What Happened to John Carpenter from “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”

Following his big win, John Carpenter faced a deluge of media attention. He and his wife kept their plans for the money modest, mentioning only a trip to Paris, potential home improvements, and how the windfall might accelerate their plans to start a family. Many expected Carpenter to quit his job, and he did hint at the possibility in an interview with People. “I have thought about expanding myself. Wondering if there’s something new,” Carpenter said. “Now I have a cushion. I could start over fresh. I’m still a young guy.”

However, Carpenter chose a more cautious path. According to LinkedIn, he is still a revenue officer with the IRS as of 2024. In a 2020 interview with the Washington Post, he remarked, “It’s a hell of a lot of money, but I live in New England. If I lived somewhere else, maybe it would be different.” It seems Carpenter remains a grounded, everyday individual despite his millionaire status.

Carpenter was the first of nine contestants to win a million dollars during Regis Philbin’s tenure as host of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” After Philbin, Meredith Vieira took over hosting duties in 2002. Both Philbin and Vieira are among the richest game show hosts of all time. Since then, another five contestants have won the show’s top prize across various versions of the American show. Although “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” seemed destined for cancellation in 2019, it has experienced several revivals, with the most recent edition, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, airing this summer.

Source: People, Washington Post