If the most number of games you could win on the NBC version was 5, then how did all-time winner Ken Grossbard get to win $32K?

The bonus game was worth $10,000. I don't see why this is even a question.

With the constantly changing bonus round payout structures, it's a challenge to find an *un*reasonable 5-day total for that show.

(Kindly stifle your "1 billion dollars".)

Oh, wait. I see the question now. I gotta think that winning the front game was worth a few bucks. So even if it was worth $100, then three bonus wins plus 5 $100 front game wins, plus a couple $700 or $800 bonus losses adds up to $32K.

The third bonus round format originally started the contestant at zero, and then later started the contestant at $100. The contestant built on the $100. A contestant winning $10K in their first bonus round had total winnings of $10K at that point. Prior to the third bonus round format, a contestant won $250($5 a point times 50 points) for winning the game, and the losing contestant won $5 for every point they got. Did the NBC CR have a five-show limit, or was it seven like HR, P+, and CS were at the time?

You still don't have to go that far--you're forgetting the $1000-$2000-$3000-$4000-$5000-$10000 bonus progression. That lasted at least one week, didn't it?

Oh, indeed I am. Teh duh.

Of course, my favorite was still the pilot episode structure, which wouldn't have lasted very long once Mr. Moneybags Stewart realized how much he'd have to start giving away:

http://userdata.acd.net/ottinger/cullen/shows/chain.html

I think the win limit was 7 games, since that was the practice on a # of other NBC games airing then (CS, P+, etc.)...Ken actually made it to his 7th game, but was defeated, and I have no clue if there was a CR champ who actually lasted that long.

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")

It was 7 games for Card Sharks, High Rollers, Password Plus & Chain Reaction while Hollywood Squares was still 5 & Wheel of Fortune was 3.