To be able to compete in the marketplace, one must have a certain mindset Jeopardy!, but only the best of the best land in this winner’s circle. These are the highest-earning winners from the game show — and they’ve won millions.
Ken JenningsThis is one of the most famous high rollers from ABC’s series. The Washington-born author is the highest-earning American contestant on any American game show. He not only won $2,520,000.700 during his initial 74-show Jeopardy! show, but he also nearly doubled it in several special tournaments.
In 2005’s Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of ChampionsJennings took home $500,000 for second and in 2014, he was awarded a $100,000 second place prize in the Olympics. Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades. He returned to the winner’s circle in 2020 when he scored the $1 million first-place prize in the Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time. These are just a few of his most memorable tournaments.
Jennings was made a Jeopardy!In 2020, he became a consultant and began guest hosting in 2021. Alex Trebek‘s death.
Later in the year Matt AmodioWith a winning streak of 37 games, he entered the winners circle. Jennings is second for consecutive wins.
“Ken’s always been the face of Jeopardy! to me, so when I think of ‘Jeopardy!’ I think of him,” Amodio said in a press release in October 2021. “To [be] right behind him is a surreal experience.”
Jennings was extremely supportive of his successor. “What a run!” he tweeted after the Yale student’s streak ended with his 38th game on the October 11, 2021, episode.
“Referring to #Jeopardy, ‘you are half the man Ken Jennings is’ is a great compliment,” Amodio replied via Twitter, singing his predecessor’s praises. “Referring to life in general, it’s an even greater one. Thanks for being you, Ken [heart emoji].”
Despite being one of the most popular, Jeopardy!’s highest earners, Amodio revealed he doesn’t want to stop working as a researcher. “I still have no plans to spend a dime of my $1,518,601 winnings,” he wrote in an article for NewsweekHis last episode aired just days later. “I’m a frugal guy and I love having the opportunity to pack away a chunk of money should I need it in the future or to help out with kids.”
Amodio wasn’t the only history-making winner in 2021, though. Amy SchneiderShe was quickly the sixth highest-earning Jeopardy contestant. In December, she out-earned all female competitors who had more than $700,000.
Scroll down to view the highest-earning winners Jeopardy! (including tournaments):
