Who wants to be a Billionaire?

[Grasshopper27]

Producer behind 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' is raising the prize to $1 Billion!

/wow/

http://money.cnn.com/2003/02/10/news/companies/millionaire/index.htm

A television industry source said negotiations are under way between executive producer Michael Davies -- who rose to fame after "Millionaire" became a hit on the ABC TV network -- and the WB network to bring a two-hour live special to the network this fall, with the top prize being $1 billion. The source said the deal is expected to close shortly.

Hopper

 

[N8Magic]

I want on that show! :Q

 

[rival]

ha, the wb, what a joke

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I want on that show! :Q

 

[Zim Hosein]

Sounds like they are trying to re-kindle the magic that made the original a success Hopper. I can't believe I just typed that Like they will really hand over 1,000,000,000.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I want on that show! :Q

For a billion you can bet you nor anyone else is going to win.

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

It'll be total anarchy. Murders, I tell you. .........................................I think I would kill my neighbor (who has the dogs that don't shut up) for $1Billion.

 

[chiwawa626]

Originally posted by: rival
ha, the wb, what a joke

Do they even have 500,000,000 just incase anyone gets to the halfway mark?

 

[CallTheFBI]

And after taxes what would you be left with? Half a million at the most?

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I want on that show! :Q

For a billion you can bet you nor anyone else is going to win.

If you can't beat the odds, then cheat.

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
For a billion you can bet you nor anyone else is going to win.

I thought that too about Millionaire, but they have paid out over $100 million in prizes...

Granted, it won't be easy to reach a billion dollars, but it is possible. Anyone here remember the guy on the second original run of Millionaire who got every question right without using a single lifeline and won the million? He did use his lifelines at the end and his phone-a-friend was used to tell his dad he just won the million bucks.

The odds of it happening in a single show are rather low, but it could happen...

Hopper

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: CallTheFBI
And after taxes what would you be left with? Half a million at the most?

That would be half a billion my friend...

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider

Originally posted by: N8Magic I want on that show! :Q

For a billion you can bet you nor anyone else is going to win.

If you can't beat the odds, then cheat.

Kobayashi Maru?

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: Grasshopper27

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
For a billion you can bet you nor anyone else is going to win.

I thought that too about Millionaire, but they have paid out over $100 million in prizes...

Granted, it won't be easy to reach a billion dollars, but it is possible. Anyone here remember the guy on the second original run of Millionaire who got every question right without using a single lifeline and won the million? He did use his lifelines at the end and his phone-a-friend was used to tell his dad he just won the million bucks.

The odds of it happening in a single show are rather low, but it could happen...

Hopper

I want to see that guy on this show

 

[CallTheFBI]

Originally posted by: Grasshopper27

Originally posted by: CallTheFBI
And after taxes what would you be left with? Half a million at the most?

That would be half a billion my friend...

I seriously doubt Uncle Sam is going to let anyone win that much money on a game show. They will probably take 90% of the winnings right off the top.

 

[Dragnov]

Originally posted by: rival
ha, the wb, what a joke

Ney now, I'm a big fan of Everwood and thats on the WB.

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: CallTheFBI
I seriously doubt Uncle Sam is going to let anyone win that much money on a game show. They will probably take 90% of the winnings right off the top.

It has nothing to do with "letting" someone win, the law is the law.

The Federal Government will take about 38% of the total winnings at those levels. Possible state taxes might take a bit more out, but you always are left with at least 50% of the money.

Hopper

 

[LeStEr]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I want on that show! :Q

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: chiwawa626

Originally posted by: rival
ha, the wb, what a joke

Do they even have 500,000,000 just incase anyone gets to the halfway mark?

Yes, they do. WB and Pepsi both have billions and billions of dollars in cash, short term investments, and credit.

In any case, that isn't what they do for this sort of thing. Instead, they take out an insurance contract against the show, they probably will have to pay 5% of the possible winnings, or $50 Million. A major insurance company will then underwrite the prize. If someone wins, it comes from the insurance company, not the WB or Pepsi. The downside is that they will have to pay out the $50 Million no matter what.

There was a contest for a billion dollars on the Internet around two years ago that worked this way, the sponsors of that contest had to pay $75 Million for the insurance contract. No one won of course because the odds of winning were 1 in 1.2 Billion.

Hopper

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Gr1mL0cK

Originally posted by: rival
ha, the wb, what a joke

Ney now, I'm a big fan of Everwood and thats on the WB.

Let's not forget the Kristin Kreuk show, , I mean Smallville

 

[boi]

I'd be happy with 1% with that

 

[dakata24]

uh oh, looks like someone found all the spare change bill gates has lying around.. :Q

 

[Grasshopper27]

Originally posted by: dakata24
uh oh, looks like someone found all the spare change bill gates has lying around.. :Q

They must have cleaned out the couch cushions!!!

 

[Grasshopper27]

 

[911paramedic]

pesos?