Unlucky *Millionaire* contestants get a shocking second chance at €3 million
RTL’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? has launched its tenth 3 Million Euro Week, giving past contestants a rare second chance. This time, the show features familiar faces who previously left with little or nothing—some due to bad luck, others to risky guesses. Host Günther Jauch surprised the audience by inviting two of the unluckiest players back for another attempt.
The special week began with an unusual twist. A technical glitch caused the €300 question to appear on screen without its answer options, briefly halting the game. Despite the hiccup, the show continued with a mix of returning contestants and fresh opportunities.
Hilleken Zeineddine and Björn Sensche, both deemed the biggest Pechvögel (unlucky players) from earlier episodes, were pulled from the audience for a surprise second chance. Zeineddine advanced all the way to the €32,000 mark, while Sensche also made progress. Their return shocked even Jauch, who admitted the move was a rare exception. Among the other contestants, Sven Günther Chalupa took a bold risk on the €16,000 question—without using a joker—and lost everything. Yet his failure earned him unexpected support, with viewers sending messages of encouragement. Luisa Beuster, who had previously dropped back to €500 after misusing her lifelines, now faces the pressure of the high-stakes special. At the €8,000 question, she ignored the audience’s 76% vote for option C, trusting her instinct for B instead. Tamara Löchel from Cologne, another returnee who once left empty-handed, is back in the hot seat. Eva Ix, who also fell to €500 in a past episode, now competes with jokers available up to the €32,000 question. Each brings their own history of near-misses and second-guessing to the game.
The 3 Million Euro Week offers a mix of redemption and fresh challenges for its contestants. Some, like Zeineddine, have already climbed higher than before, while others must rely on instinct or luck to avoid repeating past mistakes. The special runs all week, with Jauch giving former players one last shot at the top prize.
