Live the high life — Williams’ 1987 Millionaire is a solid-state four-player built around the irresistible fantasy of striking it rich, conceived and designed by Jerry Armstrong with a Chris Granner soundtrack and art by Tim Elliott. With a confirmed run of 3,500 and an alphanumeric display, it’s a clean, aspirational late-’80s Williams that turns the pursuit of wealth into a satisfying pinball chase.
The layout is well-appointed and full of clever touches: three flippers, three pop bumpers, a pair of slingshots, a full twelve standup targets, two drop targets, two kick-out holes, twin ball kickers, a two-ball multiball, and — a genuinely novel feature — a captive ball spinner hidden under the playfield. There’s also an oscillating skill-shot diverter in the shooter lane, a left-outlane detour gate, and a right-outlane ball return gate, giving a player real tools to keep the ball alive and points flowing. That under-playfield captive ball spinner is a distinctive bit of engineering, and the twelve standups give a sharp shooter plenty to work through on the way to that multiball.
Millionaire is a fun, well-built Williams that pairs a universally appealing theme with a thoughtfully designed playfield full of interesting mechanisms. The multiball provides the big-scoring excitement, while the various gates and the oscillating skill shot reward a player who learns the machine’s rhythms. For the collector who loves late-’80s solid-state design with a bit of mechanical ingenuity, it’s a worthy pick. Work those standups, ride the multiball, and chase your fortune. In this machine, everyone gets a shot at the millionaire’s life, and it’s a thoroughly enjoyable pursuit. Cash in and live large.