Chi vuol essere milionario? (pronounced [ˈki vˌvwɔl ˈɛssere miljoˈnaːrjo]; English translation: Who wants to be a millionaire?), originally titled Chi vuol essere miliardario? (pronounced [ˈki vˌvwɔl ˈɛssere miljarˈdaːrjo]; 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?. The show is hosted by Gerry Scotti and broadcast on the Italian TV station Canale 5.

Chi vuol essere milionario?
Logo as Chi vuol essere miliardario?
Also known asChi vuol essere miliardario?
Created byDavid Briggs
Mike Whitehill
Steven Knight
Presented byGerry Scotti
Country of originItaly
Original languageItalian
No. of seasons15
Production
Production companiesEndemol (2000–2011)
Wavy (2018–2020)
Original release
NetworkCanale 5
Release22 May 2000 (2000-05-22) –
29 July 2011 (2011-07-29)
Release7 December 2018 (2018-12-07) –
5 November 2020 (2020-11-05)
Titles of Chi vuol essere miliardario?.

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 has hosted the most episodes of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? format (1,593, on 5 May 2011).[1]

The game's prizes edit

Payout structure
Question
number
Question value
2000–2001 2002–2007 2008–2010 2010–2011 2018–2020
15 Lit. 1,000,000,000 (€516,456) €1,000,000
14 Lit. 500,000,000 (€258,228) €300,000 €300,000
13 Lit. 250,000,000 (€129,114) €150,000 €150,000
12 Lit. 125,000,000 (€64,557) €70,000 €70,000
11 Lit. 64,000,000 (€33,053) €35,000 €30,000 €30,000
10 Lit. 32,000,000 (€16,526) €16,000 €20,000 €20,000
9 Lit. 16,000,000 (€8,263) €8,000 €15,000 €15,000
8 Lit. 8,000,000 (€4,131) €4,000 €10,000 €10,000
7 Lit. 4,000,000 (€2,065) €2,000 €7,000 €7,000
6 Lit. 2,000,000 (€1,032) €1,000 €5,000 €5,000
5 Lit. 1,000,000 (€516) €500 €3,000 €3,000 €3,000
4 Lit. 500,000 (€258) €300 €2,000 €2,000 €2,000
3 Lit. 300,000 (€154) €200 €1,500 €1,500 €1,500
2 Lit. 200,000 (€103) €100 €1,000 €1,000 €1,000
1 Lit. 100,000 (€51) €50 €500 €500 €500
  Milestone
  Custom milestone
  Top prize

Francesca Cinelli's billion lire question edit

18 March 2001 (gave a right answer)[2]

Lit. 1,000,000,000 (15 of 15) – no time limit
If you were Albert King, what would be your profession?
⬥ A: Writer ⬥ B: Television journalist
⬥ C: Formula One driver ⬥ D: Musician

References edit

  1. ^ "Most episodes of WWTBAM hosted (male presenter)". Guinness World Records.
  2. ^ "Il primo miliardo di Scotti a un'impiegata di Pistoia". la Repubblica (in Italian). 17 March 2001. Retrieved 11 September 2020.