12.10.2026 01:20
One of Turkey’s longest-running quiz shows, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, is beginning a new era with both a grand prize and a host change. With the grand prize of 5 million TL being increased to 10 million TL, reaching a record level, the show’s new host will be Cem Öğretir. Öğretir will take over the program from Oktay Kaynarca and appear before viewers.
A new season is starting for the quiz show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” broadcast on ATV and running for exactly 26 years. The show’s grand prize has been increased from 5 million TL to 10 million TL. The new amount is announced as “the largest cash prize ever awarded in Turkey,” while Cem Öğretir will take over as the program’s host. Öğretir will take over the hosting seat from Oktay Kaynarca.
THE GRAND PRIZE HAS DOUBLED The grand prize, previously 5 million TL in the competition, has been raised to 10 million TL with the change. Thus, the highest amount contestants can win has doubled. The new prize was highlighted in the show’s promotion as the largest cash prize ever awarded in Turkey.
CEM ÖĞRETİR TAKES OVER THE HOSTING SEAT In “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, in addition to the prize amount, a change of host also came to the agenda. Cem Öğretir, known for many years in television news reporting, will be the new host of the competition. Taking over the program from Oktay Kaynarca, Öğretir will appear before viewers in the new season.
Cem Öğretir IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR 26 YEARS The competition, which first began broadcasting in Turkey on March 7, 2000, under the name “Who Wants 500 Billion?”, had Kenan Işık as its first host. The program, aired on Show TV and Kanal D, was renamed “Who Wants 500 Thousand?” after six zeros were removed from the Turkish lira. The competition, which was also hosted by Haluk Bilginer for a period, later came to screens under the name “Who Wants 1 Million?”.
In 2011, the competition, which reunited with viewers on ATV under the name “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, was hosted by Kenan Işık. After the health problem Işık experienced in 2014, different names hosted the program. After Selçuk Yöntem, Murat Yıldırım, and Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, Oktay Kaynarca took on the hosting duty in 2024. In the new season, Cem Öğretir will take over Kaynarca’s seat.
With the grand prize rising to 10 million TL and the change of host, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” is preparing to meet its viewers in the new season.