Rocker Gene Simmons Wins $500K for Foundation on “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?”
11/10/2008
Gene Simmons may not be smarter than a fifth grader, but he was smart enough to earn half a million dollars for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Simmons, the lead singer of KISS, appeared on the celebrity edition of the hit FOX television game show
Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, in which adult contestants attempt to answer questions from elementary school text books, on Dec. 7. Simmons advanced to the second-to-last round to win $500,000 — more than any other celebrity has won on the show. Simmons then had a choice: stick with the $500,000-prize, or risk all but $25,000 of it and move on to the million-dollar question.
Heeding the advice of his teenage son, Simmons decided to play it safe. “I know that $500,000 will do an enormous amount of good,” Simmons said as he made his decision. “I will proudly give that money to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.” He made the right choice; Simmons did not know the answer to the final question, which was, “What element is represented by the letter 'K' on the periodic table?” (Correct answer: potassium.)
Simmons’ substantial winnings will help to support the Foundation’s lifesaving programs for children and families living with HIV around the world. Congratulations, Gene!
Read more about Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? and watch an interview with Gene Simmons.