{{Short description|Television game show contestants}} {{Italic title|string=Jeopardy!}} {{pp-pc|small=yes}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2012}} ''Jeopardy!'' is an American television game show. Its format is a quiz competition in which contestants are presented with general-knowledge clues in the form of answers and must phrase their responses as questions. Many contestants in the show's history have received significant media attention because of their success on ''Jeopardy!'', particularly Brad Rutter, who has won the second highest total prize money on the show (after Ken Jennings) and was undefeated by a human until 2011; James Holzhauer, who holds several of the show's highest overall daily scores; and Ken Jennings, Amy Schneider, and Matt Amodio, who have the top three longest winning streaks. Other contestants have been better known for their accomplishments elsewhere, such as John McCain, a one-day champion in 1965 who later became a U.S. senator and the 2008 Republican presidential nominee.
== 1964–1979 ==
===Terry Thompson=== '''Terry Thompson''', a housewife and alumna of Swarthmore College, was the first Tournament of Champions winner.<ref name="JSummary"/> She won $8,590 over the course of her run on ''Jeopardy!'', including $5,080 during her main run and $3,510 (plus a vacation to the Virgin Islands) in the tournament. Thompson noted that her husband was initially wary of her participating in a televised quiz show, as it had been only six years since the quiz show scandals had tarnished the medium's reputation.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://media.swarthmore.edu/bulletin/?p=1243 | access-date=2014-08-18 |date=December 1967 | title=A garbage-can Memory Produces a CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS|work=Swarthmore College Bulletin}}</ref>
===Burns Cameron=== '''Burns Cameron''',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-25 |title=Obituary: Burns Elliott Cameron |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2023/06/25/obituaryburns-elliott-cameron-2/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=Press Herald}}</ref> billed as "a businessman from Larchmont, New York" during his original run and "a realtor from Standish, Maine" on his 1990 appearance, won $11,110 in his appearances on ''Jeopardy!'', including a then-record five-game total of $7,070 in December 1965. Cameron won the third annual Tournament of Champions in 1966, in which he won $4,040. Cameron also appeared on the 2,000th episode in 1972, an all-time-best game in which he faced Elliot Shteir and Jane Gschwend, two 1969 contestants who had surpassed his total in their five-day runs. He finished second and won $700 for charity. Cameron is cited as one of the best players of the Art Fleming era of the show.<ref name="jeopardybook">Alex Trebek and Peter Barsocchini, ''The Jeopardy! Book'' (HarperPerennial, 1990), p. 129: "When you survey ''Jeopardy!'' contestants, fans, producers, and staff on the subject of the best players ever seen on the show, two names continually emerge: Burns Cameron from the original show and Chuck Forrest from the new show."</ref> In 1990, when ''Jeopardy!'' creator Merv Griffin produced ''Super Jeopardy!'', a separate weekly prime time network version based on the Trebek version of ''Jeopardy!'' to air Saturday nights in the summer on ABC, he invited Cameron to compete as the only player from the Fleming era. Cameron competed in the fifth quarterfinal game, where he finished second (by one point) and won $5,000.<ref>{{cite book | last=Eisenberg | first=Harry | edition= first | title=Inside "Jeopardy!": What Really Goes on at TV's Top Quiz Show | year=1993 | publisher=Northwest Publishing Inc. | location=Salt Lake City, Utah | isbn=1-56901-177-X | pages=270–271 | quote=And so nine additional invitations went out including one to Burns Cameron, the biggest-ever money winner on the old 'JEOPARDY!' whom Merv thought it would be a good idea to have as well. }}</ref>
===John McCain===
{{main|John McCain}} U.S. senator and 2008 presidential candidate John McCain was a one-day champion in 1965 before serving in the Vietnam War, spending five and a half years as a POW, and later becoming a senator from Arizona.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-06-30-2937395846_x.htm|title=McCain recalls loss on ''Jeopardy!'' |last=Fouhy |first=Beth |work=USA Today |date=June 30, 2008 |access-date=June 3, 2013}}</ref>
===Red Gibson===
{{main|Hutton Gibson}} Hutton "Red" Gibson won the 1968 Tournament of Champions.<ref name="JSummary">Many episodes of the Art Fleming–era of ''Jeopardy!'' do not survive. The shows featuring Terry Thompson, Hutton "Red" Gibson and Jay Wolpert are among these lost episodes. However, records indicating Gibson's and Wolpert's appearances may be found in the NBC Master Books daily broadcast log, available on microfilm at the Library of Congress Motion Picture and Television Reading Room. A summary of those records may be found here [http://boards.sonypictures.com/boards/showthread.php?t=35065] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119144733/http://boards.sonypictures.com/boards/showthread.php?t=35065|date=January 19, 2008}}. Still photographs of Wolpert receiving the championship trophy also still exist, and Wolpert also says he has his Tournament of Champions final appearance on audiotape.</ref> Gibson later became a prominent sedevacantist and conspiracy theorist. One of his sons is actor, director and producer Mel Gibson.
===Jane Gschwend=== '''Jane Gschwend'''<ref>{{cite news |title=Jane Gschwend, October 15, 1997 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38974866/jane_gschwend_october_15_1997/ |newspaper=Intelligencer Journal |date=October 15, 1997 |page=15 |access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref> a high school dropout and homemaker from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, held the record for the most money won in regular ''Jeopardy!'' play for the original series with her $8,250 total over five days.<ref name=daytimeinterview>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110831030104/http://theycallittrivia.blogspot.com/2007/11/prior-art.html "YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A GENIUS TO BE A CONTESTANT" "We Want Average Americans Who Are Aware of What's Going On"] from ''Daytime TV'' magazine, July 1974</ref> She was upset in the semifinal round of the 1969 Tournament of Champions<ref name="JSummary"/> but returned as part of the all-time best charity game on the 2000th episode in 1972, winning that game. Host Art Fleming cited Gschwend as an example of how a common person without traditional credentials could succeed at the game.<ref name=daytimeinterview/>
===Jay Wolpert===
{{main|Jay Wolpert}} Jay Wolpert won the 1969 Tournament of Champions.<ref name="JSummary"/> He later became known as a game show producer, screenwriter, and occasional actor.
==1984–2002==
===Jerry Frankel=== '''Jerry Frankel''', a musician and composer from Buffalo, New York, was a five-time undefeated champion during Trebek's first season, winning $32,650. He became that version's first Tournament of Champions winner, earning the $100,000 grand prize by defeating Bruce Fauman and Steve Rogitz in the two-game final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=902 |title=J! Archive – Show #315, aired 1985-11-22|publisher=J! Archive|access-date=December 15, 2016}}</ref>
=== Chuck Forrest ===
{{main|Chuck Forrest}} Chuck Forrest<ref name="times">{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-29-tm-1565-story.html |title=Backstage At ''Jeopardy!''; Tune in for the nervous hopefuls, the hard-working researchers, the well-dressed host and the amazing winners on the smart set's favorite game show |last=Biederman |first=Patricia Ward |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 29, 1989 |access-date=August 24, 2010}}</ref> held the record for the largest non-tournament cash winnings total from 1985 to 1989, and the largest all-time winnings from 1986 to 1990. The show's producers regarded him as one of the best and most memorable contestants of the 1980s.<ref name="jeopardybook"/> Forrest is widely regarded by other elite ''Jeopardy!'' players as one of the most formidable contestants ever.<ref>Trebek & Barsocchini, p. 68: "The contestant everyone still remembers from the new version of the game is Chuck Forrest, the 1985 Tournament of Champions winner. He was so good that he basically intimidated the other contestants in the tournament; you could hear them backstage talking about who might take second place, because they just about assumed Chuck would win it all."</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=How to Get on Jeopardy and Win! |last=Dupée|first=Michael|year=1998|publisher=Citadel Press|isbn=0806519916|page=36|quote="Mr. Forrest was so brilliant that he did not need to use much strategy to crush his opponents."}}</ref> He won five consecutive games from September 30 to October 4, 1985, winning a then-record $72,800 and qualifying for the 1986 Tournament of Champions, which he won, earning another $100,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=1292 |title=Chuck Forrest's Tournament of Champions Final |publisher=J! Archive |access-date=August 24, 2010}}</ref> Forrest later played in the ''Super Jeopardy!'' tournament, the Million Dollar Masters tournament, the Ultimate Tournament of Champions, the Battle of the Decades tournament, and the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament. He implemented a strategy known as the "Forrest Bounce" to confuse opponents: the strategy involved picking each clue from a different category instead of taking the clues in order. With Mark Lowenthal, Forrest co-wrote the 1992 book ''Secrets of the Jeopardy! Champions''.<ref name=book>Forrest, Chuck and Lowenthal, Mark (1992). ''Secrets of the Jeopardy Champions''. Grand Central Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0-446-39352-2}}, {{ISBN|0-446-39352-5}}.</ref>
=== Barbara Lowe === Barbara Vollick (née Marquez),<ref name="Lowe"/> a writer and researcher from Anaheim, California, was a five-time undefeated champion during Trebek's second season, winning $35,192 playing under her first and middle name, Barbara Lowe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/123638567/the-sacramento-bee/|title=Game show glory|website=The Sacramento Bee|date=March 11, 1986|first=Clint|last=Swett|access-date=June 8, 2023|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=7563|title=Show #393 - Wednesday, March 12, 1986|website=J! Archive|date=December 16, 2022 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> Host Alex Trebek (then also the show's producer) personally disqualified her from the show's second Tournament of Champions after staff noticed that she had appeared on many different game shows (most notably ''Wheel of Fortune'' in 1976, ''It's Anybody's Guess'' in 1977, and ''Bullseye'' in 1981) under multiple aliases and Social Security numbers without informing the production company, an allegation that Vollick denied; under the show's standards and practices at the time, special permission had to be granted for a contestant to appear on ''Jeopardy!'' if they had appeared on more than two other shows in the previous five years.<ref name="Lowe"/><ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/1990/11/26/18893110/jeopardy-book-goes-behind-the-scenes|title='Jeopardy Book' Goes Behind the Scenes|website=Deseret News|date=November 26, 1990|first=Ed|last=Blank|access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Inside Jeopardy! A Revealing Look Inside TV's Top Quiz Show|date=1993|first=Harry|last=Eisenberg|page=269|publisher=Northwest Publishing, Incorporated |isbn=1-56901-177-X}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/180701132/|title=When women are in Jeopardy!|website=Courier-Post|date=September 13, 1987|access-date=June 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gameshownews.net/blockparty/102709.html|title=I See Stupid People|date=October 27, 2009|website=Game Show Newsnet|access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> Vollick attested that only she had only appeared on one such show (''Bullseye'') in the five-year span,<ref name="Lowe" /> but staff research turned up seven appearances over the previous decade,<ref name="Lowe" /><ref name=":2" /> which Vollick stated she did not recall.<ref name="Lowe" /> Her winnings were withheld, and she sued Merv Griffin Enterprises and King World Productions for it, ultimately receiving her winnings, but was banned from appearing on any future tournaments on the show.<ref>{{cite book|title=Inside Jeopardy! A Revealing Look Inside TV's Top Quiz Show|year=1993|first=Harry|last=Eisenberg|page=268|publisher=Northwest Publishing, Incorporated |isbn=1-56901-177-X}}</ref> The 1993 exposé book ''Inside Jeopardy!'' by Harry Eisenberg<ref name=":2" /> alleged that during her games, Lowe argued with Trebek over incorrect answers;<ref>{{cite book|title=Inside Jeopardy! A Revealing Look Inside TV's Top Quiz Show|year=1993|first=Harry|last=Eisenberg|page=267|publisher=Northwest Publishing, Incorporated |isbn=1-56901-177-X}}</ref> much of Eisenberg's book was littered with factual errors, misstating her winnings and when she appeared on the program, among other inaccuracies unrelated to her, and the surviving tapes of her episodes reveal only a minor argument in the third episode over the pronunciation of Leopold and Loeb that Trebek had initially erroneously declared incorrect because she had used the German pronunciation of Loeb instead of the English.<ref name="Lowe"/> Vollick came forward for an interview in May 2023 to discuss her time on the show, stating that shortly before taping her third episode, she developed a case of gastroenteritis which required the show to stop tape until she recovered. She also stated that Trebek told her she was costing the show time and money, and revealed that her stomach ailment had cost the program thousands of dollars that the show was trying to recoup by withholding her winnings.<ref name="Lowe">{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/tv/2023/5/2/23705821/jeopardy-lost-tapes-barbara-lowe-mystery-champion|title=The Search of the Lost 'Jeopardy!' Tapes Is Over. The Mystery Behind Them Endures.|date=May 2, 2023|first=Claire|last=McNear|website=The Ringer|access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> Her episodes were then withdrawn from release and were never re-run following their original airings.<ref name="Lowe"/> On December 15, 2022, the Barbara Lowe episodes were found by the ''National Archives of Game Show History'' from a longtime ''Jeopardy!'' fan's collection of 108 VHS cassettes of 896 episodes from the show's first seven seasons, and her games were subsequently added to the J! Archive.<ref name="Lowe"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzerblog.com/2022/12/15/the-jeopardy-archive-just-added-barbara-lowes-first-episode/|title=Who Is Barbara Lowe? The Web's Biggest Jeopardy! Episode Archive Just Added Barbara Lowe's First Episode And more are coming soon!|date=December 15, 2022|first=Cory|last=Anotado|website=Buzzer Blog|access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=15028|title=Barbara Lowe|website=J! Archive|access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> Vollick expressed surprise that she had attained such infamy in game show fan circles.<ref name="Lowe"/> She would later win $32,000 on ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'', again appearing as Barbara Lowe, during which she again experienced a case of gastroenteritis.<ref name="Lowe"/>
===Richard Cordray===
{{main|Richard Cordray}} [[File:Richard Cordray official portrait.jpg|thumb|upright|Richard Cordray]] Richard Cordray was a five-time ''Jeopardy!'' champion in 1987, who appeared in the 1987 Tournament of Champions while still serving as a law clerk. Cordray parlayed his success on ''Jeopardy!'' into political office, serving as an Ohio state legislator, the Attorney General of Ohio, and later the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He was a participant in the Battle of the Decades Tournament, but lost in his first match and declined the prize money due to his office.
===Mark Lowenthal===
{{main|Mark Lowenthal<!--#Jeopardy! appearances-->}} Mark M. Lowenthal was an undefeated five-time champion in 1988 and won the 1988 Tournament of Champions.<ref>[http://www.masygroup.com/board/dr-mark-m-lowenthal.html Dr. Mark M. Lowenthal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107010745/http://www.masygroup.com/board/dr-mark-m-lowenthal.html |date= January 7, 2011 }}, The Masy Group website, accessed August 20, 2010</ref> He also appeared on ''Super Jeopardy!'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?player_id=1917|title=Mark Lowenthal|publisher=J! Archive |access-date= December 15, 2016}}</ref> the Ultimate Tournament of Champions, winning $5,000 after losing his first game, and the ''Jeopardy!'' Battle of the Decades, beating Frank Spangenberg in his initial game. Lowenthal is the co-author (with Season 2 record-setting five-time champion and Tournament of Champions winner Chuck Forrest) of the 1992 book ''Secrets of the Jeopardy! Champions'', and has also written a college textbook on intelligence and national security.<ref name=book />
===Eric Newhouse=== '''Eric Newhouse''' first appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' when he won the 1989 Teen Tournament. He was both a semifinalist in the 1989 Tournament of Champions and ''Super Jeopardy!'' After winning the 1998 Teen Reunion Tournament, Newhouse was invited to the Million Dollar Masters, where he placed second overall to Brad Rutter.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/sioux-cityan-cashes-in-on-jeopardy/article_ed84c525-ffbc-5b23-b700-b4c869ae1ed4.html |title=Sioux Cityan cashes in on Jeopardy |first=Jim |last=Jenkins |newspaper=Sioux City Journal|date=2002-05-04}}</ref> Newhouse was one of nine players to advance directly to the second round of the Ultimate Tournament of Champions but lost his initial game.
===Tom Cubbage=== '''Tom Cubbage''' is the only contestant in ''Jeopardy!'' history to win both the show's College Championship and the Tournament of Champions. Cubbage became the first ever winner of the College Championship in May 1989, winning $26,600. In November of that year, he was the $100,000 grand prize winner of the 1989 Tournament of Champions. He also appeared on ''Super Jeopardy!'' in 1990 and earned $5,000 for appearing as a quarterfinalist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=309&highlight=Tom+Cubbage |publisher=J! Archive |title=Tom Cubbage}}</ref> Fifteen years later in 2005, Cubbage competed in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions. In the first round, he lost his game, finishing second to Bob Harris.<ref name="j-archive.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=151 |publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #4712, aired February 15, 2005}}</ref> In 2014, Cubbage returned to ''Jeopardy!'' to compete in the show's Battle of the Decades. In his first game of the tournament, he defeated fellow ''Jeopardy!'' alumni Bob Verini and Jerome Vered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4421|publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #6770, aired February 7, 2014}}</ref> Cubbage lost his second game to Ken Jennings, but he finished the game with $19,500, allowing him to secure a wild-card spot in the next round.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4499|publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #6834, aired May 8, 2014 |date=July 11, 2015 }}</ref> In the semifinals, Cubbage lost again, finishing third behind Leszek Pawlowicz and eventual tournament winner Brad Rutter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4502|publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #6837, aired May 13, 2014}}</ref>
===Bob Blake=== '''Bob Blake''', an actuary from Vancouver, British Columbia, appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' in September 1989, won all five games, and broke Forrest's five-day record with $82,501. Because Blake's winnings exceeded the then-limit of $75,000, $7,501 of his winnings were donated to his selected charity, Oxfam.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=277<!--different url than below-->|title=J! Archive – Bob Blake|publisher=J! Archive |access-date= December 15, 2016}}</ref> He also competed in ''Super Jeopardy!'',<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=3972<!--different url than above/below-->|title=J! Archive – Bob Blake|publisher=J! Archive |access-date= December 15, 2016}}</ref> in which he was a semifinalist. He won the 1990 Tournament of Champions, earning $100,000.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=1425<!--different url than above-->|title=J! Archive – Bob Blake|publisher=J! Archive|access-date=December 15, 2016}}</ref> He also competed in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions in 2005. He was initially invited to compete in the Battle of the Decades tournament but declined because of conflicts with international travel.
===Ed Toutant=== '''Ed Toutant''' appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' in October 1989, winning one episode and $11,401. He later assisted IBM in programming Watson to prepare for the ''Jeopardy! IBM Challenge''. Toutant was better known for his appearance on another game show, ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'', in which he won the show's grand prize, a progressive jackpot of $1,860,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2018/11/16/millionaire-quiz-whiz-toutant-had-passion-for-trivia-austins-arts-scene/8353670007/|title=Quiz whiz Toutant shared passion for trivia, theater|first=Maria|last=Mendez|website=Austin American-Statesman |date=November 16, 2018 }}</ref>
===Frank Spangenberg===
{{main|Frank Spangenberg}} Lieutenant Frank Spangenberg garnered fame in 1990 when he set the five-day cumulative winnings record, becoming the first person to win more than $100,000 in five days on the show.<ref>{{cite news |title=Final 'Jeopardy!' For Ace City Cop |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2005/05/19/2005-05-19_final__jeopardy___for_ace_ci.html |quote= Spangenberg, 47, came up short in the TV quiz show's "Ultimate Tournament of Champions" semifinal round, losing to Los Angeles screenwriter Jerome Vered. ... In 1990, Spangenberg won more than $100,000 on "Jeopardy!" |work=New York Daily News |date=May 19, 2005 |access-date=October 4, 2010 }} {{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He has been called one of the "veritable legends" of the show.<ref>Elber, Lynn. Associated Press. "[https://archive.today/20120714223024/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x74aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l0UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6527,820085&dq=frank-spangenberg+jeopardy&hl=en Book details joy of 'Jeopardy!'"]. ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel''. October 11, 2006. 8B.</ref> He was also the first to exceed $30,000 (winning $30,600) in a single day.
At the time a member of the New York City Transit Police Department (now the Transit Bureau of the New York City Police Department), Spangenberg won $102,597 in five days. Until 2003, winners were retired after five consecutive victories and due to a winnings cap in place at the time, Spangenberg kept $75,000 of his winnings and donated the remaining $27,597 to the Gift of Love Hospice, a facility operated by the Missionaries of Charity.
Until 2019, the $102,597 record stood as the all-time net five-day record because of 2001 changes to clue values and the 2003 abolition of the five-day limit. The only contestant to date to beat Spangenberg's record is James Holzhauer, who won $298,687 in his first five games.<ref>[http://www.jeopardy.com/video/championupdates JEOPARDY.com Champion updates] {{webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120903140944/http://www.jeopardy.com/video/championupdates|date=September 3, 2012}}. See Frank Spangenberg's "Extended champ's story" at the ''Jeopardy!'' website.</ref>
Spangenberg also won ''Jeopardy!''{{'s}} 10th Anniversary Tournament in 1993, winning $41,800,<ref>{{cite news |title=After the Headlines; Fame, Fleeting Fame, Found These New Yorkers. Then What Happened? |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/27/nyregion/after-headlines-fame-fleeting-fame-found-these-new-yorkers-then-what-happened.html?pagewanted=4 |work=The New York Times |date=December 27, 1998 |access-date=October 19, 2010 }}</ref> and previously appeared in the 1990 Tournament of Champions and ''Super Jeopardy!'' earlier that year. He later competed in the 2002 Million Dollar Masters tournament, the 2005 Ultimate Tournament of Champions and the 2014 Battle of the Decades tournament.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}
===Jerome Vered===
{{main|Jerome Vered}} Jerome Vered appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' in 1992 and won $96,801 as a five-day champion, retiring undefeated. His total winnings at the time were second only to Spangenberg's $102,597. During that run, he shattered the one-day record for dollar winnings, earning $34,000 in one episode.<ref name=latimes>Wharton, David. "And the Question Is ... Will a Studio City Writer Top the 'Jeopardy!' Winnings Total Tonight?". ''Los Angeles Times''. May 22, 1992. p. 19A.</ref> After his run, Vered returned for the 1992 Tournament of Champions, finishing third.<ref name=seattle>de Turenne, Veronique. "Jeopardy winners say it's nice work if you can get it". ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer''. November 27, 1992. p. 39.</ref> In the 2005 Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions, Vered won five games to advance to a three-game final match against fellow ''Jeopardy!'' legends Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. He finished in third place, earning $250,000.<ref>{{cite news |author-link=Lawrence Van Gelder |first=Lawrence |last= Van Gelder|title=Arts, Briefly: 'Jeopardy!' Titans Battle |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0810F93B5D0C748EDDAC0894DD404482 |quote=Mr. Jennings's second-place finish paid him $500,000, and the third place finisher, Jerome Vered, received $250,000. |work=The New York Times |date=May 27, 2005 |access-date= October 4, 2010 }}</ref> He competed in the 2014 Battle of the Decades, losing to Tom Cubbage.
===Rachael Schwartz===
Rachael Schwartz is the first female ''Jeopardy!'' contestant in the syndication era to win the show's Tournament of Champions, winning the 1994 edition. Schwartz originally appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' in October 1993 and won $37,499 as a 4-day champion. After winning the 1994 Tournament of Champions, Schwartz competed in the following ''Jeopardy!'' tournaments: The Million Dollar Masters (2002), the Ultimate Tournament of Champions (2005), the Battle of the Decades (2014), and the Invitational Tournament (2025).
===Jonathan Groff===
{{main|Jonathan Groff (writer)}} Jonathan Groff is an American actor, director, comedian, director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Jerome Sinfeld in the Netflix series blackAF and as an executive producer of the ABC sitcom ''black-ish.'' In March 1995, Groff was a 5-time undefeated champion on ''Jeopardy!'', winning $60,500. He was also a semifinalist in the 1995 Tournament of Champions in November. In 2005, Groff was invited to the Ultimate Tournament of Champions. He won $34,001 in the first 2 rounds of the tournament before being eliminated.
===Ryan Holznagel=== '''Ryan "Fritz" Holznagel''' is another ''Jeopardy!'' contestant who has enjoyed notable success on the show. He first appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' in November 1994, winning $49,413 as a 4-day champion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=398&highlight=Ryan+Holznagel|title=Ryan Holznagel|publisher=J! Archive|accessdate=January 31, 2026}}</ref> Holznagel, who is currently the editor-in-chief of Who2 Biographies, is also the winner of the 1995 Tournament of Champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.who2.com/about-who2/|title=About Who2 Biographies |access-date=January 19, 2018}}</ref> He also represented the U.S. at the show's first ever Olympic tournament in 1996. Holznagel later participated in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions in 2005, and in the Battle of the Decades in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=8948 |publisher=J! Archive |title=Fritz Holznagel|access-date=January 19, 2018}}</ref> While not competing, he realized that ''Jeopardy!'' success largely comes down to how well a player is able to use the signaling device to ring in. Using this knowledge, he created a reaction time website and employed various methods, such as coffee and light exercise, to take his reaction time from an average 228 milliseconds to a superhuman 126 milliseconds. He published all his findings in a manifesto named Secrets of the Buzzer in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNear |first=Claire |date=2020-08-11 |title=Can You Hack the Jeopardy! Buzzer? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/08/how-does-the-jeopardy-buzzer-work-jeopardy-book-excerpt.html |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Vulture |language=en}}</ref>
===Michael Daunt=== '''Michael Daunt''' is another ''Jeopardy!'' contestant who has enjoyed prolific success on the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://davidbmorris.medium.com/this-is-jeopardy-tales-of-the-ultimate-tournament-of-champions-6e88582eb14c|title=This is Jeopardy: Tales of the Ultimate Tournament of Champions|publisher=medium.com|date=May 11, 2025|accessdate=January 31, 2026}}</ref> Daunt first appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' from November 30-December 6, 1995, winning $64,198 as an undefeated 5-day champion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=501&highlight=Michael+Daunt|title=Michael Daunt|publisher=J! Archive|accessdate=January 31, 2026}}</ref> Daunt next appeared in the 1996 Tournament of Champions and made it all the way to the final round. He finished in third place behind tournament winner Michael Dupée and second-place contestant Bob Scarpone. In May 1997, Daunt appeared in the Jeopardy! International Tournament. This tournament was filmed in Stockholm on the Swedish version of the show and featured champions who had won on ''Jeopardy!'' in foreign markets. Daunt, a native of Canada, won the tournament, winning $35,000 in the process. In 2005, Daunt appeared on the show's Ultimate Tournament of Champions. He won his first 2 rounds, winning $62,202 along the way, before losing his 3rd match. He and Dan Melia tied for second place, finishing behind Jerome Vered.
===Michael George Dupée===
thumb|upright|Michael George Dupée '''Michael George Dupée''' originally appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' in 1996, and won the Tournament of Champions that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=338&highlight=Michael+Dupée|publisher=J! Archive |title=Michael Dupée}}</ref> In 2005, Dupée participated in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions. He won his first match,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=162|publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #4717, aired February 22, 2005}}</ref> but lost to Robert Slaven in the second.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=284|publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #4760, aired April 22, 2005}}</ref> Nine years later, in 2014, Dupée competed in the Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades tournament, where he was defeated by Brad Rutter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4442|publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #6790, aired March 7, 2014}}</ref>
Dupée's total winnings on ''Jeopardy!'' are $203,901,{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} including $66,401 won during his original five-day run;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jeopardy.com/showguide/halloffame/50kplus/ |title=Jeopardy! Hall of Fame: $50,000 Plus Winners |access-date=July 30, 2014 |work=Jeopardy! |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140314084333/http://www.jeopardy.com/showguide/halloffame/50kplus |archive-date= March 14, 2014 }}</ref> $100,000 for winning the 1996 Tournament of Champions; $32,500 from the Ultimate Tournament of Champions; and $5,000 from the show's Battle of the Decades. Jennings praised Dupée's book, ''How to Get on Jeopardy! and Win!'', claiming it was the best preparation for competing on ''Jeopardy!''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ken-jennings-jeopardy-watson-computers-buzz-faster-2011-3 |title= Interview of Ken Jennings |work=Business Insider}}</ref> In the book, which he wrote after his success on ''Jeopardy!'', Dupée wrote about his experience on the show and provided practice clues for aspiring contestants.<ref name="Dupée">{{cite book|title=How to Get on Jeopardy and Win! |last=Dupée|first=Michael |author-link=Michael George Dupée|year=1998|publisher=Citadel Press|isbn=0806519916}}</ref>
===Karl Coryat===
{{main|Karl Coryat}} Karl Coryat was a two-day champion on the show in 1996.<ref>{{Citation | last = Hartill | first = Lane | title = Masters of Quiz-Show Prep | newspaper = Christian Science Monitor| date = March 27, 2001 | url = https://www.csmonitor.com/2001/0327/p14s1.html | access-date = December 2, 2012}}</ref> His name was given to the ''Coryat score'', an analytics measurement of a contestant's ability to answer questions alone, without factoring in wagers on Daily Doubles or Final Jeopardy!.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/04/james-holzhauer-jeopardy-1-million-win-or-lose/587878/|title=James Holzhauer Explains the Strategy Behind His Jeopardy Winning Streak|first=Joe|last=Pinsker|work=The Atlantic|date=April 24, 2019|access-date=April 24, 2019}}</ref>
===Bernie Cullen===
Bernie Cullen ia a 5-day ''Jeopardy!'' champion and a winner of the $1,000,000 grand prize on ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2001/04/16/improbably-millionaire-strikes-again/|title=Improbably, 'Millionaire' Strikes Again|date=April 16, 2001|publisher=New York Post|accessdate=January 22, 2026}}</ref> Cullen was an undefeated 5-day ''Jeopardy!'' champion in September 1996, first appearing on the Season 13 premiere. He won $63,102, plus another $1,000 as a Tournament of Champions quarterfinalist later that year. On the April 15, 2001 episode of ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'', Cullen won the $1,000,000 grand prize. In 2005, Cullen returned to ''Jeopardy!'' to compete in the show's Ultimate Tournament of Champions. He was eliminated in the first round, which earned him $5,000.
===Arthur Phillips===
{{main|Arthur Phillips}} [[File:ArthurPhillips.JPG|thumb|upright|Arthur Phillips]] American novelist Arthur Phillips appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' in 1997. According to his biography, Phillips was a 5-time undefeated champion,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arthurphillips.info/Bio.html|title=Arthur Phillips: Biography|author-link=Arthur Phillips|first=Arthur|last=Phillips|access-date=October 11, 2014|archive-date=December 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228061810/http://www.arthurphillips.info/Bio.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> winning $63,003 in the process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=2419&highlight=Arthur+Phillips|publisher=J! Archive |title=Arthur Phillips}}</ref> He competed in the 1998 Tournament of Champions, but lost his quarterfinal match to Teen Tournament winner Sahir Islam.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=1186|publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #3099, aired February 5, 1998}}</ref> In 2005, Phillips competed in the Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions. He won his first match, winning $8,800 (which was bumped to $15,000),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=146 |publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #4710, aired February 11, 2005}}</ref> and lost his second, finishing behind Eric Terzuolo and former College Championship winner Pam Mueller.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gameshownewsnet.com/prime/ultimatejeopardy/050205.html|title=Game Show NewsNet - Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions|website=www.gameshownewsnet.com}}</ref>
===Bob Harris===
{{main|Bob Harris (writer)|l1=Bob Harris}} Bob Harris is a multi-time contestant on ''Jeopardy!''<ref>{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Bob|author-link=Bob Harris (writer)|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/opinion/06harris.html?scp=2&sq=&st=nyt |title=Six Degrees of Trivia and Knowledge|work=The New York Times|date=September 5, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showplayerstats.php?player_id=8950|publisher=J! Archive |title=Bob Harris}}</ref> Harris first appeared as a contestant in 1997 and won $58,000 as an undefeated five-time champion. The next year, he finished third in the Tournament of Champions, behind Kim Worth and Dan Melia. In the first round of the ''Jeopardy!'' Million Dollar Masters tournament in 2002, Harris scored an upset victory over Rachael Schwartz and Frank Spangenberg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=546|publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #4078, aired May 1, 2002}}</ref> He lost in the semifinals to Eric Newhouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=557|publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #4083, aired May 8, 2002}}</ref> In 2005, Harris competed again on the show, this time in the ''Jeopardy!'' Ultimate Tournament of Champions. He won $24,400 and defeated fellow ''Jeopardy!'' alumni Frank Epstein and Tom Cubbage in Round 1,<ref name="j-archive.com"/> but lost in Round 2 to Bruce Borchardt and Michael Daunt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gameshownewsnet.com/prime/ultimatejeopardy/041805.html|title=Game Show NewsNet - Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions|website=www.gameshownewsnet.com}}</ref> In 2014, Harris competed in the Battle of the Decades. In his match, Harris finished third, behind Shane Whitlock and Robin Carroll.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4440|publisher=J! Archive |title=Show #6788, aired March 5, 2014}}</ref>
Harris wrote a book about his experiences on ''Jeopardy!'', ''Prisoner of Trebekistan.''<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prisoner-of-trebekistan-bob-harris/1111614836?ean=9780307351500|title=Prisoner of Trebekistan|author-link=Bob Harris (writer)|first=Bob|last=Harris|access-date=August 13, 2014}}</ref> He has competed on other game shows. In 2000, Harris participated in a million-dollar winning team on ''Greed'', winning $200,000 for himself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://triviahalloffame.com/|title=Play Trivia Online @ Trivia Hall Of Fame!|website=Trivia Hall of Fame}}</ref> He was also a successful $250,000 phone-a-friend for a contestant on ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oKuLUjKXp0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/7oKuLUjKXp0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Bob Harris gives the fastest Millionaire Phone-A-Friend answer ever|date=February 24, 2009 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
===Eddie Timanus===
{{main|Eddie Timanus}} Eddie Timanus was the first blind contestant to compete on the show, appearing in October 1999.<ref name="jackman">{{cite news|last=Jackman|first=Tom|title=1st Blind Player Wins Big on 'Jeopardy!'|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 24, 1999|page=C.01}}</ref> He won five consecutive games—the limit at that time—and earned $69,700 and two cars. Timanus subsequently appeared in the Million Dollar Masters, the Ultimate Tournament of Champions, and the Battle of the Decades.
===Brad Rutter===
{{main|Brad Rutter}}
Brad Rutter is the biggest all-time money winner on ''Jeopardy!'' and briefly held the record for biggest cumulative game show winnings for any U.S. game show contestant. Rutter retained the record for ''Jeopardy!'' winnings with either $4,255,102 (or $4,270,102, including a pair of Chevrolet Camaros). He became a five-day undefeated champion on ''Jeopardy!'' in 2000, with a total of $55,102. Rutter subsequently won five ''Jeopardy!'' tournament titles: the 2001 Tournament of Champions,<ref>Stauffer, Cindy. "Manheim Twp. man back in 'Jeopardy!' in Million Dollar Masters Tournament". ''Lancaster New Era''. May 1, 2002. B4.</ref> the 2002 Million Dollar Masters Tournament, the 2005 Ultimate Tournament of Champions,<ref name=bill>Toland, Bill. "A: He beat the best. Q: Who is Brad Rutter?" ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. May 27, 2005. A1.</ref> the 2014 Battle of the Decades,<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIJGX5riedQ |title=Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades {{!}} Champion Brad Rutter {{!}} JEOPARDY! |date=2014-05-16 |last=Jeopardy! |access-date=2025-02-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref> and the 2019 All-Star Games.<ref name=":1" />
In 2020, Rutter's undefeated streak ended when he finished third in the ''Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time'' tournament, losing to Jennings and Holzhauer by a final score of 3–1–0.
===Pam Mueller=== '''Pam Mueller''' is a former winner of the College Championship in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/11/12/answer-loyola-student-pam-mueller/ |title= Answer: Loyola student Pam Mueller, Page 1|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=November 12, 2001|access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/11/12/answer-loyola-student-pam-mueller/|title=Answer: Loyola student Pam Mueller, Page 2|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date= November 12, 2001|access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref> She participated in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=426|publisher=J! Archive |title=Pam Mueller}}</ref> advancing all the way to the Sweet Six round before losing her match, finishing behind Frank Spangenberg and Jerome Vered. In 2014, Mueller competed in the show's ''Battle of the Decades''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYH8Xew-g98 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/UYH8Xew-g98 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades, 1990s contestants: Pam Mueller|date=February 14, 2014 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The story about her first match in this tournament, which saw her compete against fellow ''Jeopardy!'' champions Dan Melia and Ryan (Fritz) Holznagel, was featured on Who2 Biographies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who2.com/blog/2014/03/inside-the-brain-of-a-jeopardy-contestant|title=Inside the Brain of a Jeopardy! Contestant|publisher=Who2 Biographies|access-date=May 8, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=May 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
==2003–present==
===Ken Jennings===
{{main|Ken Jennings}}
[[File:Ken Jennings cropped retouched.jpg|thumb|upright|Ken Jennings]]
Ken Jennings first appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' on June 2, 2004, a year after producers of the show lifted the five-show cap for contestants in 2003. Because the five-game limit was removed, Jennings continued his win streak and eventually broke the winnings record set by Tom Walsh, who had won $186,900 in eight games in January 2004.
Jennings set a record of 74 wins before he was defeated by Nancy Zerg in his 75th appearance. His total winnings from the program amount to $3,022,700, which includes $2,522,700 won in his initial appearances and an additional $500,000 for his second-place finish in the ''Jeopardy!'' Ultimate Tournament of Champions. In addition, at the end of Season 20, he set a one-day record of $75,000, which was later broken by Roger Craig, and even later by James Holzhauer.<ref>[http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=661 Ken Jennings player page] J! Archive.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=19 years ago, Ken Jennings lost on 'Jeopardy!' after 74 straight wins. Here are 4 big moments from his legendary run |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/19-years-ago-ken-jennings-184506127.html |work=Yahoo Entertainment |date=30 November 2023}}</ref>
During his first run of ''Jeopardy!'' appearances, Jennings earned the record for the highest American game show winnings. His total was later surpassed by Brad Rutter, who defeated Jennings in the finals of the Ultimate Tournament of Champions, adding $2 million to his earlier ''Jeopardy!'' winnings. Jennings regained the record after appearing on several other game shows, including appearances on ''1 vs. 100'' and ''Grand Slam'', culminating in an appearance on ''Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?'' in which Jennings won $500,000. Rutter retained the ''Jeopardy!'' record by defeating Jennings in the finals of the Battle of the Decades tournament in 2014.
After his success on ''Jeopardy!'', Jennings wrote of his experience and explored American trivia history and culture in ''Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs'', published in 2006.
Jennings returned to ''Jeopardy!'' finishing runner-up to the Watson Supercomputer (splitting $300,000 with a charity) and again for the Battle of the Decades where he finished runner-up to Rutter again (winning $100,000). Jennings' total winnings amount to $3,422,700.
His team finished runner-up in the 2019 ''Jeopardy!'' All-Star Games relay tournament. In 2020, Jennings won the ''Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time'' primetime event, which thus gave him his first ''Jeopardy!'' tournament title and an additional $1 million in winnings.
In September 2020, as host Alex Trebek's pancreatic cancer progressed, Jennings became a consulting producer for ''Jeopardy!'', a role that included reading select on-air categories.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/jeopardy-ken-jennings-joins-show-as-producer/|title=Jeopardy! GOAT Ken Jennings joins show as producer|first=Tyler|last=Aquilina|magazine= Entertainment Weekly|date=September 3, 2020|access-date=September 3, 2020}}</ref> When Trebek died the following November, Jennings was named the first interim guest host of the program. His episodes began airing in January 2021.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Ausiello|first=Michael|date=2020-11-23|title=Jeopardy!: Ken Jennings to Succeed the Late Alex Trebek as First 'Guest Host'|url=https://tvline.com/2020/11/23/jeopardy-ken-jennings-new-guest-host-alex-trebek-replacement/|access-date=2020-11-23|magazine=TVLine|language=en-US}}</ref> In July 2022, Jennings became a permanent host of the show, along with Mayim Bialik.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/10/31/ken-jennings-jeopardy-host-interview/|title=Ken Jennings broke 'Jeopardy!' in 2004. In 2022, he helped save it.|first=Emily|last=Yahr|date=October 31, 2022|accessdate=December 12, 2022}}</ref> In January 2023, he was announced as the host of ''Jeopardy! Masters'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jeopardy-masters-abc-1235296708/|title=ABC Adds 'Jeopardy! Masters' to Unscripted Slate|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 11, 2023|first=Rick|last=Porter|access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref> which premiered on May 8, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvinsider.com/1086657/abc-2023-premiere-dates-judge-steve-harvey-the-wonder-years/|title=ABC Sets Summer 2023 Premiere Dates, Including 'Jeopardy! Masters' & 'The Bachelorette'|website=TV Insider|date=March 24, 2023|first=Isaac|last=Rouse|access-date=March 31, 2023}}</ref> In December 2023, Jennings was named as the sole permanent host of ''Jeopardy!'' following Bialik's withdrawal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/mayim-bialik-exits-jeopardy-1235669885/|title=Mayim Bialik Out As ''Jeopardy!'' Host|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Peter White|date=December 15, 2023|access-date=January 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/mayim-bialik-leaving-jeopardy-1235841706/|title=Mayim Bialik Won't Return as ''Jeopardy!'' Host|work=Variety|author=J. Kim Murphy|date=December 15, 2023|access-date=January 2, 2024}}</ref>
=== Nancy Zerg === '''Nancy Zerg''' defeated 74-day champion Ken Jennings on November 30, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dakss |first=Brian |date=2004-12-01 |title=The 'Jeopardy' Giant Slayer - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-jeopardy-giant-slayer/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> She was the first contestant to be called "a giant killer" despite losing the next day.
===David Madden=== {{main|David Madden (Jeopardy! contestant)}}
David Madden won the fourth-highest number of games on ''Jeopardy!'' in non-tournament gameplay, winning 19 games and $432,400 between July 5 and September 19, 2005. As of April 2019, Madden ranked fourth in consecutive game wins (James Holzhauer, Julia Collins, and Ken Jennings) and also fifth in dollar winnings from regular games (Jennings, Holzhauer, Matt Amodio, and Jason Zuffranieri).<ref name="jephallfame">{{cite web |url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame|title=Contestant Zone-Jeopardy! Hall of Fame|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=Jeopardy.com|publisher=Jeopardy! Productions, Inc.|access-date=April 30, 2019}}</ref> In the 2006 Tournament of Champions, Madden won his first match<ref>{{Cite episode|series=Jeopardy!|network=Syndication|number=4831|date=September 19, 2005|season=22}}</ref> (defeating the eventual winner of the Tournament, Michael Falk), but failed to win his second-round match,<ref>{{Cite episode|series=Jeopardy!|network=Syndication|number=5002|date=May 16, 2006|season=22}}</ref> taking home a consolation prize of $10,000 and bringing his total to $442,400.<ref name=prince>{{cite news|title=Madden '03 wins big on 'Jeopardy'|url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2005/09/20/13129|quote=Until Monday, when Madden lost for the first time in 20 games, the 24-year-old alum held the title of reigning champion. He earned $430,400 in all, second only to Jennings, who earned more than $2.5 million over the course of 74 wins last year.|work=Daily Princetonian|date=September 25, 2005|access-date=October 4, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=nyt>{{cite news|title=I'll Take Quiz Kids For $600, Alex|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9806E0D91F30F93AA35753C1A9639C8B63|quote=By the time the episode on which he finally lost was broadcast last month, Mr. Madden had won 19 straight games – second only to Mr. Jennings – and his winnings came to $432,400. ... Mr. Madden was the captain of the Quiz Bowl team at Ridgewood High, and was on a similar freshman team at Princeton. When he comes home he says he plans to teach high school and perhaps enter politics. But his days as a quiz-show star are probably behind him|work=The New York Times|date=October 9, 2005|access-date=October 4, 2010|first=Robert|last=Strauss}}</ref> Madden was invited to take part in 2014's Battle of the Decades ''Jeopardy!'' event, but declined to participate due to contractual issues.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} However, he was invited and able to take part in its 2019 All-Star Games tournament, featuring 18 past champions. Madden was the seventh out of 12 picks in the All-Star Games Draft in September 2018, thus becoming a member of "Team Brad" along with his former Princeton University Quiz Bowl teammate Larissa Kelly, the 6th pick in the draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2019 All-Star Games {{!}} Jeopardy.com |url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/2019/all-star-games |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=jeopardy.com |language=en}}</ref> Team Brad won its first-round match and in the final episode, airing on March 5, 2019, won the All-Star Games Tournament grand prize of $1,000,000, which was split between the three team members.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2019/03/05/jeopardy-all-star-games-winner-team-brad-rutter-wins/|title = Jeopardy! Crowns a Winning Team in the First-Ever 'All-Star Games'|date = March 6, 2019}}</ref> After Madden's share of the prize was received, his all-time Jeopardy! earnings totaled $775,733.33, which as of March 2019 ranked third all-time behind Rutter and Jennings.
===Victoria Groce=== {{main|Victoria Groce}}
Victoria Groce defeated 19-day winner David Madden in 2005 and returned to ''Jeopardy!'' in 2024, winning the ''Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament'' and ''Jeopardy! Masters''.
===Larissa Kelly===
{{main|Larissa Kelly}}
Larissa Kelly won a total of $222,597 over six games and $1,000 third place consolation prize in her seventh game, with her last appearance airing May 28, 2008. At the time of her run on the program, Kelly was the highest-winning female contestant and ranked fifth in all-time in ''Jeopardy!'' earnings (excluding tournament winnings).<ref name=upi>{{cite news|title=Grad student makes 'Jeopardy!' history |url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/05/29/Grad-student-makes-Jeopardy-history/UPI-47681212090799 |quote=In addition to being the "winningest" female champion in the quiz show's 24 seasons, she also has become the third biggest money winner behind all-time "Jeopardy!" champ Ken Jennings, who went home with $2.5 million, and David Madden, who won $430,400, representatives for the series said.|work=United Press International|date=May 29, 2008|access-date=2010-10-04}}</ref><ref>[http://archive.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2008/05/24/the_mighty_quinn/ Her winning way], ''The Boston Globe''{{subscription required}}</ref><ref name="contra">{{cite web|url= http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2008/05/27/cal-student-makes-history-on-jeopardy/|title=Cal student makes history on 'Jeopardy'|work=East Bay Times|date=May 27, 2008|access-date=December 15, 2016}}</ref>
In addition to previously being the highest-winning female contestant in regular play, Kelly broke Ken Jennings's record for most money won in five days by winning $179,797.<ref name="contra"/> Kelly is also the third-highest-winning female contestant in any single game in ''Jeopardy!'''s history, as her $45,200 performance<ref>{{cite web|title=Seven Days in May: Grad student Larissa Kelly asks the right questions and becomes the #3 winner in Jeopardy! history|url=https://grad.berkeley.edu/news/headlines/seven-days-in-may-grad-student-larissa-kelly-asks-the-right-questions-and-becomes-the-3-winner-in-jeopardy-history|work=Berkeley|date=March 18, 2009|access-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref> trails Maria Wenglinsky, who won $46,600 on November 1, 2005,<ref>{{Cite episode |series=Jeopardy! |network=Syndication |date=November 1, 2005 |season=22 |language=en |publisher=Sony Pictures Television }}</ref> and Emma Boettcher, who won $46,801 on June 3, 2019, after upsetting long-running champion James Holzhauer.<ref>{{Cite episode |series=Jeopardy! |network=Syndication |date=June 3, 2019 |season=35 |language=en |publisher=Sony Pictures Television }}</ref>
Kelly's husband and sister were also contestants. Her husband fell to Jennings and her sister to Aaron Schroeder, the victors being later finalists in the 2009 Tournament of Champions. She appeared again in the 2019 Jeopardy! All-Star Games team tournament with Madden on Rutter's winning team.
===Roger Craig===
{{main|Roger Craig (Jeopardy! contestant)|l1 = Roger Craig}}
Roger Craig set a then one-day ''Jeopardy!'' winnings record of $77,000 during his second appearance on the show in September 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/arts/television/16arts-RECORDSETONJ_BRF.html?_r=2|title=Record Set on Jeopardy!|work=The New York Times|date=September 15, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref> Craig won the Tournament of Champions the next year, and in the process set a then record for largest daily double (unadjusted) in ''Jeopardy!'' history.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/16/roger-craigs-unbelievable_n_1097672.html|title=Roger Craig's Unbelievable Double Daily Doubles On "Jeopardy!" |work=Huffington Post|date=November 16, 2011|access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref>
He appeared again in the 2019 Jeopardy! All-Star Games relay tournament with 2013 Teen Tournament champion Leonard Cooper on Roger's team.
===Watson===
{{main|Watson (computer)}}
Watson is a "deep question answering system" built by IBM to play ''Jeopardy!'' Watson was in a two-game, three-day exhibition match against Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter that aired February 14–16, 2011. Watson won the match with a total of $77,147.
===Colby Burnett===
{{main|Colby Burnett}}
Colby Burnett was the first ''Jeopardy!'' contestant to win both the Teachers Tournament and the Tournament of Champions. A teacher at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.fenwickfriars.com/Page/1561|title=Colby Burnett|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924011758/http://www.fenwickfriars.com/Page/1561|archive-date=September 24, 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Burnett won the Teachers Tournament in November 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://news.yahoo.com/video/oak-park-teacher-colby-burnett-223030861.html|title=Oak Park teacher Colby Burnett wins Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament|date=January 30, 2014 }}</ref> In February 2013, he won the show's Tournament of Champions, taking home the $250,000 grand prize.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.suntimes.com/18497938-421/fenwick-teacher-wins-jeopardy-tournament-pockets-250000.html#.VGLE_r4-BhB|title=Fenwick teacher wins "Jeopardy!" tournament, pockets $250,000|work=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref> He later appeared on season 3 of TBS's reality game show ''King of the Nerds''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.com/videos/king-of-the-nerds/season-1/extras/1437957/meet-colby.html|title=King of the Nerds, Season 3: Meet Colby|access-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123354/http://www.tbs.com/videos/king-of-the-nerds/season-1/extras/1437957/meet-colby.html|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Burnett is known for competing wearing oversized suits, sometimes with jackets that stretch all the way down to his knees.
Burnett appeared in the 2019 ''Jeopardy!'' All-Star Games tournament, with his team and finished third behind Brad Rutter's and Ken Jennings's teams.
===Arthur Chu===
{{main|Arthur Chu}}
[[File:Arthur Chu crop.jpg|thumb|upright|Arthur Chu]] Arthur Chu first appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' on January 28, 2014, and almost immediately became a lightning rod because of his unusual playing style. His game theory, "Forrest Bounce", and furious pressing of the signaling device made him one of the show's most controversial contestants. As of January 31, 2021, Chu ranks eighth on the list of all-time highest-earning ''Jeopardy!'' non-tournament champions,<ref>[http://stuarte.co/2015/all-time-jeopardy-winners/ "Top Ten List of Jeopardy! Winners (and Money Won) All-Time"]. Retrieved October 21, 2015.</ref> with an 11-day total of $297,200. His winning streak came to a close when he lost his 12th game but won $1,000 for finishing in third place, leaving him with a final total of $298,200. After his initial appearance on the show, Chu competed in the 2014 ''Jeopardy!'' Tournament of Champions, finishing second to Ben Ingram, an IT consultant from South Carolina. Chu won $100,000 for his second-place finish, bringing his overall winnings to $398,200.
===Julia Collins=== {{main|Julia Collins (gameshow contestant)|l1 = Julia Collins}}
Julia Collins had the fifth-longest streak of consecutive victories, behind Ken Jennings, Amy Schneider, Matt Amodio, and James Holzhauer, with 20 wins and $429,100, until Mattea Roach surpassed her wins total on May 3, 2022. She was the second person to win 20 games in a row. In the 2014 ''Jeopardy!'' Tournament of Champions she finished second in her quarterfinal game against Joshua Brakhage and 2013 College Champion Jim Coury, but reached the semifinals as a wild card. She then won her semifinal game, advancing to the finals, where she finished third, behind Ben Ingram and Arthur Chu.
Collins appeared again in the 2019 ''Jeopardy!'' All-Star Games relay tournament with Ben Ingram and Seth Wilson.
===Alex Jacob===
{{main|Alex Jacob}}
[[File:Alex Jacob 2007.jpg|thumb|upright|Alex Jacob]] Alex Jacob is a former professional poker player who lives in Chicago, Illinois, and worked as a currency trader for the Gelber Group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gelbergroup.com/video/gelber-trader-wins-6-jeopardy-episodes|title=Gelber trader wins 6 Jeopardy! episodes|access-date=December 9, 2015|archive-date=December 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214020602/http://www.gelbergroup.com/video/gelber-trader-wins-6-jeopardy-episodes/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, Jacob won six games and the 2015 Tournament of Champions. In a Final Jeopardy round where Jacob did not need any additional money to win the game, he humorously wrote "What is Aleve?", mimicking the slogan of one of the show's regular advertisers.
Jacob appeared again in the 2019 ''Jeopardy!'' All-Star Games relay tournament with 2015 Teachers Tournament champion Jennifer Giles on Buzzy Cohen's team.
===Matt Jackson===
Matt Jackson, 13-time champion, surpassed Arthur Chu's 11-game winning streak with his 12th win on October 12, 2015. He has also beat Chu in regular season cash earnings with a total of $413,612.<ref name="tied chu">{{cite web | url= https://twitter.com/Jeopardy/status/652680008398344192 | title=Matt Jackson tied Arthur Chu's 11-game streak with his win today. Can he go for #12 Monday? | publisher=Twitter | date=9 October 2015 | access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref> He competed in the 2015 ''Jeopardy!'' Tournament of Champions, finishing second to Alex Jacob.
Jackson appeared again in the 2019 ''Jeopardy!'' All-Star Games relay tournament alongside Ken Jennings and 2012 College Championship winner Monica Thieu.
===Buzzy Cohen===
{{main|Buzzy Cohen}}
'''Austin David "Buzzy" Cohen''', a recording industry executive from Los Angeles, won $164,603 over nine games in April and May 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Anstey |first1=Evan|title=Confident 9-day Jeopardy! champion causes divide among viewers|url= http://wivb.com/2016/05/27/confident-9-day-jeopardy-champion-causes-divide-among-viewers/ |website=WIVB |date=May 27, 2016|access-date=27 May 2016}}</ref> Many of his victories were guaranteed victories, which allowed Cohen to wager nothing and use his final response to make jokes about Alex Trebek, which earned him both praise and disdain from ''Jeopardy!'' fans.<ref>[http://www.thewrap.com/we-need-to-talk-about-buzzy-cohen-divisive-reigning-jeopardy-champ/ We need to talk about Buzzy Cohen, divisive reigning Jeopardy! champ]. ''TheWrap.com''. Retrieved May 25, 2016.</ref><ref>[https://www.buzzfeed.com/alivelez/how-to-troll-trebek-like-a-champ-for-800?bffb#.agdPKRQy1 People are losing their minds over this "Jeopardy!" champion]. ''BuzzFeed''. Retrieved May 25, 2016.</ref> He returned for the 2017 Tournament of Champions, which he won, collecting the grand prize of $250,000.
Cohen appeared again in the 2019 ''Jeopardy!'' All-Star Games relay tournament.
After Trebek's death, Cohen hosted the May 2021 ''Jeopardy!'' Tournament of Champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/jeopardy-tournament-of-champions-buzzy-cohen-guest-host-1234734585/|title=''Jeopardy!'' Taps Buzzy Cohen As Host For 2021 Tournament Of Champions|work=Deadline Hollywood|author=Alexandra Del Rosario|date=April 14, 2021|access-date=April 15, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://outsider.com/news/entertainment/jeopardy-tournament-of-champions-host-buzzy-cohen-poke-fun-alex-trebek-final-rounds/ |title= Jeopardy!': Tournament of Champions Host Buzzy Cohen Would Poke Fun at Alex Trebek in Final Rounds |date=May 18, 2021 |publisher=Outsider |access-date=May 18, 2021}}</ref>
===Seth Wilson=== '''Seth Wilson''' is a Ph.D. candidate and adjunct professor formerly from Chicago, now from Nacogdoches, Texas, who won $265,002 over 12 games in September and October 2016, making him the contestant with the fifth-highest number of consecutive wins in the show's history, beating Arthur Chu's number of winning games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-jeopardy-seth-wilson-20161005-story.html |title=Did Former North Sider Seth Wilson Win His 13th Episode of 'Jeopardy?' |date=October 5, 2016 |first=Tracy |last=Swartz |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref> He later returned for the 2017 Tournament of Champions, but failed to win his first match, taking home a consolation prize of $5,000.
Wilson appeared again in the 2019 ''Jeopardy!'' All-Star Games relay tournament on Julia Collins's team with Ben Ingram.
===Cindy Stowell=== '''Cindy Stowell''' was a science content developer from Austin, Texas, who was diagnosed with untreatable terminal colon cancer between passing the qualifying test and auditioning in person. A lifelong fan of the show, Stowell requested that producers rush her into taping as soon as possible because of her condition, a stipulation the producers honored. She was under pain management and experienced fever and stomachache throughout her run, during which she won $105,803 over six games, which she donated to cancer charities. Her fellow contestants were unaware of her illness. Stowell died eight days before her first episode aired, but did get to watch the first three of her episodes when producers provided her with an advance DVD.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/07/entertainment/jeopardy-contest-dies-trnd/index.html|title='Jeopardy!' contestant who died before show aired keeps win streak going|first=Keith|last=Allen|work=CNN|date=December 17, 2016|access-date=December 17, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Victor|first1=Daniel|title='Jeopardy!' Run Ends for Cindy Stowell, Cancer-Stricken Champion|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/21/us/-jeopardy-cindy-stowell-death.html?smid=tw-nytnational&smtyp=cur&_r=1|work=The New York Times|date=December 22, 2016 |access-date=22 December 2016}}</ref>
At the end of the ''Jeopardy!'' credits on December 21, 2016, Alex Trebek gave a tribute to Stowell and said, "For the past six ''Jeopardy!'' programs, you folks have been getting to know the talented champion Cindy Stowell. Appearing on our show was the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition. What you did not know is that when we taped these programs she was suffering from Stage IV cancer. And sadly, on December 5th, Cindy Stowell passed away. So from all of us here at ''Jeopardy!'', our sincere condolences to her family and her friends." This was followed by "IN MEMORIAM Cindy Stowell 2016."
===Austin Rogers=== '''Austin Tyler Rogers''' is a bartender from New York City who earned $445,000 over 13 shows in 2017. Described by one account as "Krameresque" and by Trebek himself as "outside the box, completely different from what many viewers expect a 'Jeopardy!' contestant to be,"<ref name="Cleveland Plain-Dealer">{{cite web|url= http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/10/lovable_genius_austin_rogers_r.html|title=Lovable genius Austin Rogers' reign on 'Jeopardy!' comes to an end|work=Cleveland Plain-Dealer|date=October 12, 2017 |access-date=October 12, 2017}}</ref> Rogers is known for his flair and quirky poses, pantomiming humorous actions when being introduced. Although he does not own a television set, he prepared for qualification by watching a lot of ''Jeopardy!'' episodes and knowing its tricks.<ref name="Neuman">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/05/555924260/jeopardy-champion-goes-viral-with-quirky-style-big-bets|title='Jeopardy!' Champion Goes Viral With Quirky Style, Big Bets |last=Neuman |first= Scott|work=NPR|date=October 5, 2017|access-date=October 7, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Elkins">{{cite web|url= https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/06/bartender-wins-jeopardy-8-times-heres-what-hes-doing-with-his-300000-winnings.html |title=Bartender wins 'Jeopardy' 8 times—here's what he's doing with his $300,000 winnings |last= Elkins |first=Kathleen|work=CNBC|date=October 6, 2017|access-date=October 7, 2017}}</ref> Before James Holzhauer, he was the only contestant with two of the top ten one-day totals: $69,000 on October 3, 2017 (third place) and $65,600 on October 2, 2017 (seventh place).<ref name="The Final Wager">{{cite web|url=http://thefinalwager.com/2015/04/02/jeopardy-high-scores/|title=The biggest one-day totals in Jeopardy! history|date=April 2, 2015|publisher=The Final Wager|access-date=October 12, 2017}}</ref> In the 2017 Tournament of Champions, Rogers finished third behind Buzzy Cohen and Alan Lin. All three finalists (including Seth Wilson) appeared at the ''Jeopardy!'' All-Star Games in 2019. Rogers was also a contestant on ''Cash Cab''. He won $2,400 with one other rider doubling their winnings on the video bonus at the end of the trip.
===Paris Themmen===
{{Main|Paris Themmen}}
'''Paris Themmen''', a former child actor known for playing Mike Teevee in ''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory'' (1971), appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' as a regular contestant on March 13, 2018, finishing in second place.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thejeopardyfan.com/2018/03/final-jeopardy-3-13-2018.html|title=Today's Final Jeopardy - March 13, 2018 – The Jeopardy! Fan|date=March 13, 2018|work=The Jeopardy! Fan|access-date=March 13, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> His wife, Nikki Grillos (whom he married in 2014), previously appeared on the program in 2015, returning twice as a champion before being defeated on her third appearance.<ref name="Nikki Grillos">{{cite web|url=https://yahoo.com/news/willy-wonka-star-paris-themmen-183017027.html|title=Willy Wonka Star Paris Themmen's Wife Nikki Grillos Was Also on Jeopardy! - and Took Home $32,000|date=March 16, 2018|website=People|via=Yahoo! News|first=Aurelle|last=Corinthlos|accessdate=September 27, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=10233|title=J! Archive - Nikki Grillos|website=J! Archive|access-date=September 13, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvinsider.com/674067/willy-wonka-paris-themmen-mike-teavee-jeopardy/|title=Paris Themmen, Original Mike Teavee Actor in 'Willy Wonka,' Appears on 'Jeopardy!'|website=TV Insider|date=March 15, 2018|first=Meaghan|last=Darwish|accessdate=September 14, 2022}}</ref>
===Jackie Fuchs===
{{main|Jackie Fox}}
'''Jackie Fuchs''', an attorney and former musician who was a bassist for The Runaways under her stage name Jackie Fox, appeared on ''Jeopardy!'' as a regular contestant in December 2018. She won four games, accumulating $87,089 in winnings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/runaways-jackie-fuchs-teen-musician-reigning-jeopardy-champ|title=Jackie Fuchs: From Musician To 'Jeopardy' Champ|date=2018-12-20|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-02}}</ref>
===James Holzhauer===
{{main|James Holzhauer}}
[[File:JamesHolzhauerTheChase.jpg|thumb|right|upright|James Holzhauer]] '''James Holzhauer''', a professional sports gambler from Las Vegas, Nevada,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/tv/las-vegas-sports-gambler-crushes-jeopardy-record-1637262/|title=Las Vegas sports gambler crushes 'Jeopardy!' record|first=Christopher|last=Lawrence|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=April 9, 2019|access-date=April 9, 2019}}</ref> and a native of Naperville, Illinois,<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-jeopardy-naperville-native-st-0410-story.html|title=Naperville native sets new 'Jeopardy!' record for 1-day winnings with $110,914; 4-day streak continues|work=Naperville Sun|date=April 10, 2019|access-date=April 10, 2019}}</ref> set the single-game ''Jeopardy!'' winnings record of $110,914 during his fourth appearance on the show in April 2019, beating the previous record of $77,000 held by Roger Craig.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.thewrap.com/jeopardy-james-holzhauer-breaks-single-day-cash-winnings-record/|title='Jeopardy!' Contestant Destroys Show's Single-Day Cash Winnings Record|work=The Wrap|date=April 9, 2019|access-date=April 9, 2019}}</ref> He eclipsed his own record on April 17 with a final single-game total of $131,127. He holds the top 16 single-game winnings records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame|title=Hall of Fame {{!}} Jeopardy.com|website=www.jeopardy.com|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> At $25,000, he also exceeded Philip Tiu's prior record of $19,000 for largest successful Daily Double wager.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbc26.com/news/national/jeopardy-champ-uses-unusually-large-wagers-to-victory|title=Jeopardy champ uses large wagers to win|work=WGBA-TV|date=March 16, 2016|access-date=April 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-jeopardy-second-highest-st-0414-story.html#nt=oft02a-1la1|title=Naperville native's latest 'Jeopardy!' win is second-highest in a single day, bringing total to more than $400,000|work=Naperville Sun|date=April 12, 2019|access-date=April 13, 2019}}</ref> At $60,013, he exceeded his own prior record of $38,314 for largest successful Final Jeopardy wager of all time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-holzhauer-record-st-0418-story.html|title=Naperville native breaks single-day 'Jeopardy!' winning record — again — with $131K in winnings|work=Naperville Sun|date=April 17, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2019}}</ref>
Before Holzhauer, the record for largest successful Final Jeopardy wager was $34,000, held by Austin Rogers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lxsKbvCZB6A |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/lxsKbvCZB6A |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Game 6: Austin Rogers' $69,000 Single Game Winnings JEOPARDY!|work=YouTube|date=October 3, 2017 |access-date=April 20, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> His $298,687 total winnings across his first five days also surpassed the five-day record set in 1990 by Frank Spangenberg (when adjusted for the changes in the values of the clues)—the only contestant to do so. He is now the second-highest winning contestant in regular game (non-tournament) winnings, surpassed only by Ken Jennings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2019/04/16/jeopardy-winner-contestant-james-holzhauer-ken-jennings-winnings/3482124002/|title='Jeopardy!' contestant James Holzhauer second only to legend Ken Jennings in winnings|work=USA Today|date=April 16, 2019|access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref> In addition to an aggressive wagering strategy, Holzhauer also goes for the highest values on the board first to amass his totals quickly, making it more difficult for his opponents to catch up, and increasing the money he has available to wager when he hits a Daily Double.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/jeopardy-winner-james-holzhauer-sets-sights-new-record-t152397|title=A Las Vegas pro gambler is rewriting the 'Jeopardy!' record book — here's how|first=Scott|last=Stump|work=Today|date=April 18, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2019}}</ref>
Holzhauer lost on June 3, 2019, to Emma Boettcher, making his 32 wins the fourth-longest streak in show history, and his total winnings of $2,462,216 are the second-highest in regular-season play. Holzhauer also had won the third-most money overall on the show as of June 6, 2019, and counting winnings on all game shows, is third overall after winning the Tournament of Champions in a rematch with Boettcher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thejeopardyfan.com/2019/06/final-jeopardy-6-3-2019.html|title=Today's Final Jeopardy – June 3, 2019|date=June 3, 2019|work=The Jeopardy! Fan|access-date=June 3, 2019}}</ref> He then went on to participate in the ''Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time'' primetime event, winning one of four matches and finishing second overall behind Jennings.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Keveney |first1=Bill |last2=Haas |first2=Susan |title=Ken Jennings is 'Jeopardy': Greatest of All Time winner |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/01/14/ken-jennings-jeopardy-greatest-all-time-winner/4469160002/ |website=USA Today|access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref>
Holzhauer has a Bachelor of Science in liberal arts & sciences major in mathematics<ref>{{cite web|url=http://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/mathematics-bslas/|title=Mathematics, BSLAS|work=University of Illinois Board of Trustees|access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2019/04/sports-gambler-james-holzhauer-aggressive-style-jeopardy-33890.htm|title=Professional Sports Gambler James Holzhauer's Aggressive Style Paying Off on Jeopardy!|work=PokerNews|date=April 12, 2019|access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> Before his performance on ''Jeopardy!'', Holzhauer was on two other television game shows: ''The Chase'' on September 2, 2014,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GpkLLtvvijc|title=The Chase Jeopardy's James Holzhauer Plays Sept 2, 2014|work=YouTube|access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> and ''500 Questions'' on May 22, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4703414/|title=500 Questions: Episode #1.3|work=IMDb|date=May 22, 2015|access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> Of the two shows, he had the greater success on ''The Chase''. In the final ''Chase'' round (as team leader with two other contestants participating), Holzhauer defeated Mark Labbett (''"The Beast"'') with a score of 26–9, splitting a prize of $175,000 with his team.<ref name="auto"/>
===Emma Boettcher=== '''Emma Boettcher''', a 27-year-old University of Chicago librarian, supplanted James Holzhauer as ''Jeopardy!'' champion on June 3, 2019, preventing him from surpassing the $2.52 million Ken Jennings earned during his 2004 winning streak. Boettcher was the highest-winning female contestant in any single game of ''Jeopardy!'' with $46,801, surpassing the $46,600 Maria Wenglinsky earned on November 1, 2005.<ref name=Emma /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-emma-boettcher-jeopardy-recap-20190605-story.html|title=Chicago librarian Emma Boettcher probably won't use her 'Jeopardy!' winnings to visit Rockford|first=Tracy|last=Swartz|work=Chicago Tribune|date=June 5, 2019|access-date=June 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |series=Jeopardy! |network=Syndication |date=June 5, 2019 |season=35 |language=en |publisher=Sony Pictures Television }}</ref> She won three games, for a total of $98,002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-emma-boettcher-jeopardy-recap-20190606-story.html|title=Did Chicago librarian Emma Boettcher extend her 'Jeopardy!' win streak?|first=Tracy|last=Swartz|work=Chicago Tribune|date=June 6, 2019|access-date=June 6, 2019}}</ref> Boettcher's performance was unusual in that most contestants who upset a long-running champion lose in their next episode;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/06/jeopardy-mega-champion-loss-history.html|title=What Happens After You Defeat a Jeopardy! Megachampion?|first=Devon|last=Ivie|work=Vulture|date=June 4, 2019|access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref> only Jonathan Fisher (who defeated 38-game champion Matt Amodio) had greater success than Boettcher following the defeat of someone who had won more than 10 games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/contestants/jonathan-fisher-becomes-5-day-jeopardy-champion|title=Jonathan Fisher Becomes 5-Day Jeopardy! Champion | J!Buzz | Jeopardy.com|website=www.jeopardy.com}}</ref>
Boettcher said she would use her first-day winnings to pay off student loans and give back to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science, where she received her master's degree in information science in 2016. Her master's paper for that degree, "Predicting the Difficulty of Trivia Questions Using Text Features", relied on ''Jeopardy!'' clues.<ref name=Emma /> Boettcher received her bachelor's degree in English from Princeton in 2014. She has worked at the University of Chicago as a user experience resident librarian<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.carli.illinois.edu/user-experience-resident-librarian-university-chicago|title=User Experience Resident Librarian – University of Chicago|author=mjhuls|date=June 29, 2018|website=carli.illinois.edu|publisher=Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois|access-date=June 6, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=May 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> since August 2016, with her focus on faculty and student experiences with the university's library services. She auditioned for the ''Jeopardy!'' College Championship while at Princeton, but was not selected.<ref name=Emma>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-jeopardy-james-holzhauer-emma-boettcher-20190603-story.html|title=Meet Emma Boettcher, the University of Chicago librarian who just beat James Holzhauer on ''Jeopardy!''|first=Tracy|last=Swartz|work=Chicago Tribune|date=June 3, 2019|access-date=June 3, 2019}}</ref>
Boettcher was granted a wild-card invitation to the 2019 Tournament of Champions, partly to set up a potential rematch with Holzhauer and partly because one of the automatic qualifiers, 2018 Teachers Tournament winner Larry Martin, died before reaching the tournament. Boettcher advanced to the finals of the tournament, landing a rematch with Holzhauer. She split the two-game final with him but lost by a larger margin in the first game, finishing as first runner-up with a $100,000 prize.<ref name=2019tocwin>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-james-holzhauer-jeopardy-final-tournament-day-st-1117-20191115-5t6sm3ovbbfuxo3tr4vo5x4o2y-story.html|title=Did James Holzhauer take the 'Jeopardy' Tournament of Champions crown? Or did Chicago librarian Emma Boettcher give him a run for the $250K prize?|first=Suzanne|last=Baker|work=Naperville Sun |location=Naperville, Illinois |publisher=Tribune Publishing|date=November 15, 2019|access-date=November 15, 2019}}</ref>
===Jason Zuffranieri=== '''Jason Zuffranieri''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|z|ʌ|f|r|ə|'|n|ɛər|iː}}), a 43-year-old<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/09/20/another-jeopardy-contestant-on-a-winning-streak|title=Another Jeopardy contestant on a winning streak|work=The Mercury News|date=September 20, 2019|access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> math teacher<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/contestant-profiles/who-jason-zuffranieri|title=Who is Jason Zuffranieri?|work=Jeopardy!|access-date=September 17, 2019}}</ref> at Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico,<ref name=Jason>{{cite news|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/1364844/abq-teacher-stars-wins-big-on-jeopardy.html|title=ABQ teacher stars, wins big on Jeopardy!|work=Albuquerque Journal|first=Celia|last=Raney|date=September 11, 2019|access-date=September 14, 2019}}</ref> won 19 games in a row, with total winnings of $532,496. He lost his 20th game on September 26, 2019, to Gabe Brison-Trezise, who prevented him from accumulating enough money to have a guaranteed win going into Final Jeopardy. Brison-Trezise gave the correct response to Final Jeopardy while Zuffranieri did not, relegating him to second place and $2,000.<ref>{{Cite episode|series=Jeopardy!|network=Syndication|date=September 24, 2019|season=36|language=en|publisher=Sony Pictures Television}}</ref>
With his performance, Zuffranieri became the fourth-winningest contestant in regular-season play, and moved into fifth place for most consecutive games won, tied with Madden and behind only Jennings, Holzhauer, Matt Amodio and Julia Collins.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame|title=Contestant Zone-Hall of Fame|work=Jeopardy!|access-date=September 14, 2019}}</ref> Zuffranieri is originally from Depew, New York, where much of his family still resides. He moved to Albuquerque during his childhood and was previously a rocket scientist before becoming a teacher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/2019/09/17/latest-long-running-jeopardy-champ-is-a-rocket-scientist-with-wny-roots/|title=Latest long-running 'Jeopardy!' champ is rocket scientist with WNY roots |first=Alan|last=Pergament|work=The Buffalo News|date=September 17, 2019|access-date=September 17, 2019}}</ref> He tried out for the show eight times before being selected to participate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/jeopardy-jason-zuffranieri-james-holzhauer-1461002|title=Who is Jason Zuffranieri? 'Jeopardy!' contestant is third highest regular season winner after James Holzhauer|first=Janice|last=Williams|work=Newsweek|date=September 24, 2019|access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> He returned for the 2021 Tournament of Champions and became a wildcard semifinalist after contestant Ryan Bilger won in a runaway game, but lost the semifinal match to Jennifer Quail, thus taking home a $10,000 consolation prize.
===Jennifer Quail=== '''Jennifer Quail''', a wine tasting consultant and published author<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Quail/e/B006QA7DWQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share|title=Jennifer Quail|work=Amazon|access-date=December 15, 2019}}</ref> from Dowagiac, Michigan, won $228,800 during her eight appearances on the show,<ref>{{Cite episode |series=Jeopardy! |network=Syndication |date=December 13, 2019 |season=36 |language=en |publisher=Sony Pictures Television }}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=dPgOGozdaWI|title=Jennifer Quail's 8-Win Streak – JEOPARDY!}}</ref> making her the second-most successful female contestant in terms of money won and consecutive appearances in regular play – behind Julia Collins and ahead of Larissa Kelly. She lost on her ninth appearance, finishing in second place, with a consolation prize of $2,000.<ref>{{Cite episode |series=Jeopardy! |network=Syndication |date=December 16, 2019 |season=36 |language=en |publisher=Sony Pictures Television }}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=e1WmddIHHDk|title=Jennifer Quail's Last Game: Final Jeopardy! – JEOPARDY!}}</ref> Quail appeared in the 2021 Tournament of Champions, finishing as the first runner-up to winner Sam Kavanaugh.
=== MacKenzie Jones === '''MacKenzie Jones''', a program development director from Tulsa, Oklahoma, won $204,808 in eight appearances on the show.<ref>{{Cite episode|series=Jeopardy!|network=Syndication|date=February 26, 2020|season=36|publisher=Sony Pictures Television}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Mackenzie Jones' 8-Game Streak {{!}} JEOPARDY!| date=February 27, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKUKWAUfBq8|language=en|access-date=2020-03-03}}</ref> She was the fourth female contestant to win eight or more games and the fourth female contestant to win $200,000 or more in regular play. On her third appearance,<ref>{{Cite episode|series=Jeopardy!|network=Syndication|date=February 19, 2020|season=36|publisher=Sony Pictures Television}}</ref> Jones tied Boettcher's highest single-game total for a female contestant during regular play at $46,801, beating her opponent on that day by $1. She lost on her ninth appearance, finishing in second place, earning an additional $2,000. She returned for the 2021 Tournament of Champions, but failed to win her first match, taking home a consolation prize of $5,000.
=== Brayden Smith === '''Brayden Smith''', a policy intern from Las Vegas, Nevada, won $115,798 in five appearances on the show.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_-dGhKp-aw |title=Brayden Smith's 5-Game Streak {{!}} JEOPARDY! |date=2021-01-05 |last=Jeopardy! |access-date=2021-01-06 |via=}}</ref> He was the final five-game champion of the Trebek era. Smith was known for his uncanny ability to find Daily Doubles as he found (and answered correctly) all nine Daily Doubles in the first three games of his run.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reilly |first=Kaitlin |date=2021-02-12 |title=Jeopardy! Champion Brayden Smith Dead at 24 |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jeopardy-champion-brayden-smith-dead-201911120.html |access-date=2021-02-13 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moniuszko |first=Sara M. |date=December 18, 2020 |title='Jeopardy!' contestant has fans nostalgic about late host Alex Trebek |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/12/18/jeopardy-winner-brayden-smith-has-fans-nostalgic-alex-trebek/3955384001/ |access-date=2021-01-01 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> On February 5, 2021, Smith died suddenly and unexpectedly at age 24,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levenson |first=Michael |date=2021-02-13 |title=Brayden Smith, Five-Time 'Jeopardy!' Champion, Dies at 24 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/13/arts/television/brayden-smith-dead.html |access-date=2021-02-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and his family set up a donation fund in his name, which ''Jeopardy!'' ended up donating to, as was revealed in the 2021 Tournament of Champions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aquilina |first=Tyler |date=2021-05-22 |title=Jeopardy pays tribute to late champion Brayden Smith, announces donation in his honor |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/jeopardy-pays-tribute-champion-brayden-000006828.html |access-date=2021-05-28 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-CA}}</ref>
=== Matt Amodio ===
{{main|Matt Amodio}}
Matt Amodio, a PhD student in computer science at Yale University<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/jeopardy-champion-matt-amodio-interview/ |last=Aquilina |first=Tyler |title=Jeopardy champion Matt Amodio on LeVar Burton, pop culture, and why he didn't want to try out for the show|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 31, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Weisholtz |first1=Drew |title=Current 'Jeopardy!' champion becomes 3rd-highest earner in show's history |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/jeopardy-champ-matt-amodio-now-3rd-highest-winner-show-s-t228159 |website=Today |access-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813131729/https://www.today.com/popculture/jeopardy-champ-matt-amodio-now-3rd-highest-winner-show-s-t228159 |archive-date=August 13, 2021 |date=August 13, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> and a native of Medina County, Ohio,<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/09/22/jeopardy-records-matt-amodio-ken-jennings-james-holzhauer-osu-medina/5812304001/|title=Medina County native and OSU grad Matt Amodio continues 'Jeopardy!' streak with 27th win|work=USA Today Network|date=September 24, 2021}}</ref> won $1,518,601 during his 38 consecutive wins on the show,<ref>{{Cite episode|series=Jeopardy!|network=Syndication|date=August 13, 2021|season=37|publisher=Sony Pictures Television}}</ref> making him the third millionaire contestant (based on regular-season play) after Jennings and Holzhauer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/tv/jeopardy-matt-amodio-becomes-third-player-to-win-1-million/?utm=newsbreak|title=Ph.D. Student Matt Amodio Becomes Third Jeopardy! Champion to Win $1 Million in Regular Play|work=People|date=September 26, 2021|first=Nicholas|last=Rice}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame|title=Jeopardy! Contestant Zone: Highest Winnings (Regular-Season Play)|work=Jeopardy!|date=August 26, 2021}}</ref> He is the third-highest earner of all time in regular-season play,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame|title=Jeopardy! Contestant Zone: Highest Winnings (Regular-Season Play)|work=Jeopardy!|date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> has won the third-highest number of consecutive games,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame|title=Jeopardy! Contestant Zone: Consecutive Games Won|work=Jeopardy!|date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> and is the fourth-biggest all-time winner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame|title=Jeopardy! Contestant Zone: All-Time Winnings (including tournaments)|work=Jeopardy!|date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> During season 37, Amodio qualified as the second seed in the next Tournament of Champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/toc-tracker|title=Jeopardy! Contestant Zone: Eligible for Next Tournament of Champions|work=Jeopardy!|date=August 2, 2021}}</ref> Amodio is noted for his strategy of consistently prefacing his responses with "What's" instead of adjusting the interrogative pronoun to fit the response. He chose this method because ''Jeopardy!'' rules allow any question containing the correct response to be used; by not having to adjust the pronoun, he has one less thing to think about when formulating a response, potentially speeding response time.<ref name=ap-amodio>{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/culture/tv/2021/08/13/jeopardy-champ-matt-amodios-analytic-style-is-a-winner/|title='Jeopardy!' champ Matt Amodio's analytic style is a winner|first=Lynn|last=Elber|agency=Associated Press|date=August 13, 2021|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> He has credited Wikipedia's format for allowing him to meander through various topics in a random but logical progression and learn content quickly.<ref name="ap-amodio"/> His 38-game winning streak is often called "The Amodio Rodeo".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-01|title='Amodio Rodeo' continues on 'Jeopardy!' as he wrangles second-most consecutive wins|url=https://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/2021/10/amodio-rodeo-continues-on-jeopardy-as-he-wrangles-second-most-consecutive-wins.html|access-date=2022-01-17|website=pennlive|language=en}}</ref>
=== Jonathan Fisher === '''Jonathan Fisher''', an actor originally from Coral Gables, Florida, won $246,100 in 11 wins on ''Jeopardy!'', losing his 12th appearance.<ref name="Andy Saunders">{{cite web |url=https://thejeopardyfan.com/2021/10/final-jeopardy-10-26-2021.html |title= Today's Final Jeopardy – Monday, October 25, 2021 |website=The Jeopardy Fan |access-date=25 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thejeopardyfan.com/2021/10/final-jeopardy-10-26-2021.html|title = Today's Final Jeopardy - Tuesday, October 26, 2021|date = October 26, 2021}}</ref> He ended Amodio's 38-game streak on October 11, 2021.<ref name=Jeopardy-20211011>{{cite episode |series= Jeopardy! |title= 11 October 2021 }}</ref> During season 38, he qualified as the second seed in the next Tournament of Champions until Amy Schneider surpassed him on December 1, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/toc-tracker|title=Jeopardy! Contestant Zone: Eligible for Next Tournament of Champions|work=Jeopardy!|date=December 2, 2021}}</ref> Fisher was the first contestant to have a winning streak of at least ten games after defeating another champion who also won at least ten games.<ref name=Jeopardy-20211025>{{cite episode |series= Jeopardy! |title= 25 October 2021 }}</ref> He became the 11th contestant to achieve ten wins.<ref name=Jeopardy-20211025/> His winning streak ended on October 26, 2021, when he lost to Nancy Donehower.<ref name=Jeopardy-20211026>{{cite episode |series= Jeopardy! |title= 26 October 2021 }}</ref>
=== Amy Schneider ===
thumb|right|Schneider in 2022 {{Main|Amy Schneider}}
Amy Schneider, an engineering manager from Oakland, California, won $1,382,800 and 40 games in a row, the second-longest winning streak in ''Jeopardy!''{{'}}s history<ref>{{Cite episode|series=Jeopardy!|network=Syndication|date=January 13, 2022|season=38|publisher=Sony Pictures Television}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=vHFMLB99Xpg}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=December 2, 2021|title=Jeopardy! Contestant Zone: Consecutive Games Won|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame|work=Jeopardy!}}</ref><ref name="today">{{cite web|last=Weisholtz|first=Drew|date=January 4, 2022|title=What is the 'Jeopardy!' Monday curse — and did Amy Schneider break it?|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/jeopardy-monday-curse-amy-schneider-break-rcna10846|website=Today}}</ref> and the fourth-highest winnings in regular-season play.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame|title=Jeopardy! Contestant Zone: Highest Winnings (Regular-Season Play)|work=Jeopardy!|date=December 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jeopardy-amy-schneider-fourth-highest-earning|title='Jeopardy' champion Amy Schneider is the fourth highest-earning contestant in history|website=Fox News|date=December 23, 2021|first=Tyler|last=McCarthy}}</ref> Schneider is the fifth-biggest all-time winner,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame|title=Jeopardy! Contestant Zone: All-Time Winnings (including tournaments)|work=Jeopardy!|date=December 29, 2021}}</ref><ref name=today /> and the fourth regular-season millionaire (after Jennings, Holzhauer, and Amodio), while being the first transgender and female one.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame|title=Jeopardy! Contestant Zone: Highest Winnings (Regular-Season Play)|work=Jeopardy!|date=January 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/overheard/overheard-set-whats-it-be-jeopardy-millionaire|title=Overheard On Set: "What's it like to be a JEOPARDY! Millionaire?"|work=Jeopardy!|date=January 7, 2022}}</ref> During season 38, she qualified as the first seed in the next Tournament of Champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/toc-tracker|title=Jeopardy! Contestant Zone: Eligible for Next Tournament of Champions|work=Jeopardy!|date=December 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name=toc>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/12/02/jeopardy-amy-schneider-winning-streak/|title=Amy Schneider has made 'Jeopardy!' history — and helped the show find calm after chaos|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=December 2, 2021|first=Emily|last=Yahr}}</ref> On November 21, she won the tournament, along with its $250,000 grand prize.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who did 'Jeopardy!' crown winner in its Tournament of Champions? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jeopardy-crown-winner-tournament-champions-rcna58227 |work=NBC News |language=en|author=Li, David K.|date=November 21, 2022}}</ref> She was the first openly transgender person to compete in, and to win, the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/life/2022/11/jeopardy-tournament-of-champions-has-first-openly-transgender-winner.html|title='Jeopardy!' Tournament of Champions has first openly transgender winner|first=Deb|last=Kiner|date=November 22, 2022|website=pennlive}}</ref> Of the significance of her gender identity, she said: "The fact is, I don't actually think about being trans all that often, and so when appearing on national television, I wanted to represent that part of my identity accurately: as important, but also relatively minor."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/tv/transgender-jeopardy-champ-amy-schneider-downside/|title=Transgender 'Jeopardy!' Champ Amy Schneider Opened Up About What Actually 'Sucks' About Her Winning Streak|first=Kimberly|last=Ricci|work=Uproxx|date=November 27, 2021|access-date=November 27, 2021}}</ref> === Sam Buttrey ===
{{Main|Sam Buttrey}}
Sam Buttrey is a podcaster, bon vivant, and retired Associate Professor of Operations Research at the Naval Postgraduate School living in Pacific Grove, California. He won $100,000 in the 2021 Jeopardy Professors Tournament and a spot in the 2022 Tournament of Champions. Buttrey appeared in the 2022 Tournament of Champions and finished third behind Andrew He and Amy Schneider.
=== Mattea Roach ===
{{Main|Mattea Roach}}
Mattea Roach, a tutor living in Toronto, Ontario, and originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, won 23 games in a row (moving them into fifth place for the most consecutive games won in show history) with their run ending on May 6, 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=2022-05-06 |title='Jeopardy!' Champion Mattea Roach's Bid For 24th Consecutive Win Comes Down To $1 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/jeopardy-mattea-roach-loses-by-single-dollar-1235018357/ |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref> having won US$560,983 (sixth in show history).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Mattea Roach makes it win No. 23 on Jeopardy!, but needed a big comeback {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8813373/mattea-roach-23rd-win-jeopardy/ |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref> They are the longest-running and highest-earning Canadian champion in ''Jeopardy!'' history.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McKeen |first=Alex |date=2022-04-22 |title=Mattea Roach is on the longest 'Jeopardy!' winning streak for a Canadian. Here's how it's giving her and her |language=en-CA |work=The Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/04/22/mattea-roach-is-on-the-longest-jeopardy-winning-streak-for-a-canadian-heres-how-its-giving-her-and-her-family-a-new-way-to-think-about-joy.html |access-date=2022-04-22 |issn=0319-0781}}</ref> Roach was seeded third in the 2022 Tournament of Champions, behind Amy Schneider and Matt Amodio.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/toc-tracker | title=Jeopardy! - TOC Tracker }}</ref>
=== Ryan Long ===
Ryan Long won 16 games in May and June 2022, and $299,400. He lost his 17th game to future six-day winner and 2022 Tournament of Champions semifinalist Eric Ahasic. Ryan also appeared in the 2022 Tournament of Champions, losing in the quarterfinals to Maureen O'Neil. His previous jobs include dishwasher, water ice truck driver, piano delivery guy, airport security worker, supermarket cashier, bouncer, street sweeper, warehouse laborer, package handler, office clerk, CCT operator, and rideshare driver.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryan Long on his journey from rideshare driver to 16-game Jeopardy! champion |url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/contestant-profiles/ryan-long-his-journey-rideshare-driver-16-game-jeopardy-champion |access-date=7 June 2022 |work=Jeopardy! |date=6 June 2022 |location=CA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thisamericanlife.org/785/through-the-looking-glass/act-two-6|title=Who is Ryan Long?|website=This American Life|date=November 25, 2022 |accessdate=1 December 2022}}</ref>
===Cris Pannullo===
Cris Pannullo, a customer success operations manager from Ocean City, New Jersey, won $748,286 during his 21 appearances in October, November and December 2022.<ref>{{cite web|last=O’Conner |first=Devin |date=2022-12-06 |title= 'Jeopardy!' Champ Cris Pannullo Wins 21st Game, Poker Credited for Historic Run |url= https://www.casino.org/news/jeopardy-champ-cris-pannullo-wins-21st-game-poker-credited/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Casino.org |language=en-US}}</ref> His games were interrupted by the Tournament of Champions and Second Chance Tournament.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/12/07/jeopardy-winner-cris-pannullo-streak-ends-loses-andy-tirrell/10851158002/|title='Disappointment for sure': 'Jeopardy!' champ Cris Pannullo's 21-game winning streak ends|last=Jensen|first=Erin|work=USA Today|date=December 7, 2022|access-date=December 8, 2022}}</ref> Pannullo was defeated on the December 6, 2022 episode by Andy Tirrell.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Andy Tirrell Discusses Taking Down Super-Champion Cris Pannullo {{!}} J!Buzz {{!}} Jeopardy.com |url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/contestants/andy-tirrell-discusses-taking-down-super-champion-cris-pannullo |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=www.jeopardy.com |language=en}}</ref>
=== Andrew Tirrell === Andrew Tirrell, professor of political science and international relations from San Diego, California, won $67,399 during six appearances, including regular season contests in December of 2022, and appearances in the 2024 Champions Wildcard Tournament. Tirrell defeated 21-game champion Cris Pannullo on December 6, 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Andy Tirrell Discusses Taking Down Super-Champion Cris Pannullo {{!}} J!Buzz {{!}} Jeopardy.com |url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/contestants/andy-tirrell-discusses-taking-down-super-champion-cris-pannullo |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=www.jeopardy.com |language=en}}</ref> and won $50,000 as runner-up to Juveria Zaheer in the Champions Wildcard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Season 39 Champions Wildcard {{!}} Jeopardy.com |url=https://www.jeopardy.com/track/2024/champions-wildcard-s39 |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=www.jeopardy.com |language=en}}</ref> He served as the alternate for the 2024 Tournament of Champions. During his first-day Jeopardy! contestant chat, Tirrell discussed the fisheries research he conducted in Arctic Norway, while his second-day contestant chat revealed his plans to use part of his winnings to start backyard beekeeping with his son, Theo.
===Hannah Wilson===
Hannah Wilson, a data scientist from Chicago, Illinois, won $229,801 during her eight appearances in May 2023, and has qualified for the Tournament of Champions. Hannah has identified herself as transgender and has cited Amy Schneider as an inspiration to compete on the show.<ref>{{cite web|date=2023-05-12 |title=Hannah Wilson is an Eight-Time Jeopardy! Champion |url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/streaker-updates/hannah-wilson-eight-game-jeopardy-champion | language=en-US}}</ref>
===Ben Chan===
Ben Chan, a philosophy professor from Green Bay, Wisconsin, won $252,600 during his nine appearances in April<ref>{{cite web|date=2023-04-17 |title=St. Norbert professor Ben Chan's 3-game run as a 'Jeopardy!' champ has been temporarily delayed |url=https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/entertainment/television/2023/04/17/ben-chans-run-as-a-jeopardy-champ-has-been-delayed-until-may/70121297007/ | work=Green Bay Press-Gazette | first=Kendra | last=Meinert | language=en-US}}</ref> and May 2023, and has qualified for the Tournament of Champions. All nine of his wins were runaway victories.<ref>{{cite web|date=2023-05-23 |title=Jeopardy! Champion Ben Chan's Streak Ends With Nine Wins |url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/streaker-updates/jeopardy-champion-ben-chans-streak-ends-nine-wins | work=Jeopardy! | language=en-US}}</ref>
===Adriana Harmeyer===
Adriana Harmeyer, an archivist in West Lafayette, Indiana, from Huntington, West Virginia, won $351,600 during her 15-day win-streak in June and qualified three times over for the Tournament of Champions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Colegrove |first=Andrew |date=2024-06-07 |title=Huntington native wins 7th straight game on Jeopardy! |url=https://www.wsaz.com/2024/06/07/huntington-native-wins-7th-straight-game-jeopardy/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=WSAZ |language=en}}</ref> On June 19, Drew Basile from Birmingham, Michigan defeated Harmeyer to end her historic run.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rather |first=Joey |title=West Virginia native ends 15-day Jeopardy! winning streak with $350,000+ |url=https://www.wboy.com/news/west-virginia/west-virginia-native-ends-15-day-jeopardy-winning-streak-with-350000/ |website=WBOY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Maggie |first=Susa |date=2024-06-19 |title=Adriana Harmeyer earns more than $300K in 'Jeopardy!' winning streak |url=https://www.waynecountynews.com/news/adriana-harmeyer-earns-more-than-300k-in-jeopardy-winning-streak/article_079845ea-7630-596c-8bf6-faf72000843e.html |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Wayne County News |language=en}}</ref>
=== Jay Fisher === {{main|John J. Fisher Jr.}}
Jay Fisher, a former appointed State Senator from Illinois for 22 hours, defeated nine-day champion Issac Hirsch and won $31,200 before losing on his fourth appearance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings takes 'cheap shot directed' at Illinois contestant and former senator - The Mirror US |url=https://www.themirror.com/entertainment/tv/jeopardy-ken-jennings-illinois-contestant-596505 |work=www.themirror.com}}</ref>
=== Scott Riccardi === Scott Riccardi, an engineer from Somerville, New Jersey, won $455,000 during his 16-day winning streak, including $3,000 for finishing second in the season 41 finale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scott Riccardi's 16-Game Winning Streak Comes to an End {{!}} J!Buzz {{!}} Jeopardy.com |url=https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/streaker-updates/scott-riccardis-16-game-winning-streak-comes-end,%20https://www.jeopardy.com/jbuzz/streaker-updates/scott-riccardis-16-game-winning-streak-comes-end |access-date=December 5, 2025 |website=www.jeopardy.com |language=en |publication-date=July 25, 2025}}</ref>
=== Harrison Whitaker === Harrison Whitaker, a researcher from Terre Haute, Indiana, won $373,999 over the course of his 14-day winning streak, from November 11 to December 1, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peitzman |first=Louis |date=2025-12-02 |title=Jeopardy! Super-Champ Harrison Whitaker Never Stopped Being Nervous |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/jeopardy-harris-whitaker-win-streak-interview-accent-toc-strategy.html |access-date=2025-12-05 |website=Vulture |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mark |first=Bennett |date=December 1, 2025 |title=Final question ends Harrison Whitaker's 14-day win streak on 'Jeopardy!' |url=https://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/final-question-ends-harrison-whitakers-14-day-win-streak-on-jeopardy/article_f3d2d615-601d-4b90-b3e6-ee12ea149e7e.html |access-date=December 5, 2025 |website=Tribune-Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Harrison Whitaker's Game-By-Game Statistics |url=https://thejeopardyfan.com/statistics/harrison-whitaker-jeopardy-statistics |access-date=December 5, 2025 |website=The Jeopardy! Fan |language=en-US}}</ref> ===Jamie Ding=== Jamie Ding is a public-sector professional and weekend law student from Lawrenceville, New Jersey. On March 17, 2026, he set the record for the highest Coryat score in ''Jeopardy!'' history at $42,400.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sims |first1=Brittany |title=‘Jeopardy!’ Contestant Smashes Ken Jennings’ All-Time Record |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1252487/jeopardy-jamie-ding-smashes-ken-jennings-coryat-record-game-three-win/ |website=tvinsider |access-date=15 April 2026 |date=March 17, 2026}}</ref> On April 9, 2026, he tied the record held by Ken Jennings for the most correct responses in one game at 45.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blanchet |first1=Brenton |title=Jeopardy! Champion Continues Impressive Winning Streak as He Ties Longtime Record Held by Host Ken Jennings |url=https://people.com/jeopardy-champion-winning-streak-ken-jennings-record-11947279 |website=people.com |access-date=16 April 2026 |date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> On April 27, 2026, his 31-game winning streak came to an end with winnings over $880,000 <ref>{{cite web |last1=Hottermann |first1=Callie |title=A humble 'Jeopardy!' champ ends his run. Jamie Ding, a self-described 'faceless bureaucrat' from New Jersey, became a TV sensation during his 31-game winning streak. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/style/jeopardy-streak-jamie-ding.html |website=nytimes |access-date=27 April 2026 |date=April 27, 2026}}</ref> – the fifth longest winning streak and fifth highest winnings in regular play, behind Jennings, Schneider, Amodio, and Holzhauer.<ref>{{cite web |last=Connolly |first= John |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/tv/2026/04/15/nj-jamie-ding-alone-in-5th-place-all-time-after-24th-jeopardy-win/89631995007/ |title=NJ's Jamie Ding alone in 5th place all-time after 24th 'Jeopardy!' win |date=April 15, 2026 |website=New Jersey Herald |access-date=16 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Connolly |first1=John |title=Jeopardy!' champ Jamie Ding wins 27th, moves into Top 5 on money list |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/jeopardy-champ-jamie-ding-wins-232852284.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9kdWNrZHVja2dvLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALY5otk-nuqAVmPNxA_KFTwSXZt4kcBRcZNbAnyBK5yWI-qsPjapBL_zrxIwhtPSM9Yb2QUIkwlTeIzVUBp4OgNzr8oGSy2AtE6apUth9LrRP9DQGkp6cMSPZTXs_Ky6xEKuvPJZ2gZkPF-GUeHSP4yL50e6AUzoSFrLG5ttHS-E |website=yahoo |publisher=NorthJersey.com |access-date=21 April 2026 |date=April 20, 2026}}</ref>
== See also ==
* Strategies and skills of ''Jeopardy!'' champions
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links ==
*[https://www.jeopardy.com/contestant-zone/hall-of-fame ''Jeopardy'' top scoring players]
{{Jeopardy!}}
Category:Jeopardy! contestants Jeopardy! contestants Jeopardy! contestants Category:Jeopardy!