The world's biggest Deal or No Deal winner appeared on the second episode ever aired. Melbourne journalist Nathan Cochrane took home $515,000 (of $2m maximum), catapulting him to the top rank of cash prize winners in an Australian game show episode.
The 60 minute episodes aired in 2003 and in September 2004 offered a maximum cash prize of $2 milliion. In the 30 minute episodes aired from 2004, this maximum prize is $200,000
In 2005, the $25,000 briefcase was replaced with a "Car" briefcase.
Additions to the game in 2004 included Megaguesses (random opportunities for podium players to win more money if they correctly guess what is in their briefcase), the Supercase (one of eight amounts ranging from 50 cents to $30,000 would sometimes be offered to a contestant who has taken a deal) and a Second Chance (an opportunity for a contestant to relinquish a deal they had previously accepted and take the amount in their briefcase - whenever it was offered, the chance of this amount being higher than the deal was fifty-fifty)
In 2005, home viewers could register for a competition where one of them would win the same amount of money as the contestant appearing on Friday's episode, or $30,000 if the contestant wins the car.