A retail worker from Melbourne has become only the second person in the history of Channel 9's Millionaire Hot Seat to win the top prize of $1 million. Antony McManus, 57, burst into tears after correctly answering the final question on the quiz show hosted by Eddie McGuire.
McManus won the Fastest Finger First round early in the show, earning $1,000 to use as a lifeline. He then answered all five questions correctly, reaching the final hurdle. He used his lifeline to swap the original question—about Australian prime ministers—for one on classic literature: 'When was The Count of Monte Cristo published?' The correct answer was 1844.
After his win, McManus revealed he had already made significant life changes. 'I thought I'd be renting forever but now I've bought a beautiful apartment and even paid cash for it!' he said. 'Now I can stop worrying about the future for my husband, Ron, and me.'
McManus, a fierce LGBTQIA+ activist, has been fighting for equality alongside his husband Ron. They unofficially married 17 times at rallies before legally tying the knot in January 2018. He also serves as treasurer for the charity Positive Attitude, which supports those living with HIV.
The episode was filmed in May, and McManus encouraged others to apply for the show: 'If it happened to me, it could happen to you too.'
