Overview
- Günther Jauch, a leading German TV presenter best known for hosting Wer wird Millionär? since 1999, is being marked with birthday profiles that revisit his long career across Bayerischer Rundfunk, ZDF and RTL.
- Journalists have re‑examined the Michael Born affair, noting that reporter Michael Born sold staged reports to major TV magazines and was convicted of fraud by the Landgericht Koblenz in December 1996.
- Several Born films were broadcast during the years Jauch served as presenter and, between 1992 and 1994, as editor of stern TV, and Jauch was later called to testify about editorial responsibility.
- In court Jauch said he had been “in principle never in a cutting room,” a remark reporters say underscored the gap between formal responsibility and hands‑on oversight and helped focus the debate on who checks contributions.
- The Born scandal prompted RTL and other outlets to build stronger editorial structures and tighter controls on contributions, and Jauch has since remained a popular public figure who protects his private life and uses lawyers to challenge false claims.