$100,000 Pyramid

Climb the Pyramid, beat the clock, and ride celebrity partnerships all the way to $100,000. The $100,000 Pyramid is a word-association sprint: one clue-giver, one guesser, and a 60-second dash through seven categories to solve the Winner's Circle puzzle.

Created by Bob Stewart, the show debuted as The $10,000 Pyramid on CBS on March 26, 1973 with Dick Clark — who became synonymous with the franchise across its $10,000/$20,000/$25,000/$50,000/$100,000 prize escalations. Clark hosted more than 1,500 episodes and won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host. Donny Osmond hosted a 2002–2004 syndicated revival. The current primetime version premiered on ABC on June 26, 2016 with Michael Strahan; Strahan won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host in 2021.

What makes it unique: Pyramid is one of the most imitated formats in television history — its word-association core has been licensed to more than 40 countries. Unlike trivia shows, Pyramid rewards quick thinking, clue-giving skill, and chemistry between contestants and celebrity partners. The climactic 60-second Winner's Circle — six categories stacked on a triangular board — is one of the most tense, watchable endgames in game-show history.

Quick Facts

• Host: Michael Strahan (since 2016)
• Network: ABC (summer primetime)
• Premiere Year: 1973 (CBS $10,000 Pyramid); 2016 (modern ABC $100,000 Pyramid)
• Seasons: Current ABC run: 8 seasons (2016–2025); no 2026 season announced as of September 2026
• Filming Location: New York City (ABC Studios, Stamford/NYC area)

Learn more: abc.com/100000-pyramid · Wikipedia