Many people think the success of Millionaire is because of that one million.
They're not wrong; it does play a huge role, but it's not everything.
People like watching it because a lot of people at the bottom see their own reflection in these contestants.
Maybe in some respects these contestants have a certain capacity to stand in for most people at the bottom; people want them to win, the way you look in the mirror and tell yourself, "You're going to make it."
The only thing the underclass has in abundance is empathy; they can even sigh over a rich man going bankrupt!
Naturally, they don't lack that special, intense sense of satisfaction when the contestant they support moves toward success!
On top of that, there's human nature.
The descent and struggle of human nature, and its resistance, are another major attraction.
Once people start "fighting to the death" for money, the show has all the conditions that make it impossible to stop watching!
