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Shows like Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, and The Price Is Right are American TV staples. And we all like to see everyday people win insane amounts of dough. The following game-show contestants scored the largest sums ever. You won’t believe the biggest winnings in history (page 15).

15. George Smoot

George Smoot, winner of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader
George Smoot | PCCPtv via YouTube
  • Winnings: $1,000,000
  • TV show: Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

No one was shocked when George Smoot took home the $1,000,000 on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? After all, Smoot is a Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist and cosmologist. Looking back, it doesn’t seem very fair that he competed at all. We’re sure he used his winnings for something fancy that none of us can pronounce.

Next: The superintendent who is indeed, smarter than a 5th grader.Â