Who Is Amy Schneider? 6 Things to Know About ‘Jeopardy!’ Champion
Season 38 of Jeopardy! has made for some really impressive champions so far as Amy Schneider continues to dominate the game playing field.
Following in the footsteps of the show’s other recent champion, Matt Amodio, Amy is keeping calm, cool, and collected as she answers clues with ease among her competitors. As she continues to break records and make Jeopardy! history, we’re rounding up some things viewers should know about this impressive player.
Where Does She Rank Among Winners?
Upon her 14th victory, Amy became the fourth biggest winner from non-tournament games behind Matt Amodio ($1,518,601), James Holzhauer ($2,462,216), and current guest host Ken Jennings ($2,520,700). As of December 22, 2021, Amy . Will she keep it up? It certainly seems possible.

(Credit: Jeopardy Productions, Inc.)
Where Is She From?
Amy hails from the San Francisco Bay Area as she currently resides in Oakland, California.
What Is Her Job?
According to Amy’s Jeopardy! profile, she’s currently working as an engineer manager.
How Is She Making Jeopardy! History?
Amy is the first woman to break the top earnings spots and is Jeopardy!‘s biggest-winning trans champion to date. She’s also the first out transgender contestant who will compete in Jeopardy!‘s Tournament of Champions.
I may have been overly ambitious in my plans for today. More Jeopardamy content is coming, but for now please enjoy Meep, standing guard in bed, and helping me with my social media pic.twitter.com/DSZEIxpOc0
— Amy Schneider (@Jeopardamy) December 9, 2021
What Is the Significance of Her Wizard of Oz Tattoo?
In one of Amy’s most recent episodes, she explained the origin of her tattoo which is covered during tapings. The image depicts a character from L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz books, that Amy connected with when transitioning. As Amy further explained on Twitter, her tattoo is of Princess Ozma. “She had been the rightful heir, but was kidnapped as a baby by a sorceress, who enchanted her to become a boy. Eventually, the enchantment is lifted, and she is revealed to be the beautiful princess she always was. So it seemed like the perfect image to commemorate my transition!”
What Is Her Personal Connection to the Show?
During Amy’s introductory episode, she revealed she was the second person in her family to compete on the game show after her former brother-in-law played. Clearly, she’s surpassed him by a wide margin as she’s become one of the show’s top competitors.
See how Amy continues to fare as Jeopardy!‘s 38th season continues.
Jeopardy!, Weeknights, Check your local listings
Conversation50 Comments
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G
Good for Amy. Brilliance is brilliance regardless of packaging.
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C
You go girl! Love watching your genius.
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O
I think greatness is greatness whether it's in sports or game shows. Let's appreciate the greatness that she's exhibiting. Tiger Woods brought me back to golf, James Holzhauer made Jeopardy "must see tv", I believe the same is true for Amy.
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C
Rock, love watching her own the show . Living her best life rock on girl 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼
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G
I think she is very brave because most people are blindsided. I like her and I hope she continues to go on. On. On. very smart lady which I applauded!
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B
Nice to see how smart some people are when they keep winning 🥇. They must’ve invested unbelievable time, patience and social sacrifice to able to be so smart. There winning are the tokens of there hard work. I want to see her win endlessly ❤️, Atta Girl 👧🏻 Amy
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O
With your permission, one little clarification. Years of study don't make you smart, they make you educated. One is born smart, or not.
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O
In the interviews she said she's from Ohio, lives in the Bay Area now
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G
Yay Amy! I used to listen to a podcast that she had with her former wife a few years ago. This was pre-trans. John Anneken is her former brother-in-law that was on Jeopardy.
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O
Amy is a great champ but this has been a terrible season of Jeopardy. Despite the great champs, too many uncompetitive runaway games. It gets too boring to watch when you practically know what the outcome is.
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O
You obviously don't understand the concept of games.
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O
Yes I do. All I was saying that desipte the many great champs, this season has been a failiure in my opionion because most of the games have been uncompetitive. And watching these games that have been mostly uncompetitive have been a complete bore. I
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J
I agree. I don't mind a champion who wins 5 or 7, even 10 games. After that it gets a little boring and non-competitive. Especially when the games are blow-outs, and the 'champion' has a runaway lead and can't be caught. No suspense, no drama, no fun.
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R
What's your damage? The clothes, name , persuasion don't alter the knowledge. It's a game of intellect, period.
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C
Yawn , I'm all for term limits
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B
She is very funny
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G
I very much appreciate that you let people post as freely as you do. I do like witty and thought-provoking conversation. What stays up is certainly your call. Thank you.
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G
Some of these threads have so many redactions the remaining 'replies' are like the holes in swiss cheese. (i.e. They have no context, which totally subverts the poster's meaning.)
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O
I think Amy Scheider is great and miss her already. I wish her the best.
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O
I m not a fan of hers! Her snickers after answers really bothers me n had ruined the fun of the game! If she host me n others will never watch Jeopardy again
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G
Me 2, watching them runaway is great, they all have the same chance at the beginning of show to do something but they dont, its strange..
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Agreed
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I agree
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G
I disagree, I like watching her take game for herself. Just my opinion, but i will say they had to have lowered the testing skills becaise when shes at 10k they have 200, thats very strange..
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G
I agree, She's brilliant
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B
What is the big deal about Jeopardy? Almost all answers can be easily found on Google. Why be impressed with a person who knows them?
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O
So a man is smarter than a woman? Misogyny and transphobia. Be better.
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R
So happy for Amy!
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O
Right in the article you are commenting on it states
"How Is She Making Jeopardy! History? Amy is the first woman to break the top earnings spots"...
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R
Woman
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C
Pretending, no. Emulating, yes. Which most people have no problem with, as long as they identify as such.
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B
Love her!
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O
OMGosh, Amy's continuous wins are not in the least boring. I'm rooting for her and amazed at the breath of her knowledge. I loved watching Matt, as well, and rooted for him to go on forever, but Amy really as me hooked. I hope she keeps on winning...I had to endure 2 weeks of the professors competition, to get back to Amy. I did enjoy the professors, but...
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R
Go get that million, Amy! You can do anything!
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O
Maybe she should host the show after she's finished cleaning house? I'm sure Alex would approve and be proud.
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P
Why do you guys even care about her biological gender? Lowkey, it doesn't affect you. Be glad the LGBTQ+ community is being represented and succeeding in such a biased world, especially one that's dominated by old cis/het white guys. 🙎 It's not make-believe, and it's not harmful to anyone. Our world is evolving and opening up to everyone.
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O
Humans have been around for 200,000 years. It's taken women 199,850 years of struggle to make some headway and get some parity in a world dominated by men!!! 'Amy' is not helping women or achieving anything for women.
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P
For trans women, yeah, she is. Amy is showing people it doesn't matter who you are, you can still succeed. It makes me sad that you feel such a need to discriminate against trans women. You're obviously a TERF and want feminists to be quote-unquote, "Real girls".
Cause ya know, you want to break stereotypes, but when anyone else wants to help, you kick them out of your little clique. "Amy", as you say, is inspiring people. It's pathetic that as soon as someone pops up, you immediately go onto your little computer and bash them. She's doing great, and you have something going on in your life you think warrants this kind of behavior, and it doesn't.
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O
I think Amy's achievement on Jeopardy is terrific and noteworthy. If you are trans that is fine too, you can live whatever lifestyle you choose to. But, you seem to think that women need your "help" to "break stereotypes". We don't. I paid my dues my whole life. And yet YOU "bash" me because I AM a woman!
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G
So women past menopause are "he" too? Got it.
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G
Had enough. Always like to see the challenger win. Get tired of the same person winning.
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G
I think a person should be limited to so many weeks. Same person all the time is boring to watch. Also, other competitors don’t have a chance. Amy runs away with every show and makes show boring because you know she is going to win. Limit no if weeks allowed to play
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C
Long runs are great for the game
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G
Your logic eludes me. The other contestants have the same chance and have frequently hit the daily doubles and got them wrong. Don't be miffed at Amy because she's better informed than they are, that's not her fault.
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C
It's a rare event when someone goes on a winning streak over multiple shows. The questions would not be different with any other contestant, so why is it suddenly boring when the same one goes on a streak? In my opinion, it adds to the excitement to see how long one contestant can make their streak last.
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O
Some people have more knowledge.
Do you also think they shouldn't test applicants, just pick random people off the street? I'm in awe of polymaths like her.
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G
Don’t watch then!
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O
I agree with you. There should be a cut off time.
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B
Agree. I get bored after a week or so of the same winner.
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In the original Art Fleming Jeopardy! episodes, I believe the limit was 5 wins and then off you went. Toodles! The excitement in having one person competing weeks on end is to see who is smarter than the champion. It’s the same reason why folks are drawn to loser sports teams on the professional and non-pro status - can they win at last? Will they lose?
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