Ben Affleck surprises on 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' and wins top prize

Actor Ben Affleck surprised viewers on the U.S. version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" by correctly answering questions to win the grand prize. He participated in the celebrity edition alongside Jamie Ding, a champion from the quiz show "Jeopardy!"

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People don't go out and look at the sky and dream about splitting the atom, but we all dream about flying.

The substantial winnings will be directed to an NGO in eastern Congo that Affleck supports, aiding community groups in the region. Earlier in the program, Affleck had shared insights into the ongoing challenges faced by the inhabitants of the area.

The game progressed with Affleck and Ding nearing the top prize, needing to answer two final questions. The first, worth $500,000, concerned a historical achievement that occurred shortly after The New York Times published an article suggesting it would take millions of years. The options included atomic fission, mammal cloning, the first airplane flight, and the polio vaccine.

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Friend, I'm with you. If that's how you feel, let's go with it.

While both contestants initially considered the first flight option, they used a lifeline. Ding reasoned that people dream of flying, not splitting atoms, leading Affleck to agree. The host, Jimmy Kimmel, confirmed their correct answer: the Wright brothers' first flight in 1903, which happened much sooner than the newspaper had predicted. Affleck recalled researching past media mispredictions, including one referencing the newspaper and the Wright brothers, which aided his memory.

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I only remember this because it was a time in my life when I was looking for examples of how the press got it wrong.