HaMerotz LaMillion 5 is the fifth season of HaMerotz LaMillion (, lit. The Race to the Million), an Israeli reality television game show based on the American series The Amazing Race. It featured 14 teams of two with a pre-existing relationship in a race around the world to win ₪1,000,000.
This season premiered on 17 May 2016 on Channel 2 with the finale on 26 September 2016 and was hosted by Ron Shahar.
Father and son Amit and Raz Gal were the winners of this season. Amit, who was at the age of 63 at time of filming and turned 64 during the course of filming, surpassed David O'Leary of The Amazing Race 24 (59 at time of filming) as the oldest winner in any edition of The Amazing Race. At a combined age of 96, Amit & Raz are also the oldest team to win any edition of The Amazing Race.
Production
Development and filming
This season traversed four continents and ten countries. Much like the previous season, the first leg began with fourteen teams that were split into two groups of seven. Both groups of seven teams would run a leg in Israel resulting in two teams eliminated. Unlike the previous season, both groups of seven teams were aware of each other. While in Vietnam, the normal red and yellow route markers were used, unlike the first season in which the route markers were replaced with yellow and white flags to avoid confusion with the former South Vietnamese national flag, following recent editions of The Amazing Race where the normal red & yellow route markers were used. Similar to last season, teams' overall placements were determined when teams checked-in at an empty Pit Stop mat at the Hedgend Maze in Australia, and teams had to return to Ariel Sharon Park to learn of their final placement.
Darryn Lyons, the mayor of Geelong, Australia at the time of filming, appeared as the Pit Stop greeter during the penultimate leg.
Cast
The cast for this season included actor and model Adriano Jauvel and former Hapoel Galil Elyon manager Amit Gal.
Future appearances
Ben and Ori and Yael and Yosiel competed on HaMerotz LaMillion 8.
Jonathan "Joezi" Zirah later competed on the ninth season of the Israeli edition of Survivor with Season 4 contestant Ruth "Alexa Dol" Dolgakov. Joezi was the seventh person eliminated after losing a duel and the first member of the jury. In 2020, Joezi competed on the eleventh season of the Israeli edition of Big Brother and finished as the runner-up.
Results
The following teams participated in this season, with their relationships at the time of filming. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television due to inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order:
Key
A team placement means the team was eliminated. A team placement indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop in a non-elimination leg. An indicates that there was a Double Battle on this leg, while an indicates the team that lost the Double Battle and received a 15-minute penalty. A or indicates the team who received a U-Turn; or indicates that the team voted for the recipient. A , , or indicates the team who received a Yield; , , and indicates that the team voted for the recipient.
Notes
Leg 1 was split into two halves. Seven of the teams completed the first part of the leg in Tel Aviv, while the other seven completed the second part in Yavne. Those who were still racing from the first group would meet up with the second group in Tel Aviv. Naomi & Hen chose to forfeit the Double Battle against Joezi & Alex, but continued to compete afterwards.
Voting history
Teams may vote to choose either U-Turn or Yield. The team with the most votes received the U-Turn or Yield penalty, depending on the respective leg.
Episode Titles
Translated from Hebrew from the official website:
Race summary
Leg 1 (Israel)
Group A
Airdate: 17 May 2016
Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv District, Israel (Sarona) (Starting Line) Tel Aviv (Yarkon Park) Tel Aviv (Rothschild Boulevard #1) Tel Aviv (Derech HaShalom Street #32–34) Rishon LeZion, Central District (Yes Planet – 4DX Cinema) Rishon LeZion (Yes Planet – Agamon Rishon LeZion)