Since 2003, “Jeopardy!”
has seen a surge in high-performing contestants winning hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of dollars.
This resulted from removing the five-game streak limit, which made unlimited wins a possibility.
Ken Jennings who became a permanent “Jeopardy!”
But how have other memorable “Jeopardy!”
From the early “Jeopardy!”
winners have changed since achieving fame.
Ken Jennings
Before being named “Greatest of All Time” and a permanent “Jeopardy!”
During those years, Jennings watched “Jeopardy!”
every day after school, calling the show his “first love” in aninterview.
He later became a successful author, penning several trivia-themed books and a parenting book.
champions James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter before leaving the show to host “Jeopardy!”
It’s safe to say “Jeopardy!”
played a key role in Jennings' life trajectory a phenomenon dubbed the “J!
James Holzhauer
In 2019, James Holzhauer made headlines for his remarkable 32-game “Jeopardy!”
winning streak, which earned him $2,462,216 and put him at No.
2 for regular-season winnings behind Ken Jennings.
Masters” in May 2023.
He also planned to donate money to children’s charities.
Having never worked a 9-to-5 job, the Las Vegas-based champ still has plenty of business ventures.
Rutter is the “Jeopardy!”
1 for highest all-time earnings.
Rutter’s story is a bit different from our other champions.
He first appeared on “Jeopardy!”
in 2000 when players were limited to five wins.
The former high school quiz bowler gained many opportunities from his “Jeopardy!”
champion status, including a gig hosting a local radio quiz show.
Surprisingly, the idea of a career in entertainment only occurred to Rutter after a major tournament win.
Matt Amodio
Matt Amodio, a lifelong “Jeopardy!”
fan, only applied for the show at his dad’s urging.
He’s ranked No.
4 on the “Jeopardy!”
The champ shared that his winnings have certainly relieved his short-term worries about money.
“I will admit that I had some financial considerations in my immediate future …
So on a very practical level, that’s helpful,” he told Entertainment Weekly.
“But more importantly, the idea of just saying ‘Jeopardy!
champion’ … that’s just a tremendous source of pride for me.”
Amy Schneider
Becoming a “Jeopardy!”
Schneider is ranked No.
2 for consecutive games won, No.
The “Jeopardy!”
champ has sincetaken a gamble in her professional life.
Shetweetedin February 2022, “I quit my day job yesterday!
It’s a bit nerve-wracking to pivot from software engineer to… public figure, I guess?
Schneider’s work as a public figure has included advocating for the LGBTQ+ community.
And that November, she testified against an Ohio bill that would limit the rights of transgender minors.
Schneider is also ready to share her story, with a memoir scheduled to come out in October 2023.
Schnieder wrote in anessay for “Jeopardy!
Mattea Roach
In early 2022, Mattea Roach learned they’d appear on “Jeopardy!”
after submitting the online test only once “out of boredom,” they toldNBC News.
“I thought I was going to be kind of one and done.”
However, they went on a surprising 23-game winning streak.
Roach wrote for"Jeopardy!
“how the experience has changed them “forever for the better.”
They wrote, “I never expected that becoming a 23-day ‘Jeopardy!’
He returned for the 2022 “Tournament of Champions” and came in second place, earning $100,000.
He also appeared on “Jeopardy!
Masters” in May 2023, coming in fourth and leaving with another $100,000.
However, this wasn’t the only prize He went home with the “Jeopardy!”
We’re sure that He’s winnings will certainly come in handy as a new dad.
Professors Tournament” champion, winning the $100,000 grand prize.
Then, in May 2023, he competed in “Jeopardy!
Masters,” coming in sixth place and taking home another $50,000.
He also left with the friends he made from both tournaments.
“So great to split the prize money with Sam!”
Cris Pannullo
“Jeopardy!”
is not Cris Pannullo’s first foray into the game show world.
Pannullo’s streak, however, ended with his 22nd game.
Pannullo hasn’t shared any plans for his earnings, and his “Jeopardy!”
story is also far from finished.
Though he didn’t have the opportunity to compete in “Jeopardy!
champion” to that list.
In Long’s 2022 “Jeopardy!”
run, he won 16 consecutive games and earned over $300,000.
In September 2022, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney honored Long for becoming the top “Jeopardy!”
As for how he spent his winnings?
“I stuck some money aside, [I] bought a truck.
And the rest is none of your beeswax,“he told 6ABC.
Long applied for “Jeopardy!”
in September 2020, though he’d previously signed up and failed to compete.
Between his audition and show appearance, Long became very ill from COVID-19.
He shared with"Jeopardy!
For that, I am forever grateful.”
champion guest-hosted the 2021 “Tournament of Champions” while the show rotated through hosts.
In 2016, Cohen won nine consecutive games and walked away with $164,603.
He also returned as a team captain in 2019 for the “All-Star Games.”
Cohen was later asked to guest host the “Tournament of Champions.”
“of the honor.
The opportunities the show afforded Cohen didn’t stop there.
He was a frequent guest on the “Inside Jeopardy!”
podcast and now hosts a podcast called “This is Jeopardy!
… America’s Favorite Quiz Show.”
David Madden
A year after Ken Jennings' historic “Jeopardy!”
win, David Madden became the show’s next big winner.
In 2005, the Princeton University grad won $432,400 across 19 consecutive games.
Academic Bee and Bowl.
“My ‘Jeopardy!’
winnings provided the seed money and the impetus to get back involved in academic competition,” he explained.
“I cannot thank the show enough for that, as this truly is my dream job.”
Between her regular-season play and tournament winnings, Kelly earned a total of $655,930.
Like many of her fellow “Jeopardy!”
champions, her show winnings altered the course of her life.
“The money afforded by ‘Jeopardy!’
gave us the flexibility to take a different path and pursue more entrepreneurial jobs.”
Matt Jackson
Matt Jackson decided to apply for a spot on “Jeopardy!”
after a friend placed second in the College Championship in 2010 and encouraged him.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Jackson went on to earn another $200,000 in tournament winnings.
In 2018, Jackson shared his own “J!
Effect” story withthe show,which included a wealth of speaking opportunities.
run,” he said.
Jason Zuffranieri
Only 10 months after James Holzhauer’s historic “Jeopardy!”
Julia Collins
In 2014, Julia Collins won 20 consecutive “Jeopardy!”
games, putting her total winnings at $428,100.
Until Amy Schneider’s historic win in 2022, Collins had been the female “Jeopardy!”
contestant with the most consecutive games won.
Schneider even honored Collins during her own “Jeopardy!”
Kind of in tribute.”
In 2018, Collins told"Jeopardy!
“about the “unconventional opportunities” the show afforded her.
“My ‘Jeopardy!’
“This also included a month-long dream vacation to France, where she visited museums and took baking classes.
