McMillion$ is HBO’s six-part 2020 documentary series about a historical fraud involving McDonald’s Monopoly promotions. The scheme described by federal authorities centered on a Simon Marketing insider diverting winning game pieces and recruiters arranging false prize claims. McDonald’s Monopoly is also back in the United States in 2026, under a separate set of official rules: the past fraud is not evidence that the current promotion is compromised.
What is McMillion$ about?
McMillion$ is a six-part documentary series about the fraud surrounding McDonald’s promotional games. HBO’s listing describes a story of $24 million stolen from the game during the 1990s; Bell Media describes the fraud period as 1989–2001. Those descriptions are not the same measure as the Department of Justice’s 2001 figure of more than $13 million in grand prizes that it said co-conspirators had corruptly “won.”
In a February 2020 report, CBS identified James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte as the directors and said the series includes interviews with FBI agents, McDonald’s employees and game winners. Hernandez described the scheme as involving many people and spanning more than 12 years; that is his interview account, not a court finding.
How did the McDonald’s Monopoly scam work?
In an August 21, 2001 arrest announcement, the Department of Justice alleged that a Simon Marketing employee embezzled winning game pieces before they reached the public. The government said recruiters then sought people to submit the pieces and falsely claim the prizes. The announcement described Jerome Jacobson, who worked in Simon Marketing’s security department, as an alleged distributor of winning pieces to friends and associates.
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- FAST-DEALING PROPERTY TRADING GAME: It’s a Family Game Night staple! Players buy, sell, dream, and scheme their way to riches with the Monopoly board game
- BUY, SELL, AND TRADE TO WIN: Players compete to buy out neighborhoods, sell properties, charge rent, and grow an empire in the Monopoly game for adults and kids ages 8 and up
- BUILD HOUSES AND HOTELS: Love that feeling when an opponent lands on an owned property? In this be-loved family board game, the more players build, the more rent money they can collect. Cha-ching!
- WHAT’S YOUR TOKEN?: Includes 8 tokens: the Top Hat, Rubber Ducky, Scotty, Hazel, Race Car, Penguin, Battleship and either the Thimble
- FAMILY GAME NIGHT FAVORITE: With its classic Monopoly gameplay, this Monopoly board game is a go-to game for Family Game Night or anytime indoor fun, and it makes a great gift for families and kids
The Eleventh Circuit’s 2004 opinion provides later case context. It says McDonald’s contracted Simon Marketing to develop, manage and advertise its promotional games, and identifies Jacobson as Simon’s Director of Security, responsible for disseminating high-value game stamps. The opinion discusses the indictment’s allegations that stolen stamps went through recruiters to people who submitted them for prize money; it should not be read as establishing that every person charged was guilty.
The fraud was not simply a matter of ordinary restaurant employees taking prizes. The government’s account focused on the handling of winning pieces by an insider with access to them and on a network used to claim prizes. The DOJ said more than $13 million in grand prizes had been corruptly “won” by co-conspirators. Separately, the Eleventh Circuit said more than 20 different McDonald’s “Monopoly”-style and “Hatch, Match and Win” games were played during the relevant period.
Rank #2
- BIGGER & FASTER: With 12 additional spaces, Train Depots and Skyscrapers - how could the game play faster? Well, thanks to the SPEED DIE, a full game will only take about 90 minutes
- FAST-DEALING PROPERTY TRADING GAME: Players buy, sell, wheel and deal their way to riches - quickly - in Monopoly The Mega Edition
- SKYSCRAPERS: Now you can go 1 level bigger than houses and hotels. It's time to build skyscrapers and collect MEGA rent! Bankrupt your opponents faster
- CLASSIC TOKENS: Includes 8 classic tokens like the Top Hat, Scotty Dog, Race Car, Cannon, and more
- ENHANCED GAMEPLAY EXPERIENCE: The classic game of all-time has a delightful new twist with Monopoly Mega Edition featuring expanded board and faster gameplay mechanics
Is McDonald’s Monopoly back?
Yes. McDonald’s USA, LLC’s official 2026 rules set a U.S. promotion for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The promotion runs from October 6 through November 1, 2026, while game pieces last. This is a current, separately governed promotion—not a continuation of the historical scheme.
The distinction matters: the old case involved alleged diversion of physical winning game pieces before distribution. The 2026 rules describe an app-based promotion using game pieces, codes and registration. The past investigation does not establish that the new game is rigged.
Rank #3
- Officially Licensed Coca Cola Family Game
- Property cards feature vintage Coca-Cola art and have fun Coke trivia on the back
- Six metal playing pieces include Coke Bottle, Coke Can, Delivery Truck, Vintage Truck, Polar Bear, and a Vending Machine
- MasterPieces stands behind its products and guarantees your satisfaction.
How can you play the 2026 game without buying anything?
No purchase is necessary under the 2026 rules, and making a purchase will not improve a participant’s chances. A player may obtain a game piece with an eligible item while specially marked supplies last, or use the rules’ mail-in request option. The rules specify requirements for the mail request, including envelope, date and quantity details, so check the official rules before sending one rather than relying on an abbreviated description.
Participants must be at least 18 and complete the stated app, Rewards and game-registration requirements. Codes may be entered and prizes claimed through November 22, 2026. The Chance Card game ends earlier, on November 8. These deadlines differ from the main game period, so check the relevant date for the action you intend to take.
Rank #4
- OWN IT ALL — Experience classic 1935 Monopoly gameplay reimagined. Designed for 2 to 6 players ages 8 and up, this edition brings family and friends together to buy, sell, and scheme their way to fortune, featuring clear instructions so players of all experience levels can jump right in.
- PREMIUM VINTAGE COMPONENTS — Features authentic 1935 graphics, 6 die-cast pewter tokens (including the Scottie Dog, Top Hat, and Race Car), green wooden houses, red wooden hotels, and ivory-colored dice. Includes retro-styled Monopoly money, Chance, and Community Chest cards, plus a removable banker's tray for organized gameplay.
- BEAUTIFUL ON DISPLAY, FUN TO COLLECT — Designed to resemble an elegant hardcover volume, this game doubles as sophisticated decor for your bookshelf, mantel, or coffee table. It's part of an expansive collection of over 20 unique Vintage Bookshelf Edition game titles—allowing you to collect your favorite classic games and line them up together to create a cohesive, custom library aesthetic.
- THE PERFECT GIFT — Solves the challenge of finding a memorable present for friends and family. Gifting one or a few titles starts an elegant personal game library and offers them meaningful, screen-free experiences. Future occasions like birthdays and holidays become effortless as you add new titles to their collection with each passing milestone.
- COMPACT, SPACE-SAVING & TRAVEL-FRIENDLY DESIGN — The fabric book case measures 10.6 x 8.4 x 2.6 inches for convenient, upright shelf display. Inside, the full-size folding game board opens to a generous 18.5 x 18.25 inches, offering a spacious gameplay setup that packs away neatly into the internal storage tray, making it as easy to take on trips and coffee shop visits as it is to store at home.
What are the odds of winning McDonald’s Monopoly?
The official rules state that, at the outset, overall odds of winning an instant-win prize—mostly food—were 1 in 5, based on planned game-piece distribution. That is an overall starting figure, not the odds of winning any particular prize and not a promise that an individual entry will win. The rules warn that prize counts decline as prizes are claimed, so the odds change over the course of the promotion.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the old case differs from the 2026 promotion
| Point of comparison | Historical fraud | 2026 U.S. promotion |
|---|---|---|
| Time period | The Eleventh Circuit’s 2004 opinion addresses the historical case; Bell Media describes the fraud period as 1989–2001. | Official rules set the game period as October 6–November 1, 2026, while pieces last. |
| Mechanics described | The Eleventh Circuit describes physical high-value game stamps and allegations that winning pieces were diverted and passed to recruiters. | The official rules describe an app-based promotion involving game pieces, codes and registration. |
| Status of the information | The DOJ’s August 21, 2001 release states allegations at the arrest stage; the 2004 opinion provides later court context. | The sponsor’s published 2026 rules establish current eligibility, entry methods, odds and deadlines. |
Where can you watch McMillion$?
HBO’s available listing for the series is for France, so it does not establish current U.S. streaming availability. Check a U.S. service’s current catalog directly if you are looking to watch it.
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Best Value
- Game Type: Board Game
- Game Theme: Harry Potter
- Minimum Number of Players: 2
- Maximum Number of Players: 6
- Length of Play: 60 minutes
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
