The Game Show

In one round of a television game show, five questions are asked. The second question is worth twice as much as the first. The third question is worth three times as much as the second. The fourth question is worth four times as much as the third. The fifth question is worth five times as much as the fourth. If the fifth question is worth $12,000, what is the first question worth?

(Source: Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, May 1996)