Jamie Ding draws Ben Affleck ahead of Millionaire finale
Jamie Ding, the Jeopardy! champ from Lawrenceville, New Jersey, drew his Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? teammate Ben Affleck as Batman while answering fan questions. The pair paused at the $250,000 question and were set for a July 29 ABC finale aiming for $1 million for the Eastern Congo Initiative.
Key Takeaways
- Jamie Ding sketched Affleck as Batman during a fan Q&A promoting their Millionaire appearance.
- On July 22, Ding and Affleck paused at the $250,000 question after Affleck steered them to the right answer.
- They played for $1 million for the Eastern Congo Initiative, with the second half set for July 29 on ABC.
- Ding won $885,605 across 31 Jeopardy! wins and is headed to the 2027 Tournament of Champions.
What did Jamie Ding say about teaming with Ben Affleck?
In a rapid-fire clip shared by Jeopardy! social channels, Ding introduced himself as a former Jeopardy! contestant and current Millionaire player, then sketched Affleck while fans got to know him. He called the pairing "quite the odd couple," noting he only became a celebrity about three months ago while Affleck has been famous for a very long time.
Ding said he was "super excited" to have Affleck as his teammate. His strategy, beyond answering correctly, was to "savor each question." One benefit of Millionaire, he said, is more time to talk things through.
When the drawing was finished, Ding cast Affleck as Batman, one of his more popular roles, with the line "Martha! Why did you say that name?" Ding also said that if he could use any Millionaire lifeline on Jeopardy!, he would pick Phone-a-Friend.
How far did Ding and Affleck get on Millionaire?
According to TV Insider, Ding and Affleck appeared on Season 5 of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on July 22. Their game stopped at the $250,000 question, where Affleck led them to the correct answer. The second half was scheduled for July 29 as they chased the top prize for charity.
The pairing follows last season’s Ken Jennings and Matt Damon team-up, which won $1 million for their charity. For more entertainment and culture coverage in this lane, see Future Tech & AI Wonders on BlasterPost.
What is next for Jamie Ding after Jeopardy!?
Ding’s Jeopardy! haul totaled $885,605, including the second-place prize in his 32nd game, making him this season’s highest winner. He is set for the 2027 Tournament of Champions against players such as Harrison Whitaker, Tristan Williams, and Mina Kimes, with the TOC expected in early 2027.
Preparing for TOC, Ding told TV Insider he is making a list of things to brush up on, including some buzzer timing, and watching Jeopardy! to keep tabs on the competition. He said he better keep wearing orange if the audience is looking for that. Life since the streak has meant street recognition, events, a faster orange watch, and people interested in meeting him.
His favorite fun fact from the fan Q&A: poet e.e. cummings’ gravestone is written in all capital letters despite the poet writing his name in lowercase. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on ABC. Jeopardy! Season 43 is due in September 2026.