Leonardo da Vinci.

That’s all that stood between Fishers High School English teacher Renee Vanlandingham and $25,000.

Vanlandingham, 39, walked away with $5,000 in winnings on today’s episode of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” after incorrectly guessing the answer to the question:

“Purchased by Bill Gates in 1994 for $30.8 million, the Codex Leicester is a manuscript once kept by what prominent thinker? A: Leonardo da Vinci, B: Isaac Newton, C: Blaise Pascal, D: Friedrich Nietzsche.”

Vanlandingham guessed the answer to be “B” The correct answer was “A.”

But that’s ok, said Vanlandingham.

“I always try to look at the bright side of things.”

The Pendleton, Ind. native started in the hot seat on Monday’s show, where she made it up to the $7,500 question.

She continued as a holdover contestant on Tuesday’s show, where she started by looking at the $10,000 question with all four lifelines left but by the time they got to the $25,000 question the life lines were gone.

“I thought ’I’m gonna kill myself,’” joked Vanlandingham. She had four choices, two of which she ruled out instantly.

The other two?

Leonardo da Vinci and Sir Isaac Newton.

She chose the latter.

“My poor mother was devastated,” said Vanlandingham. “I thought I had it right. It’s just the roll of the dice. What are you going to do?”

Deb Hejl, a social studies teacher at Hamilton Southeastern Junior High School and friend of Vanlandingham served as one of her phone line contacts.

“I think that it’s so exciting (for her). I knew that she loved this show and I knew that she was an expert in movies and pop culture,” said Hejl.

Despite taping for the show taking place months ago, Vanlandingham could not talk about the outcome until after the airing this week and her payout of $5,000 depended on her not mentioning what happened on the show. Now, she’s got one month until she gets her check, which she said would go toward paying off credit card bills.

And while she didn’t walk away a millionaire, the experience is something she said would stay with her because it came with memories.

“I think she did a wonderful job and played the game to the best of her ability,” said Lora Dingledine, a music teacher at HSEJH and best friend. “From day one she was a winner. I always knew she had a great talent.”

It’s been years since Vanlandingham and her 79 year-old mother have taken a vacation together, she said, and traveling for the taping of the show gave them an opportunity bond.

“I had the experience of a lifetime, $5,000 and the biggest thing was being able to take the trip to New York City with my mom,” she said. “It was three days and they are memories that will last a lifetime.”