For more information, see the expanded explanation below or check out the official rules page.

How to Play:

WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE is a contest consisting of three (3) rounds in which players compete to become a contestant on one of fifteen (15) Network Television Quiz Shows on which contestants play to win up to $1,000,000. One (1) Network Quiz Show will be taped each day from November 6 through November 20, 1999.

Episodes of the Network Quiz Show will be one (1) hour or one half (1/2) hour in length. To enter the first round, players must call the toll-free number and select a specific tape date for the Network Quiz Show for which the player wishes to qualify to play, from among the available tape dates.

Shows taping on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays will be one (1) hour in length; shows taping on other days will be one half (1/2) hour in length. The qualification period for each tape date closes at 3 AM (EST) two (2) days prior to the tape date.

Once a tape date has been selected, the player will be asked to correctly answer three (3) general knowledge multipart questions of increasing difficulty. Each question has multiple parts that must be placed in the correct order based on instructions given in the question.

The object is to answer all three (3) questions correctly within the time specified. Players who correctly answer all three (3) questions within the time specified are eligible for a random drawing with all other players competing on the same contest day for the same tape date. Players may qualify only once for each tape date.

From November 2 through 7, 1999 twenty-five (25) players will be selected in the random drawing each contest day for each tape date, and from November 8 through 18, 1999 thirty-five (35) players will be selected each contest day for each tape date, to qualify as semifinalists. It is estimated that call volume will be higher during the November 8 through 18, 1999 time period.

Those selected in the drawings will receive a phone call to verify eligibility for the contest. If the selected player is available for the eligibility phone call and all eligibility requirements are met, he or she will advance to a semifinal round playoff game ("Playoff Game"). Semifinalists for each tape date will compete against each other in a telephone Playoff Game similar in format to the first round.

The object of the Playoff Game is to answer all questions correctly in the fastest time. Semifinalists who correctly answer all questions will be ranked based on speed of response. The top twelve (12) scoring semifinalists for each tape date [ten (10) finalists and two (2) alternates] will receive a trip for themselves and a guest to New York City, including transportation and accommodations, and the finalists will have an opportunity to compete on the Network Quiz Show.

Ties occurring in a Playoff Game will be broken according to the methodology outlined in the complete official rules. In the event that fewer than twelve (12) semifinalists in a Playoff Game answer all questions correctly, additional finalists/alternates will be selected based on the number of individual parts of each question placed in the correct order and speed of response.

On the Network Quiz Show, the finalists compete to become a main game player by answering general knowledge multipart question(s). The finalist who answers correctly in the fastest time has the opportunity to play the Network Quiz Show and win up to $1,000,000 by correctly answering up to fifteen (15) multiple choice general knowledge questions of increasing difficulty. Cash prizes in the Network Quiz Show range from $100 to $1,000,000 depending on the number of questions answered correctly.

Deadlines and Estimated Callers:

Phone lines will be open from 3 PM (EST) to 3 AM (EST) each day from November 1 through November 18, 1999. It is estimated that 4 million calls will be received in the first round and 8% of all callers will answer all three (3) questions correctly within the time specified. Sponsor reserves the right to limit the total number of first round calls to a number not less than 4 million. The odds of advancing to the semifinal round are dependent upon how many callers answer all questions correctly on the same contest day for the same tape date.

Semifinalists must be available to participate in a telephone Playoff Game which will take place from November 4 through 18, 1999 on a date to be specified during the eligibility phone call, and must be available to be in New York City for the taping for up to four (4) consecutive days between November 5 through November 21, 1999. Additional restrictions apply. Subject to complete official Contest Rules.

Eligibility: Players must be legal residents of the 50 United States and 18 or older. Players cannot be legally qualified candidates for any type of political office at the time the Network Quiz show is broadcast. Other sponsor-related restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Sponsor reserves the right to conduct additional random drawings from among the pool of qualified November players not selected for any of the above referenced Playoff Games, to qualify for Playoff Games for future episodes of the Network Quiz Show.

Contest Rules:

For complete official contest rules send a SASE to Millionaire Rules, 500 Park Ave., 8th Floor, New York, New York 10022 or visit abc.com. Residents of WA and VT may omit return postage. Sponsored by Valleycrest Productions Ltd., 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California 91521-0161.

Call 1-877-258-5808!
No purchase necessary. Touch-tone phone with touch-tone service required. Limit two (2) calls per person per day.

Legal Information
Here's the small print on what it takes to be a contestant.