Renata Morgado Eckman, a 21-year-old human resource management student, appeared as a contestant on the first series of the Portuguese version of the show at some point in May 2000.
She won 50.000.000$00, becoming the first ever female top prize winner of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? anywhere in the world, the first non-Anglophone winner and the first European winner. At the time of her win, she became Portugal's highest game show winner.
She is the second contestant overall after Inês Dias to see the top prize question.
QQSM Run[]
Fastest Finger First[]
| Fastest Finger First Question | |
| ? | |
| ⬥ A: ? | ⬥ B: ? |
| ⬥ C: ? | ⬥ D: ? |
| Renata was the first to answer correctly in 4.22 seconds. |
Renata's (partial) Run to 50.000.000$00[]
| 900.000$00 (9 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Who is the companion of Tom Hanks in the film "Philadelphia"? | |
| ⬥ A: Bruce Springsteen | ⬥ B: Antonio Banderas |
| ⬥ C: Tom Cruise | ⬥ D: Ted Danson |
| 7.500.000$00 (12 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| In the movie "Pulp Fiction", the character played by John Travolta is a... | |
| ⬥ A: Policeman | ⬥ B: Boxer |
| ⬥ C: Assassin | ⬥ D: Biker |
| 12.500.000$00 (13 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| What is the name of Xanana Gusmão? '50:50' lifeline used | |
| ⬥ A: ? | ⬥ B: ? |
| ⬥ C: Rui Mendes Gusmão | ⬥ D: Jose Alexandre Gusmão |
| At some stage, the klaxon called time, so Renata returned on the next episode at 12.500.000$00, with two remaining lifelines. |
| 25.000.000$00 (14 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Which of these players played the most times for Porto Football Club? 'Phone-a-Friend' lifeline used | |
| ⬥ A: Hilário | ⬥ B: Pedro Barbosa |
| ⬥ C: Rui Bento | ⬥ D: Enke |
| Renata decided to use her Phone-a-Friend, who was almost certain the answer was A: Hilario. She joked that if he was wrong, she would find out where he lived. She locked in A, thus winning 25.000.000$00. |
Renata makes history after winning the top prize.
| 50.000.000$00 (15 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| "O Que Diz Molero" is a highly successful work by ...: | |
| ⬥ A: José Cardoso Pires | ⬥ B: Dinis Machado |
| ⬥ C: Luís Francisco Rebelo | ⬥ D: José Pedro Gomes |
Facts and Information[]
- At the time of her win, Renata was studying at the University Institute of Lisbon, however she admitted while talking to host Carlos Cruz on the highlights special, broadcast on June 8, 2000, that a hospital had contacted her to help with an operation for myopia, which hindered her from seeing notes properly.
- On the highlights special, when asked what she would do with her winnings, Renata also considered buying a house in the future, going on some holidays, as well as realising other ambitions in her work and personal time.
- Since her participation in the show, she achieved a diploma in human resources management in 2001. She would then spend a year working as a trainee for Nestlé Portugal.
- Between 2003 to 2008, Renata worked in the human resources department of television network and media company SIC, which was the most-watched channel in Portugal at the time of her appearance on QQSM.
- In 2017, Renata began working for the pharmaceutical group Novartis, as the Head of Talent Management & Organisational Development. She worked her way up to the Head of Strategy & Operations in April 2021, before resigning in December 2022.
- Since January 2023, Renata has worked in the HR department of AstraZeneca, a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. As of 2024, she has worked her way to HR Director of the Western and Southern European departments of the company.
Photos[]
Renata's official portrait for Novartis.
Renata as she appears nowadays.
Renata on a season highlights special in June 2000.
Sources[]
