[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'248952\' date=\'Oct 10 2010, 06:36 AM\']Ah. That I did not see. I guess the lower amounts are for the sake of a flameout, then.[/quote]Like when forty-five people split the $1,000 that had built up in the bank on the Christmas episode.
The problem with doing a money ladder and a top prize of $50,000 is that the game is tedious until you get to some good money. The contestant can't quit until $1,000 has built up anyway, and who would be on a game show to win $750? If they came to me, and said that they absolutely are going with the ladder payout thing, I would have far fewer levels; maybe as few as three or four, and start the money off much higher; perhaps fifty out for $5,000 and go from there. If the money is too small, there's no excitement, because the contestant is risking Not Much to win A Skosh More Than Not Much.