For the past 25 years, Günther Jauch's quiz show Wer wird Millionär? has captivated audiences across Germany, inspiring excitement and intrigue weekly. Jauch, the charismatic host, has seen over 40 celebrity specials air on the show during this time. Surprisingly, he revealed during a recent press conference, only a handful of politicians have graced the program.
While Jauch is well-known for his political engagements and hosting other significant formats like stern TV and various election debates, questions arose on why politicians seemingly shy away from participating. "Many politicians avoid Wer wird Millionär? due to the fear of failure and embarrassment," stated Jauch. This issue was raised when Gregor Gysi, the longstanding politician, confessed he had repeatedly been invited but was too anxious to participate.
There have been rare instances of politicians appearing on the show. Wolfgang Bosbach, the CDU politician, took the chance not once but twice at the celebrity specials, winning €125,000 both times. During one memorable episode, he attempted to call then-Chancellor Angela Merkel as his joker but had to switch to another person when she did not answer. Ario Ebrahimpour Mirzaie, who won €32,000 back in 2014, also tried his luck before venturing fully as a political candidate.
Last night’s episode of Wer wird Millionär? introduced some surprise elements, especially for candidate Linda, who enlisted the help of Philipp Rösler as her phone joker. Rösler served as Germany’s Vice Chancellor from 2011-2013 under Angela Merkel, and his unexpected presence threw Jauch for a loop. When Linda faced the €16,000 question, which asked, "Over 200,000 Bahamas residents and nearly 5,000 from Rhineland-Palatinate live in...?" she hesitated on her response between Coburg, Gotha, Oranien, and Nassau.
Upon seeing Rösler’s name appear as her phone joker, Jauch exclaimed, "Philipp Rösler! He was once Vice Chancellor!" Clearly astonished, he seized the chance to query Rösler about his current position, knowing he now lives in Zurich and works as a consultant. Rösler himself remarked, "I occasionally observe German politics from afar and feel grateful not to be so active anymore."
Though Rösler was intended to lend her insight, rapid-fire demands stifled any response as the allotted time ran out. Unfortunately for Linda, she left the game with €8,000.
These glimpses of political engagement within the iconic quiz setting provoke the question of why more politicians have yet to take the plunge and face the challenges it presents, but it also captivates audiences hungry for more interactions of this caliber on the show.
Jauch confirmed, “It would be interesting to have politicians involved, but the fear has become engrained.” He also noted how difficult it seems for representatives to participate without creating controversy or misrepresentation.
The episode airs today, Monday, March 3, marking another intriguing chapter for Wer wird Millionär?, which has aired weekly at 8:15 PM on RTL since its inception, with past episodes available on RTL+ for catch-up.