milestone Custom milestone Top prize
Top prize winners
Francesca Cinelli – Lit. 1,000,000,000 (18 March 2001)
Davide Pavesi – €1,000,000 (17 October 2004)
Michela de Paoli – €1,000,000 (27 January 2011)
Enrico Remigio – €1,000,000 (29 January 2020)
Vittoria Licari – €1,000,000 (14 December 2025)
References