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Wer wird Millionär?’ Easter Special Sets Age Records With Surprise Contestants

Secret nominations with a bonus joker reframed the long-running quiz’s format.

Overview

  • Elisabeth Jakubowski, who took the chair on Monday, won €64,000 at age 86 to become the show’s oldest female contestant.
  • Reiner Spänkuch, 91, surprised viewers on Sunday as the oldest contestant ever and left with €16,000 after missing the €32,000 question.
  • The Easter special replaced the usual fast-selection round with hidden nominations from relatives and added an extra studio joker drawn from Easter props.
  • Spänkuch’s long service as an RB Leipzig volunteer featured in on-air tributes from coach Ole Werner and player Lukas Klostermann, tying the episodes to themes of community work and active aging.
  • Parts of the audience on social media questioned how spontaneous the surprises felt, even as outlets highlighted the human stories that drove interest in the two-night event.