A contestant on the popular French game show 12 Coups de midi has recently been eliminated following an impressive streak of 646 consecutive wins, marking the end of a remarkable 21-month journey. The contestant, known as Émilien, aged 22, first appeared on the show on September 25, 2023. His prolonged success was recently confirmed by French television network TF1, which has not disclosed his last name.
In this game show, four participants engage in a quiz consisting of general knowledge questions, with the victor then answering further questions to build their prize pot. The winner returns each day to face new challengers.
Émilien’s winnings have surpassed €2.5 million (approximately $4.5 million), including 23 cars, setting a record for the largest amount ever won on a French game show. This achievement notably exceeds the previous record of €1 million, held by Bruno Lafourcade.
Expressing his disbelief about his extended run in the competition, Émilien commented, "I never expected to have the chance to stay for such a long time… It’s amazing everything that has happened. It’s hard to understand." Prior to his television fame, he was a history student aspiring to become a teacher but opted to pause his studies to focus on his record-breaking performance.
His journey on 12 Coups de midi came to an end when he failed to answer a question in time during the show. Although he lost to an architect named Romain, Émilien has established himself as a world record holder for the most solo appearances on a game show and has also claimed the European record for the most significant winnings.
Émilien’s tenure captivated many in France, with Sunday’s show drawing an average audience of 5 million viewers. The game show shares similarities with the American quiz show Jeopardy, which runs daily for 30 minutes and has its own record-holder, Ken Jennings, who achieved 74 consecutive victories in 2004.
Jennings leads in terms of total winnings from Jeopardy, having amassed a sum of $2,520,700 (around $3.88 million), while James Holzhauer follows closely with $2,462,216. Émilien’s extraordinary achievement has not only set new records but has also transformed him into a celebrated figure within the realm of game shows.