The Secret Millionaire is a reality television show which originated in the UK, in which millionaires go incognito into impoverished communities and agree to give away tens of thousands of pounds (or tens of thousands of dollars in the U.S. version). Members of the community are told the cameras are present to film a documentary. The UK version is produced by production company RDF Media. It first aired in 2006 on the UK's Channel 4, with further seasons in subsequent years.
Format
For each program, a millionaire leaves his/her luxurious life behind, takes on a secret identity and lives undercover in a deprived area of the country for a week to ten days (in the U.S. Season, it's 6 days). Living on a limited budget with no modern conveniences they must forge their own way in the community – working and volunteering alongside the locals and finding individuals or projects whom they think deserve a cut of their fortune. On their final day, the millionaires come clean and reveal their true identity to the people they have chosen, surprising them with gifts of thousands of pounds or US dollars to improve their lives.
UK version
The first millionaire to appear in the series was 26 year-old Ben Way. A third series of the show began on Channel 4 on 5 August 2008. The first episode of Series 3 featured businessman James Benamor, who has been criticised in the media for investing in the sub-prime market,[citation needed] and sharp practice in his company the Richmond Group.[1]
An American version of the show premiered on 3 December 2008 on Fox.[3]
Like the British version, the Fox show features wealthy benefactors each week that go undercover in the most deprived neighbourhoods of the United States. For one week, the millionaires mingle within the community and live on a very low-cost budget; this the very first time doing so for many of them. At the end of the show, the millionaires reveal their identities and proceed to donate a minimum of $100,000 (which they sometimes divide among the recipients).
Although the minimum required donation is $100,000, during the Episode 4 airing with millionaire Gurbaksh Chahal only $90,000 was shown (two $35,000 donations & two $10,000 donations). However, the total donations exceeded $100,000 and also included a birthday fund and computer lab. Chahal was the pilot episode for the US series.[5]
Oklahoma City Youth Wrestling Federation: $39,000 + $150,000 (franchise). Limbs for Life foundation: $100,000
Australian version
The first season of the Australian series (listed in local TV guides as The Secret Millionaire Australia, to prevent confusion with the US version which had been broadcast earlier that year) aired in 2009 on the Nine Network. It consisted of five episodes, and was narrated by Russell Crowe; in a Herald Sun interview, Crowe discussed his work on the show and his personal approach to charity.[13] Millionaires featured in the series included Albert Bertini (of property development firm Trivest), Derek Leddie (founder of market research firm The Leading Edge), Peter Bond (managing director of Linc Energy), Naomi Simson (founder & CEO of Red Balloon), and Danny Wallis (founder of DWS Advanced Business Solutions).[14] A completed sixth episode was withdrawn from the broadcast schedule due to financial issues faced by the featured benefactor.[15] More than $750,000 was given away in grants to individuals and community groups.[16]
Season 2 first aired on Nine on Monday 23 August 2010,[17] also narrated by Russell Crowe. Millionaires featured in the second series include Carly Crutchfield (founder/CEO of CCorp), Karl Redenbach (founder of nSynergy), Sean Ashby (founder of aussieBum), Alf & Nadia Taylor (founders/directors of TNA Solutions), Christian Beck (founder/CEO of LEAP Legal Software), and Denis McFadden (founder/CEO of Just Cuts). Episode 1 benefactor, Sydney property developer Carly Crutchfield, was the focus of a Sydney Morning Herald article discussing the return of the series.[18] Episode 3 benefactor, Sean Ashby, was featured in an article in The Daily Telegraph regarding his involvement in the show.[19]
Season 1
Episode
Original airdate
Millionaire
Episode 1
7 October 2009
Albert Bertini
Episode 2
14 October 2009
Peter Bond
Episode 3
21 October 2009
Derek Laddie
Episode 4
28 October 2009
Naomi Simson
Episode 5
5 November 2009
Danny Wallis
Episode 6
Unaired
Leanne Wesche
Season 2
Episode
Original airdate
Millionaire
Donation
Episode 1
23 August 2010
Carly Crutchfield
$120,000
Episode 2
30 August 2010
Karl Redenbach
$106,000 + job offer
Episode 3
6 September 2010
Sean Ashby
$195,000
Episode 4
13 September 2010
Alf & Nadia Taylor
$250,000
Episode 5
20 September 2010
Christian Beck
$107,000 + car
Episode 6
Unaired, via FixPlay
Denis McFadden
$110,000
Irish version
A 3 episode series was produced in 2011 by RTÉ and shown on RTÉ1 in September and October 2011. It has since been shown on Channel 4 as "Secret Millionaire Ireland"
Episode
Original airdate
Millionaire
Donation
Episode 1
19 September 2011
John Concannon
€40,000
Episode 2
26 September 2011
John Fitzpatrick
€37,000 + singing lessons
Episode 3
3 October 2011
Nadim Sadek
€40,000
Awards
The British version of Secret Millionaire won the Rose d'Or Award in 2007 for best reality series.[20]