Ben Richards is the protagonist of The Running Man.
He lives in a world, where the media, particularly the games media (The Network) is controlling everything and a totalitarian state is governing the country. He decides to participate in the Running Man show to help his family with their problems. He was the most successful player. He even defeated the Lead Hunter, for which he was offered the job of taking his place. It was something that was offered to him, because in the meantim his family was murdered. He faked acceptance to destroy the Network in revenge for everything it had done to him and to millions of Americans.