¿Quién quiere ser millonario? (in 1999-2002 ¿Quiere ser millonario? 50 por 15; in 2012 ¿Quién quiere ser El millonario?) is the Spanish version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The show was hosted by Carlos Sobera from 1999 to 2008, Antonio Garrido in 2009, Núria Roca in 2012 and Juanra Bonet since 2020. The goal of the game is to win the top prize by answering 15 questions (reduced to 12 questions in 2009) correctly.
Upon its debut in 1999, it was aired by Telecinco for an hour at 9pm on Saturday nights, yet despite being a hit amongst those who watched it, it wasn't as successful as Telecinco had hoped, and until its axing in 2002 was aired in an earlier timeslot. What is sometimes said to have contributed to this is that the original graphics and set were very different to international versions, being much more glossy and less tension-inducing. The set, described by original host Carlos Sobera in 1999 as "as if it were a Roman circle", was much lighter, and less intimidating. The music score was also used differently, including the pre-Fastest Finger First roll preceding all questions in the main game. The original Fastest Finger First was also based on the first British version: this may have led to Spain being the country with the fastest ever Fastest Finger First correct response, in 0.06 seconds. When asked by La Voz de Galicia as to why 50×15 was dropped, Sobera suggested that it was due to audience burnout and poor scheduling, and news reports of the time suggest it was due to Telecinco preferring to concentrate on the local Big Brother, which was becoming a surprise hit. The show was planned to continue into the Euro era: a version of the logo with Euro signs had been made, and a money tree was published on a Game Boy Advance edition with a €300,000 top prize.
Four years after its axing by Telecinco, Antena 3 picked up the show, and ran it as an early evening show for a while, this time with an increased jackpot of €1,000,000 (worth around 166,386,000 ₧). This was much more popular than the Telecinco version, with a much more informal atmosphere. The daily show lasted until 2007. The show returned for a short time in 2008, with celebrity couple specials and an extra lifeline, yet Sobera left Antena 3 in the middle of the series, and some episodes with him were never aired.
In 2009 the show returned on Antena 3 with Antonio Garrido as host and the original format re-adopted, yet this failed to catch fire. The show returned on La Sexta in 2012 with the Hot Seat format, yet this also flopped. The show waited for eight years before it returned in 2020 for its 20th anniversary, in the original format, with Juanra Bonet as host. The revival fared much better than other versions, and earned itself another series with celebrities in 2021 and two additional ones with the general public in 2022 and 2024.
Lifelines[]
Current lifelines[]
- 50:50 (Cincuenta por ciento): The computer eliminates two wrong answers, leaving the right answer and one remaining wrong answer. (used in 1999-2009, 2020-)
- Ask the Audience (Comodín del público): Audience members use touch pads to designate what they believe the correct answer to be. The audience choosing each specific option is displayed to the contestant. (used in 1999-2009, 2020-)
- Plus One (Comodín del acompañante): A friend of the contestant is in the audience. When the contestant decides to use the lifeline, the friend will step onto the stage and try to help them. (used in 2020, 2022-)
Former lifelines[]
- Phone-A-Friend (Comodín de la llamada): The contestant calls one of up to three friends who provided their phone numbers in advance. The contestant has 30 seconds to read the question and answer choices to the friend who then has the remaining time to offer input. (used in 1999-2009, 2021)
- Switch the Question (Cambio de pregunta): Replaces the current question with another of the same monetary value. The contestants have this lifeline since the first guaranteed sum. (used in 2008).
- Pass (Pasar): Only lifeline in the Hot Seat format. The contestant can use this lifeline and not give an answer. The next contestant must answer the question. (used in 2012)
Seasons[]
There were nine series of the show in total, including one series in the Hot Seat format:
- Season 1* was first aired on Telecinco on 17 April 1999 (Spain was the third country outside the UK to pick up the show) and it finished on January 5, 2002. The show was hosted by Carlos Sobera. The program started with low ratings (despite being popular amongst those who watched it), but when it was moved to the access primetime slot (which is much later in Spain than in most countries), it was a runaway hit. The original subtitle 50 por 15 referred to winning 50 million pesetas (Spain's original currency before it switched to the Euro, worth around €300,000) for answering 15 questions correctly. The very first season hadn't Summer-Winter breaks, making the longest season in the history of the format.
- Season 2* was first aired on Antena 3 in access prime time on 25 July 2005 and finished in late 2007. It was the first edition in the Euro era with a higher top prize of €1,000,000, and upon its launched engaged in (and regularly won) a ratings battle with the local Deal or No Deal. Sobera returned to host the show's revival, which fared much better than the original. Antena 3 took a break in the series in early 2006 and the program returned in June 2006 and aired until late 2007.
- Season 3 was premiered on Antena 3 on 12 January 2008 starting with a celebrity couples' special. The regular episodes were aired since 31 March until May. The set had few changes, yet the show adopted the Rave titles for this series (yet not the question beds) and the graphics were updated to the international blue graphics and new money tree. This edition was the only one to have four lifelines, which were the three original lifelines and Switch the Question since the sixth question. This was the last season hosted by Carlos Sobera before he left Antena 3, some episodes of this series were never aired.
- Season 4 was aired between May and July 2009, a year after the end of Series 3, with the arrival of the 12-question format and another changes in the set. The host was Antonio Garrido, who was selected after a very long casting; Antena 3 was planning to put a woman as a host. Similarly to the third series, the show used the Rave music for the titles but the original question beds. The show was supposed to continue after the summer break, but Antena 3 cancelled it due to the low ratings.
- Season 5 was aired in a daytime slot on laSexta (which later became Atresmedia's secondary channel) with the Hot Seat format and a reduced top prize of €100,000. Hosted by Núria Roca, the show was not renewed due to the very low ratings, but until November 2012 the show was often repeated. The name was called ¿Quién quiere ser El Millonario? but was known under the simplified name "El Millonario" and the first episode was aired on 15 February 2012 at 3:30 pm.
- Season 6 was aired on Antena 3 from 22 January to 11 March 2020. The show was filmed in May 2019 and January 2020 on the Milionerzy, like the Italian revival and other one-off versions of the show. Hosted by Juanra Bonet, the show's top prize is €1,000,000 once again, the Plus One lifeline replaced the Phone-a-Friend and, like the UK revival, the contestant chooses their second safety net, yet must do so after the fifth question. This series had 90-minute episodes, the longest episode duration of the show, and a slightly modified money tree.
- Season 7 was broadcasted on Antena 3 since 12 March 2021 until 30 April 2021, with one unaired episode. After the success of the 20th anniversary revival, Juanra Bonet returned to host this series. The show was filmed in July 2020 in a brand new set in Madrid. The only change from the previous series is the return of Phone-a-Friend in place of the previous series' Plus One. This series had celebrities only, with members of the public returning next series.
- Season 8 was broadcasted on Antena 3 since 5 March 2022 until 21 May 2022. The first series with members of the public since 2012, Juanra Bonet also returned to host. The rules are exactly the same as the sixth series.
- Season 9 was broadcasted on laSexta since 2 April 2024 until 21 May 2024. Juanra Bonet also returned to host.
* - Series 1 and 2 were very long and are divided into parts.
Money Trees[]
The bold numbers are safety nets.
1999 - 2001[]
| Question No. |
Correct Answer Value |
Walk Away Value |
Miss Answer Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 50.000.000 ₧ | 24.000.000 ₧ | 1.500.000 ₧ | 22.500.000 ₧ |
| 14 | 24.000.000 ₧ | 12.000.000 ₧ | 10.500.000 ₧ | |
| 13 | 12.000.000 ₧ | 6.000.000 ₧ | 4.500.000 ₧ | |
| 12 | 6.000.000 ₧ | 3.000.000 ₧ | 1.500.000 ₧ | |
| 11 | 3.000.000 ₧ | 1.500.000 ₧ | 0 ₧ | |
| 10 | 1.500.000 ₧ | 750.000 ₧ | 300.000 ₧ | 450.000 ₧ |
| 9 | 750.000 ₧ | 600.000 ₧ | 300.000 ₧ | |
| 8 | 600.000 ₧ | 450.000 ₧ | 150.000 ₧ | |
| 7 | 450.000 ₧ | 350.000 ₧ | 50.000 ₧ | |
| 6 | 350.000 ₧ | 300.000 ₧ | 0 ₧ | |
| 5 | 300.000 ₧ | 150.000 ₧ | 0 ₧ | 150.000 ₧ |
| 4 | 150.000 ₧ | 75.000 ₧ | 75.000 ₧ | |
| 3 | 75.000 ₧ | 50.000 ₧ | 50.000 ₧ | |
| 2 | 50.000 ₧ | 25.000 ₧ | 25.000 ₧ | |
| 1 | 25.000 ₧ | 0 ₧ | 0 ₧ |
5 January 2002[]
This money tree was used for the Game Boy Advance edition, and in the last show on Telecinco.
| Question No. |
Correct Answer Value |
Walk Away Value |
Miss Answer Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 300.000 € | 150.000 € | 10.000 € | 140.000 € |
| 14 | 150.000 € | 75.000 € | 65.000 € | |
| 13 | 75.000 € | 40.000 € | 35.000 € | |
| 12 | 40.000 € | 20.000 € | 10.000 € | |
| 11 | 20.000 € | 10.000 € | 0 € | |
| 10 | 10.000 € | 4.500 € | 1.800 € | 2.700 € |
| 9 | 4.500 € | 3.500 € | 1.700 € | |
| 8 | 3.500 € | 2.500 € | 700 € | |
| 7 | 2.500 € | 2.100 € | 300 € | |
| 6 | 2.100 € | 1.800 € | 0 € | |
| 5 | 1.800 € | 900 € | 0 € | 900 € |
| 4 | 900 € | 450 € | 300 € | |
| 3 | 450 € | 300 € | 200 € | |
| 2 | 300 € | 150 € | 100 € | |
| 1 | 150 € | 0 € | 0 € |
2005 - 2007[]
| Question No. |
Correct Answer Value |
Walk Away Value |
Miss Answer Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 1.000.000 € | 300.000 € | 15.000 € | 285.000 € |
| 14 | 300.000 € | 100.000 € | 85.000 € | |
| 13 | 100.000 € | 50.000 € | 35.000 € | |
| 12 | 50.000 € | 25.000 € | 10.000 € | |
| 11 | 25.000 € | 15.000 € | 0 € | |
| 10 | 15.000 € | 10.000 € | 1000 € | 9000 € |
| 9 | 10.000 € | 6500 € | 5500 € | |
| 8 | 6500 € | 4000 € | 3000 € | |
| 7 | 4000 € | 2000 € | 1000 € | |
| 6 | 2000 € | 1000 € | 0 € | |
| 5 | 1000 € | 500 € | 0 € | 500 € |
| 4 | 500 € | 300 € | 300 € | |
| 3 | 300 € | 200 € | 200 € | |
| 2 | 200 € | 100 € | 100 € | |
| 1 | 100 € | 0 € | 0 € |
2008[]
| Question No. |
Correct Answer Value |
Walk Away Value |
Miss Answer Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 1.000.000 € | 300.000 € | 10.000 € | 290.000 € |
| 14 | 300.000 € | 100.000 € | 90.000 € | |
| 13 | 100.000 € | 30.000 € | 20.000 € | |
| 12 | 30.000 € | 15.000 € | 5000 € | |
| 11 | 15.000 € | 10.000 € | 0 € | |
| 10 | 10.000 € | 8000 € | 1000 € | 7000 € |
| 9 | 8000 € | 6000 € | 5000 € | |
| 8 | 6000 € | 4000 € | 3000 € | |
| 7 | 4000 € | 2000 € | 1000 € | |
| 6 | 2000 € | 1000 € | 0 € | |
| 5 | 1000 € | 500 € | 0 € | 500 € |
| 4 | 500 € | 300 € | 300 € | |
| 3 | 300 € | 200 € | 200 € | |
| 2 | 200 € | 100 € | 100 € | |
| 1 | 100 € | 0 € | 0 € |
2009[]
| Question No. |
Correct Answer Value |
Walk Away Value |
Miss Answer Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1.000.000 € | 250.000 € | 6000 € | 244.000 € |
| 11 | 250.000 € | 75.000 € | 69.000 € | |
| 10 | 75.000 € | 25.000 € | 19.000 € | |
| 9 | 25.000 € | 12.000 € | 6000 € | |
| 8 | 12.000 € | 6000 € | 0 € | |
| 7 | 6000 € | 5000 € | 1000 € | 4000 € |
| 6 | 5000 € | 4000 € | 3000 € | |
| 5 | 4000 € | 3000 € | 2000 € | |
| 4 | 3000 € | 2000 € | 1000 € | |
| 3 | 2000 € | 1000 € | 0 € | |
| 2 | 1000 € | 500 € | 0 € | 500 € |
| 1 | 500 € | 0 € | 0 € |
2012 (Hot Seat)[]
| Question No. |
Correct Answer Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 100 000 € | 29 000 € |
| 14 | 30 000 € | 14 000 € |
| 13 | 15 000 € | 9000 € |
| 12 | 10 000 € | 7000 € |
| 11 | 8000 € | 5000 € |
| 10 | 6000 € | 3000 € |
| 9 | 4000 € | 2000 € |
| 8 | 3000 € | 1000 € |
| 7 | 2000 € | 500 € |
| 6 | 1500 € | 0 € |
| 5 | 1000 € | 700 € |
| 4 | 700 € | 400 € |
| 3 | 400 € | 200 € |
| 2 | 200 € | 100 € |
| 1 | 100 € | 0 € |
2020-[]
| Question No. |
Correct Answer Value |
Walk Away Value |
Miss Answer Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 1 000 000 € | 300 000 € | depends on the second safety net | |
| 14 | 300 000 € | 100 000 € | ||
| 13 | 100 000 € | 50 000 € | ||
| 12 | 50 000 € | 30 000 € | ||
| 11 | 30 000 € | 20 000 € | ||
| 10 | 20 000 € | 15 000 € | ||
| 9 | 15 000 € | 10 000 € | ||
| 8 | 10 000 € | 5000 € | ||
| 7 | 5000 € | 2500 € | ||
| 6 | 2500 € | 1500 € | 1500 € | 0 € |
| 5 | 1500 € | 750 € | 0 € | 750 € |
| 4 | 750 € | 500 € | 500 € | |
| 3 | 500 € | 250 € | 250 € | |
| 2 | 250 € | 100 € | 100 € | |
| 1 | 100 € | 0 € | 0 € | |
Amounts lost depending on the second safety net (2020-)[]
| Question No. |
Question Value |
Amount Lost for a Wrong Answer (if safety net is set at...) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2500 € | 5000 € | 10 000 € | 15 000 € | 20 000 € | 30 000 € | 50 000 € | 100 000 € | 300 000 € | ||
| 7 | 5000 € | 0 € | 1000 € | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 | 10 000 € | 2500 € | 0 € | 3500 € | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 | 15 000 € | 7500 € | 5000 € | 0 € | 8500 € | - | - | - | - | - |
| 10 | 20 000 € | 12 500 € | 10 000 € | 5000 € | 0 € | 13 500 € | - | - | - | - |
| 11 | 30 000 € | 17 500 € | 15 000 € | 10 000 € | 5000 € | 0 € | 18 500 € | - | - | - |
| 12 | 50 000 € | 27 500 € | 25 000 € | 20 000 € | 15 000 € | 10 000 € | 0 € | 28 500 € | - | - |
| 13 | 100 000 € | 47 500 € | 45 000 € | 40 000 € | 35 000 € | 30 000 € | 20 000 € | 0 € | 48 500 € | - |
| 14 | 300 000 € | 97 500 € | 95 000 € | 90 000 € | 85 000 € | 80 000 € | 70 000 € | 50 000 € | 0 € | 98 500 € |
| 15 | 1 000 000 € | 297 500 € | 295 000 € | 290 000 € | 285 000 € | 280 000 € | 270 000 € | 250 000 € | 200 000 € | 0 € |
In Spain, the contestants must choose where they want to set their second safety net right after winning 1500 € (Question 5).
Winners[]
Top Prize Winners[]
- Enrique Chicote - 50,000,000 ₧ (22 September 2000)
- Paco Reverte - 100 000 € (15 March 2012)
0 ₧ winners (incomplete)[]
- María Ángeles Sánchez - 18 November 1999 (5th question wrong)
- José Zumalacárregui - 18 November 1999 (4th question wrong)
- María Luisa Lozano - 18 November 1999 (2nd question wrong)
Biggest winners (incomplete)[]
- Agustín Pérez - 24,000,000 ₧ (21 June 2000) - First Penultimate Prize Winner of the show.
- Carmen Puli - 12,000,000 ₧ (before September 2000) - Walked away on the Penultimate Question.
- Javier Freixes - 12,000,000 ₧ (February 2001) - Walked away on the Penultimate Question.
- Juan Pedro Martínez - 100.000 € (28 September 2006) - Walked away on the Penultimate Question.
- Fermín Villar - 100.000 € (16 November 2006) - Walked away on the Penultimate Question.
- Daniel Lasmarías - 75.000 € (1 June 2009) - Walked away at on the Penultimate Question (11 of 12).
- Claudia Gómez - 30 000 € (2 March 2012) - Hot Seat Penultimate Prize Winner.
- Javi Miralles - 100 000 € (5 February 2020) - Walked away on the Penultimate Question.
- María José Cano - 100 000 € (19 March 2022) - Walked away on the Penultimate Question.
- Martín Gómez-Escolar - 100 000 € (9 April 2024) - Walked away on the Penultimate Question.
Trivia[]
- Olga Flórez has been the executive producer ever since the show's inception in 1999. She returned for the revival with Juanra Bonet.
- Gerardo Ramírez was the first contestant in Spain. He won 450.000 ₧ (2,700 €).
- Enrique Chicote was the first top prize winner in Spain. He used his Phone-a-Friend to call his wife to say he knew the answer, like John Carpenter did (though Carpenter called his father instead), and host Carlos Sobrera did note the similarity. Enrique was a contestant again on the 2020 series, and won €15,000. His wife was his Plus One.
- In the Telecinco era, contestants had to take a general knowledge test and answer at least 40 questions correctly. Those who perform best are invited back.
- In the Telecinco era, the seats on Fastest Finger First were numbered and contestants who were shown after each other in the unveiling of contestants actually sat across from, not next to, each other.
- Paco Reverte, who appeared on the fourth Hot Seat format episode. He was the first winner in Spain in almost twelve years, winning the Hot Seat €100,000 top prize.
- Erundino Alonso was the first contestant of the 2020 revival. He won €50,000.
- The first graphics of the show were very different to most versions, and the graphics were given a revamp later in 1999. The usual graphics finally arrived in late 2000.
- In the episode of December 28, 2005; the producers pulled a prank on Carlos Sobera by using a fake contestant. Mari Carmen Martín was this contestant, who starred in the famous moment, the "G-spot question". Carlos realised the joke when Mari Carmen used the Phone-a-Friend in the tenth question, when the Phone-a-Friend guessed the correct answer without having heard the question.
- In 2006, two contestants tied on Fastest Finger First.
- During Sobera's first tenure as host, the questions were written by a team of five, their main source being the Enciclopedia Espasa, one of the most comprehensive encyclopaedias of the world.
- In 2006 a contestant from Algeciras, Cadiz, suffered a famous blooper when he was asked what had been Rocco Siffredi's biggest problem when filming some of his 1,300 pornography movies. The answer was "Bee bites into the penis", giving him €10,000. This moment is popular on YouTube, and many users reupload the video with subtitles in their respective languages.
- The show was the most-watched quiz show in Spain in 2006.
- In 2008, the series premiered with two Celebrity Specials: Jorge Fernández and Susanna Griso the first and Michelle Jenner and Javier Martín the second.
Gallery[]
The original 50x15 logo.
The second 50x15 logo.
The third 50x15 logo.
The fourth 50x15 logo.
The fifth logo.
The sixth logo.
The seventh logo.
The original studio ready to welcome the host in 1999.
The original studio in 1999. Notice the very different Fastest Finger First monitors.
The original studio ready to start a new episode in 2000.
A version of the last image with quality upgraded by AI.
A picture of the set in 2000.
The original studio ready for a new FFF session in 2000.
The 50x15 FFF machines in 2000. In 1999 they were very different, and were even numbered from 1 through 10.
Studio during Christmas (Children Special)
The graphics in April 1999 were very basic. The contestant with this money tree is Gerardo Ramírez.
In addition, in April 1999 all the contestants had swivel chairs, so could rotate if they were nervous. They often did.
The popularity of 50x15 meant that Telecinco used it to advertise all sorts of things, even a jazz CD, featured on the show in 2000.
Sources[]
- Official website (1999-2002)
- Official website (2005-2007)
- Official website (2008)
- Official website (2009)
- Official website (2020)
- Official website (2024)