Eric Grosskurth

Eric Grosskurth, a computer programmer from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was a contestant on the U.S. version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on February 15, 2001. He won $250,000 and appeared on the show when the jackpot was raised at $1,930,000.

WWTBAM Run[]

Fastest Finger Question[]

Fastest Finger Question
Put these famous people in order by the number of time they've been married, starting with the fewest.
⬥ A: Jackie Onassis	⬥ B: King Henry VIII
⬥ C: Elizabeth Taylor	⬥ D: Warren Beatty

The correct answer was D-A-B-C. Out of 10 contestants, 3 got it right, but Eric did it in the fastest time with a time of 5.86 seconds.

Eric’s Run to $1,930,000[]

$100 (1 of 15) - Not Timed
A sandcastle is most commonly built at which of these places?
⬥ A: Countryside	⬥ B: Train station
⬥ C: Beach	⬥ D: North Pole

$200 (2 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of the following is a slang term for "a person unfamiliar with the sea"?
⬥ A: Range Rover	⬥ B: Powder puff
⬥ C: Landlubber	⬥ D: Easy rider

$300 (3 of 15) - Not Timed
Popular since the 1950's, a do-it-yourself arts and crafts kit allows people to "paint by" what?
⬥ A: Letter	⬥ B: Numbers
⬥ C: Symbol	⬥ D: Advanced art degree

$500 (4 of 15) - Not Timed
What color is the statuette given to winners of an Academy Award?
⬥ A: Gold	⬥ B: Silver
⬥ C: White	⬥ D: Copper

$1,000 (5 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of the following marine animals defends itself from attackers by squirting inklike fluid?
⬥ A: Sea horse	⬥ B: Devil ray
⬥ C: Octopus	⬥ D: Starfish

$2,000 (6 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of these phrases means "a sudden violent overthrow of a government"?
⬥ A: Coup de grace	⬥ B: Coup de soleil
⬥ C: Coup de main	⬥ D: Coup d’etat

$4,000 (7 of 15) - Not Timed
In the 1994 movie "The Mask," what color does Jim Carrey’s skin become when he wears the mask?
⬥ A: Black	⬥ B: Green
⬥ C: Red	⬥ D: White

$8,000 (8 of 15) - Not Timed
A sham is designed to cover what household item?
⬥ A: Teapot	⬥ B: Fireplace
⬥ C: Pillow	⬥ D: Compact disc

$16,000 (9 of 15) - Not Timed
What kind of scientist was inventor Herbert Henry Dow?
⬥ A: Geologist	⬥ B: Chemist
⬥ C: Physicist	⬥ D: Biologist

$32,000 (10 of 15) - Not Timed
In what field did entertainer Bill Cosby earn his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts?
⬥ A: Education	⬥ B: Sociology
⬥ C: Theater	⬥ D: Literature

$64,000 (11 of 15) - Not Timed
In order to form a musical chord, what is the minimum number of tones that must be played together? 'Ask the Audience' and '50:50' lifelines used
⬥ A: Two	⬥ B: Four
⬥ C: Five	⬥ D: Three
Ask the Audience Results: A: 23% ⬥ B: 33% ⬥ C: 7% ⬥ D: 37%

$125,000 (12 of 15) - Not Timed
The "Old Man of the Mountain," a rock formation that resembles a face, is in which of the following U.S. States?
⬥ A: North Carolina	⬥ B: New Mexico
⬥ C: New Hampshire	⬥ D: Wyoming

$250,000 (13 of 15) - Not Timed
Best-selling author David Cornwell writes under what pseudonym? 'Phone-a-Friend' lifeline used
⬥ A: Robert Ludlum	⬥ B: John le Carré
⬥ C: Elmore Leonard	⬥ D: Mickey Spillane

Eric decides to call Robert. Robert is 99.9% sure it is John le Carré. Eric goes with him and wins $250,000 and starts to break out in tears.

$500,000 (14 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of the following foods is flavored with the oil of bergamot?
⬥ A: Dijon mustard	⬥ B: Cointreau
⬥ C: Worcestershire sauce	⬥ D: Earl Grey tea

Eric has an idea, but it’s not good enough to risk $218,000, so he decides to walk away. He would have guessed Worcestershire sauce and it’s a good thing he stopped. The correct answer was D: Earl Grey tea.

Total Prize Money: $250,000

Sources[]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOyAwlqiL5k&t=6s

Preceded by Justin Ware	U.S. Contestant (Season 1) Eric Grosskurth	Succeeded by Connie Stoltz