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What are TV's most lucrative quiz shows?
How well could you do?
ric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images
- Katelyn Mensah
Published: Thursday, 11 June 2026 at 7:00 am
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From million pound jackpots to record-breaking wins, quiz shows have always created the fantasy that by answering just the right amount of questions, you could walk away with life-changing money.
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For some of them that is the case, but it's not always that simple. Some quiz shows rely on strategy while others are just pure luck, meaning the size of the prize pot can vary from one show to the next, either in the UK or across the pond in the US.
There are a handful of long-running quiz shows that aren't only famous because of its popularity among viewers but also down to how much money contestants could potentially bank.
Here, we take a look at some of the most lucrative quiz shows on television in both the UK and US where, in theory, you can bank the most money.
10. Pointless
Alexander Armstrong. BBC/Remarkable Entertainment
What are the highest winnings? £24,750
When playing Pointless, contestants can earn money by reaching the final round and landing an obscure correct answer that nobody in a survey of 100 people said.
The biggest Pointless win was in 2013 by David and Jonathan Hammond Williams, who won £24,750.
9. The Wheel
Michael McIntyre. BBC/Hungry McBear/Gary Moyes
What are the highest winnings? £116,000
Contestants can earn money by answering questions in their specialist categories, with celebrity experts helping them through and build a cash prize. The giant wheel is spun and decides who gets to play and how far contestants can progress.
In November 2022, Jonathan from Surrey became the first contestant to win the largest ever amount the show had given away to date. After being knocked out on his first go at The Wheel, Jonathan then made a return to the hot seat and ended up winning £116,000.
8. The Chase
Shaun ‘The Barrister’ Wallace, Darragh “The Menace” Ennis, Anne “The Governess” Hegerty, Paul ‘'The Sinnerman'’ Sinha, Jenny ‘The Vixen’ Ryan and Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett. ITV
What are the highest winnings? £160,000
For those who take on The Chase, they can earn money by answering quick fire questions correctly in the cash builder round, then banking that money if they can beat the Chaser in the final chase.
While appearing on a Soccer Aid special in 2018, Kirsty Gallacher and Rachel Riley unknowingly made The Chase history while making it to the final chase against The Dark Destroyer (Shaun Wallace).
They won £160,000, a prize that has not yet been beaten.
7. The 1% Club
Lee Mack for The 1% Club. Magnum TV/ITV
What are the highest winnings? £194,000
Contestants earn money by answering a series of logic-based questions correctly, with the prize fund increasing as they get closer to the hardest final question, while there are fewer contestants. The final jackpot goes to anyone who can solve the question that only 1 per cent of the public can answer.
In December 2025, a 1% Club contestant made history after winning a whopping £194,000.
Host Lee Mack revealed the 1 per cent question to be: "Heidi Abbi Bedhead just got a new bank card. If the picture below displays the first 12 digits of the card number, what are the final four?"
The correct answer was 8514 as the numbers on the bank card corresponded to the alphabet and spelled out Heidi's full name.
6. Deal or No Deal
Stephen Mulhern for Deal or No Deal. ITV/Remarkable Entertainment
What are the highest winnings? £250,000
During Deal or No Deal, contestants earn money by holding onto a sealed box while eliminating other boxes one by one, which can change based on the banker's cash offer each round. The game is ultimately won by accepting the best offer or gambling your own box that could contain a bigger amount.
The highest win on the UK version of Deal or No Deal is £250,000. A total of nine people have won the highest prize, the first being Laura Pearce in 2007, and the latest was Vikki Heenan in 2016.
5. The Price is Right
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What are the highest winnings? $262,743
While on The Price is Right, contestants earn money and prizes by bidding closest to the retail price without going over, then winning pricing games on stage. Extra money and bigger prizes can be won in the wheel spin and showcase rounds.
After five decades on air, retired Army veteran Vanesa McCaskell set a new daytime record after winning the largest single pricing game prize in the show's history.
She took home over $240,150 in cash and prizes during a special Mother's Day episode.
4. Wheel of Fortune
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What are the highest winnings? $1 million
On Wheel of Fortune, which is currently hosted by Ryan Seacrest in the US, contestants can earn money by solving word puzzles, similar to that of hangman. They can also win bonus money in toss-up rounds and the final bonus round.
In September 2025, Wheel of Fortune US saw its largest win in the show's history when contestant Christina Derevjanik won a cash prize of $1,035,155.
Derevjanik became the fourth contestant to win the million dollar grand prize, and the first since Ryan Seacrest became host.
The first million dollar winner came in 2008 when Michelle Loewenstein won, followed by Autumn Erhard in 2013 and Sarah Manchester the following year.
3. Limitless Win
Ant & Dec's Limitless Win. ITV
What are the highest winnings? £1 million
Hosted by Ant & Dec, Limitless Win contestants earn money by answering numerical questions correctly and climbing an uncapped money ladder. For each right answer a contestant gives, the prize pot grows. The longer the correct answer streak, the bigger the payout.
Limitless Win is a relatively new game show but in 2024, two NHS workers – Charlie and Helen – won £1 million, the most ever taken home by Limitless Win contestants.
The husband and wife first met on a blind date after Charlie's mother suggested they meet up. To win the jackpot, Helen and Charlie had to answer a question about two rival Britpop bands.
After banking £100,000, the jackpot reached £1 million, with the duo answering correctly for the question: "2024 marks how many years since Blur beat Oasis to the UK number one spot with the song Country House?"
2. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Jeremy Clarkson on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Stellify Media/Sony
What are the highest winnings? £1 million
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire contestants earn money by answering multiple choice questions in order. For each correct answer they give, they move up the cash ladder.
A total of seven contestants have won the maximum £1 million jackpot on the UK version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
Judith Keppel was the first ever winner in 2000 and remains the only woman to win the jackpot. The most recent jackpot win was in April 2026, when Roman Dubowski, a retired IT analyst who quizzes as a hobby won the game show.
Other winners include David Edwards (2001), Robert Brydges (2001), Pat Gibson (2004), Ingram Wilcox (2006) and Donald Fear (2020).
1. Jeopardy!
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What are the highest winnings? $4.93 million
In Jeopardy! contestants can earn money by buzzing in with correct answers after being shown clues, before wagering on Daily Doubles and Final Jeopardy. The higher they score, the more they can bank, especially if they take on big wagers.
Over in the US, Jeopardy! has created six millionaires, one of whom is the biggest ever winner – so much so he is now the permanent host.
Ken Jennings is one of the biggest winners ever, having won 74 consecutive games. His highest win in a regular season is $2.5 million and his all time winnings including tournaments sits at $4.3 million.
As of April 2026, the series has created six millionaires, including Jennings, Brad Rutter ($4.9 million), James Holzhauer ($3.6 million), Matt Amodio ($1.8 million), Amy Schneider ($1.6 million) and Yogesh Raut ($1 million).
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Authors
Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer
Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
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