Jörg Pilawa

Jörg Michael Pilawa is a German television presenter who was born on 7 September 1965 in Hamburg. He is best known for his work as a game show host, notably leading programs such as Das Quiz mit Jörg Pilawa, Rette die Million, and Das 1 % Quiz.

Pilawa attended school at the Gymnasium Hummelsbüttel. Following his schooling, he pursued higher education, studying medicine first and later switching to history. However, he did not complete his university studies.

His career in media began in radio, where he worked for Radio Schleswig-Holstein from 1987 to 1994. In 1994, he transitioned to television, working for the German television broadcaster ProSieben until 1996. He then moved to the broadcaster SAT1, where he worked starting in 1996.

In 2001, Pilawa joined the German broadcaster ARD. After nine years with ARD, he changed television networks to work for the German broadcaster ZDF.

In his personal life, Pilawa was previously married to Kerstin Pilawa, with whom he has a son born in 1997, prior to their divorce in 2000. He later married his third wife, Irina Opaschowski, a teacher and the daughter of Horst W. Opaschowski. The couple spontaneously married on 2 May 2006 in the Congo, a region where they support Welthungerhilfe. Together they have two daughters, born in 2000 and 2011, and a son born in 2003. The family's most recent residence was in Hamburg-Bergedorf. The public learned of their separation in May 2022. Later, in August 2025, Pilawa's relationship with CDU politician Julia Klöckner became public.