In the 1956 film High Society, there was a song also called Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? written by Cole Porter and sung by Frank Sinatra and Celeste Holm. Although the song has nothing to do with the show, the title was the inspiration for the title of the game show franchise.
The syndicated talk show The Rosie O'Donnell Show had episodes featuring game segments such as Who's More Addicted to Millionaire? and Who Wants to Win a Fridgidaire?.
NOTE: Rosie O'Donnell herself once appeared as a contestant on a "Celebrity Edition" of the show on May 3, 2000.
The internet cartoon Pookie Poo did a spoof of Millionaire.
There is a parody called Who Wants to Be a Millooneyaire? on The Cat & Birdie Warneroonie Pinky Brainy Big Cartoonie Show on Kids WB.
The Amanda Show has a recurring parody of Millionaire called So You Wanna Win Five Dollars?, hosted by Tina (played by Amanda Bynes). The contestant (usually a character from another recurring skit on the show who isn't very bright) is asked three questions, along with the final question being worth only $5.00.
On November 4, 1999; a music video for the song "Sleep Now in the Fire" by the political rock band Rage Against the Machine had a parody of the show as Who Wants to Be Filthy F#&%ing Rich? where contestants are asked questions that matched the band's political theme, usually with the contestants getting the answers wrong. Towards the end of the video, a homeless man answers the presumed final question correctly, and after handing back the money given to him, he storms the stage and tosses the money in the air.
NOTE: The video was directed by controversial film director Michael Moore.
On the long-running sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live (SNL), Millionaire has been spoofed four times. The first one originally airing November 6, 1999 with its original title while the second one originally aired on December 4, 1999 was spoofed as Who Wants to Eat?. The third one aired on May 6, 2000 was a "Celebrity Edition". The fourth and final one aired April 24, 2010 where the syndicated version was parodied with Kenan Thompson portraying Steve Harvey.
On the sketch comedy series MADtv. there were four skits that Millionaire has been parodied in popular culture.
Lorraine Swanson[]
This was originally aired on November 13, 1999 (Episode 8), instead of Philbin, Alex Borstein plays him instead.
Who Wants to Be the President?[]
This was originally aired on February 12, 2000 (Episode 16), the late Regis Philbin himself appears as host.
Celebrity Edition[]
This was originally aired on February 24, 2001 (Episode 17), the late Regis Philbin himself appears as host again.
Revitalized Format[]
This was originally aired on March 20, 2004 (Episode 19), instead of Philbin, Frank Caliendo plays him instead.
On the November 16, 1999 episode of the sitcom Spin City called "How to Bury a Millionaire", Paul Lassiter (played by Richard Kind) becomes a contestant on the show hosted by the late Regis Philbin where he won the top prize of $1,000,000 by guessing each and every one of the questions correctly. Surprisingly, this episode was aired three days before John Carpenter won the million.
On a March 28, 2000 episode of Win Ben Stein's Money; the show was referenced and spoofed since both shows have been produced by Valleycrest Productions and were distributed by Buena Vista Television (now Disney-ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution) at the time. Additionally, Stein's former co-host Jimmy Kimmel would later go on to host the actual ABC Primetime, celebrity driven reboot of the show twenty years later in 2020 until 2021.
The formerly popular satire magazine MAD featured a Millionaire parody in Issue #329 (April 2000). Titled Boobs Want to Be a Millionaire written by Desmond Devlin and illustrated by Gary Hallgren, hosted by Rhesus Pillbin (a parody of the late Regis Philbin).
On July 13, 2000; an episode of Celebrity Deathmatch called "Johnny & Debbie ... in Love?", a fight between (the late) Regis Philbin (representing Millionaire at the time) where he tries to dispatch formerly popular game show host Chuck Woolery (representing Greed at the time) in the segment called "Who Wants to Be a Dead Game Show Host?"
On July 26, 2000; Millionaire was given a brief homage in the famous Baha Men music video "Who Let the Dogs Out?". It was featured in the beginning of the video just before the song started. The security guard was watching Millionaire on TV and the question was "Who Let the Dogs Out?"
On August 10, 2000, a PC CD-ROM and Sega Dreamcast parody video game was released by Simon & Schuster Interactive, called Who Wants to Beat Up a Millionaire?.
PC CD-ROM version
Sega Dreamcast version
.jpg "Who Wants to Beat Up a Millionaire front cover (Sega Dreamcast).jpg (76 KB)")
In December 2000, the Archie Comics spinoff Veronica in issue #106 has a Millionaire parody on its front cover as Who Wants to Win a Million Bucks?.
A 2001 episode of the short-lived primetime game show You Don't Know Jack (based on the hit computer game of the same name, which ironically enough aired on the same network as Millionaire) hosted by Troy Stevens (played by Paul Reubens) spoofed the show as Who Wants to Marry a Farm Animal?.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: In the very first episode, Stevens gets a call from Philbin on tips about how to be a good game show host.
In the 2001 Cartoon Network promo for The Powerpuff Girls (1998 version) PPG's arch nemesis Mojo Jojo is sitting in the Hot Seat when he is trying to answer a question (i.e. One of these is not a cheese... A.)Gruyere, B.)Gouda, C.)Gorgonzola, D.)Garagiola) Jojo ponders about whether he wants to use his lifeline or not. The unnamed host (possibly sounding like Philbin) then reminds him that he has one more lifeline, but then he thinks about whether he wants to use it or not. The host did not directly say what lifeline was, but he mentioned, "Perhaps, someone you'd like to call" (hinting that it was "Phone-a-Friend"). Next, Jojo began talking about what he could do with the lifeline. The promo cuts to The Powerpuff Girls who are watching the show at home as Blossom says "Jeez Luis! Can you Believe This Guy?" than Buttercup says "About time already, for cryin' out loud!".
NOTE: Just in case you all are wondering, the correct answer to this question (though never revealed) was D.) Garagiola.
In a 2001 (originally January 6, 2001) rap song called "Oochie Wally", Nas makes a references to the title of the show along with its former host by claiming that its "Sort of like the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, but my name ain't Regis"
In October 2001, the Disney website once featured an online game called Who Wants to Be a Villionaire?[1](parody of the show's title) which contains games that were hosted by 13 famous classic animated Disney villains (i.e. Cruella DeVille from 101 Dalmatians [1961 version], The Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs [1937 version], Maleficant from Sleeping Beauty [1959 version], Gaston from Beauty and the Beast [1991 version], Scar from The Lion King [1994 version], Claude Frollo from The Hunchback of Norte Dame, Yzma from The Emperor's New Groove, Hades from Hercules [1997 version], Jafar from Aladdin [1992 version], Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland [1951 version], Lady Tremaine from Cinderella [1950 version], Ursula from The Little Mermaid [1989 version] and Captain Hook from Peter Pan [1953 version]) asking questions about their famous movies. While the gameplay is exactly like the original online game, the lifelines differ just slightly: 50:50 and Ask the Audience remains the same, but "Phone a Friend" is replaced with "Phone a Fiend" (in order to reflect the games' main theme in particular) with Cruella as the "fiend". The milestones are referred to as "Gravestones" (also a reflection of the games' main theme).
A 2002 episode of the syndicated comedy game show Street Smarts had a "Win A Million" week.
In the 2002 (originally January 1, 2002) episode of the Looney Tunes webtoon series Mysterious Phenomena of the Unexplained has a parody of Millionaire in episode #2 called "Who Wants to Be a Martian-aire?" (parody of the show's title). In this episode, Daffy Duck explains that he has a guest on the show who claims to have been abducted by aliens. This guest in particular is Elmer Fudd, whom Daffy asks to tell the true story of his alien abduction, or to make up a good one in case it proves lame. Daffy is forced to have Elmer re-enact the story himself as the show didn't have the budget for an actor. Elmer was out in a forest hunting rabbits when he was abducted by Marvin the Martian in order to play as a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Martian-aire? when Elmer says that he wants to go home, Marvin in response zaps him with a laser, having interpreted what Elmer said as an incorrect answer. He then threatens to vaporize the Earth if the next question he answers was incorrect. The question, under the category of "Martian History" is: "What ruthless Martian leader has dominated the galaxy for the last decade?". Fudd had three answers to choose instead of four from the actual show. He opts to "Phone-A-Friend" as Marvin allows the viewer to choose the answer for him.
A: Verell the Omnipotent
Elmer picks that as his answer. Marvin says that "You are a pathetic specimen!" as he zaps Earth but the laser is deflected by Bugs Bunny and hits Elmer instead. He asides that, "I hate weawity TV".
B: Refleb 578
As Elmer picks this as his answer, Marvin says that "Oh, I'm so sorry inferior life form!" as he zaps the Earth but the laser hits Daffy instead, who was reminding his viewers to stay tuned for a special episode about spontaneous combustion.
C: Martha Stewart
Elmer picks this as his answer, Marvin says that "That is the correct answer, Earthling!" and gives him the home game version of the show as his prize. When Elmer opens the box, the miniature laser inside zaps him. Elmer asides that, "At weast it comes with batteries!"
In the 2002 (originally September 16, 2002) episode of Between the Lions called "Hay Day", a troll charges Lionel, Leona and Fay their belongings to help Fay spin to rooms of hay into gold. However, he agrees to return everything if they guess his name by day's end. At the end of the day, Fay plays a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?-like spoof as the four choices being A.Rumpleyers B.Rupertpumpkin C.Regisphilbin or D.Rumpelstiltskin. After some thinking, she goes for D which is correct. Much to the troll's disappointment. Ray then thanks Lionel, Leona and Gus who had figured it out and told her beforehand for helping her and says that "You were My Lifelines".
In the 2002 (Originally October 6, 2002) episode of The Sopranos called "The Weight", Tony (played by the late James Gandolfini) and Junior (Dominic Chianese) Soprano watches a contestant on the show blowing his $1,000 question as Junior comments on how this "poor prick" used up all of his lifelines.
NOTE: The contestant from this clip was Sal Mecca.
In the 2003 rap song called "Through the Wire" by Kanye West, West references the show's title and lifelines by claiming that he's "Trying to be a Millionaire, How I use two lifelines".
NOTE: The sample was the classic 1985 romantic love song "Through the Fire" by Chaka Khan.
On February 10, 2004, from the DVD movie called The Lion King 1 1/2, there is a special feature game called Who Wants to Be King of the Jungle? (parody of the show's title). While the format is very similar to the regular gameplay of Millionaire, the questions are shortened to 10 instead of 15. There are two lifelines that are different in this version as well. The 50:50 lifeline stays the same. The two different lifelines are "Poll the Heard" (Ask the Audience) and "Phone-an-Animal" (Phone a Friend). The viewer plays as Timon trying to help him be "King of the Jungle". Also, Timon plays for "grubs" instead of "cash". Former host of the syndicated version Meredith Vieira does make an appearance as host in this special feature. All questions are Lion King themed. Timon's friend Pumba also makes an appearance. One of the "Phone-an-Animal" (Phone-a-Friend) choices is Pumba (despite Vieira saying you can call any animal if you're stuck on a question) as he tries to win food (in this case "grubs") each time he gets a question right instead of cash.
On July 12, 2004, an episode of the short-lived MTV reality show The Assistant had a spoof of Millionaire called Who Wants to Be Andy's Assistant?. The first episode of the show that featured the said spoof is called: "Welcome to The Assistant, Now Go Home".
In 2007 (originally September 22, 2007), a commercial for a local car insurance company called Vern Fonk parodied the show as Who Wants to Be a Vernonaire?. The commercial featured him (played by the late Robert Thielke) as both the contestant and host in a double role. The commercial starts with him shouting "WELCOME BACK TO WHO WANTS TO BE A VERNONAIRE?" then the host ask the contestant that "You got tickets and a DWI, now who are you gonna call?" (a.k.a Who do you call?) as the four choices were: A. Jack Roberts, B. Sunny Kobi-Cook, C. Dick Balch or D. Vern Fonk. The contestant then says "Ah Dick Balch, It'll be Vern Fonk uhh huh" then the host asked "Is that your final answer?" who confirmed back to him as: "That's my final answer!" The host shouts that "YOU'RE A VERNONAIRE!" to the contestant as he celebrates his victory, the host then claims that "YOU GOT FIRE IN YOUR PANTS VERNIE, OHHHHH MAN!". In the end the contestant says the slogan: "And remember to honk when you drive by Vern Fonk, yes!".
In the December 9, 2007 episode of Robot Chicken called "Robot Chicken's Half-Assed Christmas Special", Hermey the Elf was a contestant on Millionaire.
On August 2008, a hip hop style online cartoon parodied the show as Who Wants to Be a Chamillionaire? hosted by one-hit wonder rapper Chamillionaire.
On November 12, 2008; a movie based on Millionaire was released as Slumdog Millionaire. It's about a man named Jamal Malik (played by Dev Patel) and he trying to win 20 million rupees, but before he can do such a thing, he goes on a big adventure.
The game show Let's Make a Deal (Brady) has one of the segment called Who Wants to Answer Multiple-Choice Questions for Cash and Prizes? where contestants answered three general knowledge multiple-choice questions for cash. Each question contained three answers. When contestants were to confirm their response, Brady would ask them "Is that your definitive response?" (similar to "Is That Your Final Answer?"). Each correct answer was worth $500. Choosing a wrong answer at any time automatically ended the question round afterwards, contestants could risk their cash on one of two curtains in hopes of winning a big prize (usually a car).
The 2009 video game, Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, while being interrogated by protagonist Miles Edgeworth, the smuggling ring leader establishes an alibi by stating he was watching a play of a killing. Upon noticing a contradiction in their statements, Edgeworth states "The special move today [as part of the play] was the 'Early Summer Rain Jab'. Is that your final answer?", in reference to the famous catchphrase.
In a 2010 episode of Futurama called "The Duh-Vinci Code", Philip J. Fry (voiced by Billy West) appears as a contestant on a spoof of this show called "Who Dares to Be a Millionaire?" hosted by Morbo (voiced by Maurice Lamarche) but missed on the very first question as Professor Farnsworth (also voiced by Billy West) berates him for his stupidity.
In a 2013 episode of the BYUtv sketch comedy show Studio C, the show is spoofed in the Millionaire segment.
In 2015, an episode of Friends of The People called "Black Mad Men" parodied this show as a "million-dollar game show heist" but with former Cash Cab host Ben Bailey.
In a 2016 episode of Family Guy called "Road to India", Brian Griffin (voiced by Seth McFarland) becomes a contestant on the Indian version of Millionaire called Kaun Banega Crorepati, however its named as Millionaire instead of its India counterpart but like Fry on Futurama he screws up his first question as well.
In a 2019 episode of the hit Asian-themed, ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat called "Lou Wants to Be a Millionaire" (the title of this episode is a parody of the show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) where Louis Huang (played by Randall Park) fantasizes about the cattleman ranch's torch to Eddie Huang (played by Hudson Yang) but is worried about his menu choices. Meanwhile, Jessica Huang (played by Constance Wu) is still struggling to get on board with Emery Huang's (played by Forrest Wheeler) new acting hobby. And when Louis scores a spot on the show, the late Regis Philbin offers Louis and Jessica more answers than million-dollar questions.
In a 2020 episode of the Hulu reboot of Animaniacs from the segment called "Anima-Nyet", the show was parodied here as Who Wants to Be a Oligarch?.
NOTE: This episode also parodied The Price is Right as well under the Venezuelan name Juego De Super Dinero (Super Money Game).