How to Be a Contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

Last Updated: January 24, 2022

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is a popular syndicated TV game show where you can win up to $1,000,000 by answering 14 multiple-choice questions correctly. Do you often find yourself shouting out answers at the TV? Do you dislike people who get seemingly easy questions wrong? Well, why not audition for the show? It's very difficult to get on the show, but with this guide, it won't seem as intimidating.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Pre-Audition

1
Watch the show. The best and most important thing you can do to prepare for the show is by watching it. Watch it every day, and record it if you can't watch it live. Know how the game is played. Know the format and what the lifelines are and how they work. Watching the show every day will also give you a feel for what kinds of questions are asked on the show. While the show covers a broad range of subjects, it's a good idea to keep up on current events and popular culture, since the show often asks questions on those subjects. You may also want to study movie trivia, since the show holds weeks dedicated to movies at least once a year.
2
Meet the eligibility requirements. You must be at 18 years of age, a resident of the United States, not be related to anyone who works for a company affiliated with the show, not running for political office, and have not been a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in the past.

Advertisement
3
Go to the official Who Wants to Be a Millionaire website and at the top of the page, click on "Auditions." On the page, click on the link of which audition you want to do. There are three available - a Las Vegas audition, a specialty week audition, and a video audition.
4
Follow the instructions provided to fill out your audition form, if doing a Las Vegas or specialty week audition. For a Las Vegas audition, you'll have to print out the form and fill it in, while for specialty week auditions, you'll have to fill out the form online. For video auditions, you'll have to make a video and submit it to YouTube, which you'll have to include in the online form.
5
After your application is reviewed, you'll receive an e-mail with the date, time, and location of your audition.
6
Plan your trip. If you live far away, book a plane ride to Las Vegas in advance, and choose an affordable hotel that's near the studio. Your trip may require an overnight stay, so pack clothing and other materials that you'll want a few days before the trip.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Audition

1
On the day of your audition, wake up early. Take a shower and brush your teeth; good hygiene is essential here. Wear khakis or dress pants, a solid color button-down shirt, and dress shoes. You want to dress to impress. Arrive at the studio a few hours before the audition starts and wait for the doors to open.
2
Fill out the contestant application form. In addition to standard information such as your name and address, you'll also be asked questions such as what your hobbies are and what you'll do with $1,000,000.
3
Take the contestant exam. The contestant exam has 30 multiple-choice questions to answer in 10 minutes. You bubble in your answers on Scantron sheets. Be sure that when you fill out the Scantron sheet that you put in the contestant number you'll be given before the exam starts. Answer all of the questions (or at least, as many as you can in the 10 minutes) and wait until time is called. Depending on when the audition is, you may also be able to take the exam for a movie week.
4
Hand in your exam sheet, and wait for the exams to be graded. During this time, it's a good idea to talk to the people around you so you aren't just sitting there waiting.
5
Once the exams are graded, the numbers of the people who passed will be announced. If you don't hear your number, that means you didn't pass and that you'll have to do another audition if you want to be on the show. If you passed, on the other hand, you can stay and move on to the next part of the audition.
6
You'll have a 3-5 minute interview with a show producer. They'll take a head shot of you, look over your application form, and talk to you briefly (around 3-5 minutes). You'll be asked questions about yourself, along with the answers you gave to the questions on the application form. For the interview, you want to be interesting and funny, along with being comfortable. If you do well enough, you'll be taken to another room where you'll have an on-camera interview with another show producer.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Post-Audition

1
Wait patiently. The possibility of being chosen for the show is an exciting prospect, but you don't want it to take over your life. Just move on with your life and do what you normally do.
2
Whether you make it into the contestant pool or not, you'll be notified by a postcard in the mail. If you don't make it in, you'll be told so and thanked for auditioning for the show. If you do make it, on the other hand, you'll be told so and that you'll receive a phone call from the show.
3
At some point, you'll receive a phone call from the show where you'll be asked to confirm the information you gave on your application, and told when you'll be taping. Keep this information in mind and don't forget it. You can call them back at any time if you have any questions.
4
Plan for another trip, this time around to Las Vegas where the show tapes. If you live far away, book a plane ride to Las Vegas in advance, and choose an affordable hotel that's near the studio. Your trip may require an overnight stay, so pack clothing and other materials that you'll want a few days before the trip.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

The Show

1
On the day of your taping, arrive at the studio at the time you were told to arrive at. Make sure that you take a shower and brush your teeth, and that you put on your best dress clothes.
2
Wait for your name to be called for the taping of your episode. It can be anywhere from the start of the taping session to the last episode of the day. You'll be waiting in a room with the other contestants for that taping session. You may end up waiting for hours, so be patient. During this time, you'll want to talk with the other contestants and make friends with them.
3
Once your name is called, you'll get your makeup done, and be led to the studio for the taping of your episode. Good luck and no matter what happens, be sure to have fun! It's just a game, after all. You may be on for more than one episode, and if that happens, go back to your hotel and follow the above three steps again before the taping of the rest of your episode.

Community Q&A

Question

If I made it through an audition and was told I would be called if they were interested, will I still be contacted if I don't make it?

Community Answer

Probably not. Shows usually only contact those who pass an audition.
Question

I submitted the audition request for my 9-year-old son. It's been a month and I haven't heard back. Should I submit another application?

Community Answer

You must be 18 years or older to be considered for acceptance. Along with this, you must be a citizen of the United States, not be running for political office, and not have any familial connections relating to the show’s affiliates. Eligibility requirements can be found in Step 2 of the wikiHow article.
Question

Are handicapped contestants ever chosen to be on this show?

Community Answer

Yes. The show does not discriminate in who it selects.

Warnings

Don't fake your enthusiasm. The producers will be able to see right through this.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 9 Not Helpful 2
Don't audition if you've already appeared on a game show in the same year. You're only allowed to appear on one game show in a given year.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 9 Not Helpful 5