On the classic version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," contestants must answer 15 questions correctly to win the top prize.
The questions rise through a money ladder, becoming progressively harder as the contestant moves toward the jackpot. In the original British format, the fifteenth question was worth £1 million; the American version used the same 15-question structure for its million-dollar prize.
The show is often associated with its lifelines, including Phone-a-Friend, Ask the Audience, and 50:50. These tools can help with difficult questions, but contestants still need to reach and answer the final question correctly to claim the top prize.
Some international and later versions have experimented with shorter formats, including 12-question games. However, 15 is the standard answer for the classic show format and the one generally expected in trivia.