‘Jeopardy!’ Champ Amy Schneider Surpasses $1 Million in Total Winnings

'Jeopardy!,' Amy Schneider, Surpasses $1 Million Mark
Jeopardy Productions, Inc.

Amy Schneider continues to cement her place in Jeopardy! history, becoming the fourth contestant to surpass $1 million in total winnings during her 28th consecutive win on Friday, January 7.

“It feels amazing, it feels strange,” said Schneider about her record-breaking achievement. “It’s not a sum of money I ever anticipated would be associated with my name.”

Taking home $42,200 during Friday’s episode, she joins champions Ken Jennings, James Holzhauer, and Matt Amodio in the million-dollar club by earning a total of $1,019,001 in non-tournament play, becoming the first female contestant to do so.

She is quickly beating Amodio’s recent achievements, as he surpassed the $1 million mark in September 2021 during his 28th game, as well, earning a total of $1,004,001. If Schneider’s lucky streak continues, she would need to win a total of 34 games to beat Amodio’s record for the second-most consecutive wins at 33. To take Amodio’s place as the third highest-winning contestant ever, she would need to earn over $500,000 to surpass the $1,518,601 total Amodio won over his 38-game streak. Schneider is only four games away from taking Holzhauer’s spot for the third-most consecutive wins at 32.

Longtime champ and current guest host Jennings still holds the records for most consecutive wins and highest winnings in regular season play with a total of $2,520,700. Behind him is Holzhauer with $2,462,216, who also holds to record for the highest winnings in a single game.

Schneider will return on Monday, January 10, to continue down her path of Jeopardy! domination.

Jeopardy!, Weeknights, Check your local listings




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  1. O

    OrangePumpkin

    Two personal opinions: 1. I think they are matching her against lesser contestants so her winning streak makes folks forget about the Mike Richards debacle. 2. I think since the champ gets first pick, she gets a head start and they get intimidated and lose heart; not every game but often.

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      OliveCactus

      She is answering to things i have never heard of . I don't they they are dumbing her down .

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        BlueBandAid

        No one said they are dumbing her down. As I understand it FdL is saying that they are not putting in the highest testing contestants against Amy. It's calculated to ensure a long run. Eventually, they'll bring in a ringer.

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          GreenWrench

          Some of the 'contestants' seem to be 'smart' but they fade. Last week serveral of them were ahead of her at half time. They fade, she does not.....

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    GoldGlasses

    Getting sick of Amy Schneider and the Jeopardy run of long-term winners. It gets very boring with the same person over and over. I was sick to death of Matt Amodio as well by the end. James Holzhauer was the exception, he was quirky and unusual. Much more fun to watch it when all the contestants can participate. I don't want to believe that Jeopardy sets up contestants so that the chance of a streak is increased, but it almost feels that way.

  3. G

    GreenHat

    For all you fans of the late great Alex T........check out "Inside Wink", a newsletter/blog written/edited by the late Mr. Trebek's widow, Jean Trebek and co writer/editor Alison Martin. Visiting that site always gives me a lift. It's upbeat and so positive. Check it out.

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    GreenSushi

    I also wonder 1) why contestants now always go in order, from lowest point "answers" to the highest point ones. There might be an occasional pick of one which is out-of-order, but it's usually lowest to highest. Did they change the rules? With Mr. "All In" Las Vegas, leading the way of choosing highest to lowest point "answers" and holding on to his winning streak for a loooong time. After a while, it reverted to all contestants following the lowest to highest formula once again.

    2) If a contestant is in need of serious catch-up, why is that contestant opting for a lowest point choice (especially in Double Jeopardy) rather than the significant number of highest/higher point choices? If there's a $4-$6/$7+ thousand difference in scores by the middle-to-the-end of Double Jeopardy, why is a contestant picking a monetary value that will make no difference for a possible win or tie (before Final Jeopardy)? and

    3) Why do contestants who achieved much less by Final Jeopardy make ridiculous bids? For example: Champion has $15 grand by Final Jeopardy. Contestant B has $7 grand. Why would B bid $2 grand? B won't be appearing on the show anytime in the future, so why not go for it? If B is right and bets enough to beat the Champ (providing the champ got it wrong) then B would win. B couldn't win if B bets piddling amounts that won't make a diff. Why bet anything then?

    1. O

      OliveSailboat

      Depends on how much the lowest contestant has. Second place gets 2K while last only gets 1K. So why not shoot for second if first is out of reach. The highest scorer would be foolish to bet anything if there's any chance of being caught even with a small wager. If they have even one dollar more than half of the second placer, they will risk zero.

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    GreenWrench

    I hope she realizes that she will have to pay at least half of her winnings to taxes.... Maybe as much as 70% with new new laws....

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      CyanCherries

      Windfalls can be spread over several years in most states.

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        GreenWrench

        In California?

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          BlueCone

          Depends on whether the money is paid in Cal. The Rolling Stones get paid into Swiss bank accounts due to punishing UK taxes. There are ways.

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            GreenWrench

            The show is filmed in L A ...

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              PurplePopsicle

              So are the Rolling Stones concerts and everywhere else on the planet. Their management company draws the contracts and directs the revenue. I hope Amy is smart enough to have made similar arrangements.

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    BluePaw

    Mentioned above, but worth repeating... Jeopardy airs at 7:30 pm here and in many parts of the east coast. Not to mention that it doesn't air until later in the other US time zones. There's a fine line between announcing news and spoiling the result for many viewers. You easily could have waited a few hours on this one. I hope you reconsider the timing of such posts in the future.

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      GreenWrench

      Same here but I have just learned to avoid this and (others) web sites till the show is over... But since every show ends the same....

  7. A

    Antonio Montealegre

    Go Amy!

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  8. O

    OliveGrapes

    Apparently they spoiled the win before it shown on parts of New England. Doesn’t matter, the way this season going it was a forgone conclusion she was going to break the million mark and fully expect her pass Matt Amodio in a couple weeks. This season of Jeopardy has been brutal to watch with so many uncompetitive games.

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      GreenWrench

      I just feel sorry for all those contestants they put with her..... They have zero chance of winning.......

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        Jena

        Yes, Amy is quite impressive... once this week she didn't have a "runaway" lead, and could have been beaten. I'm just glad She's not annoying, as some of the other champions have been this season.

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          CyanPopcorn

          Funny...... I wish Matt Amodio was back now.

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      Jena

      Yes, I think this season has had more long-term champions than usual. For the most part, I prefer when champions last three, four, or five days, and then get beaten by a newcomer. Gives more people a chance.

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      1. G

        GreenSushi

        Perhaps the change bringing the show to a boring status has to do with the switch of producers. During (the late/great) Trebeks tenure, there was an enjoyable mix of short-term and long-term contestants. After (now ex) producer, Mike Richards' debacle, new Exec. Producer Harry Friedman took control. My husband and I (and a significant number of other former fans) stopped watching because it's now boring. Only long-term contestants are on the show - back to back to back. Most new contestants have no chance at all. There's no enjoyment - only certainty - that most of them (week after week after week) won't be coming 'round for a second try. The hype regarding the current champ's long-term success/Jeopardy records is newsworthy, but it doesn't translate to a watchable future for the show.

        And since there are other options during that time slot, including gazillions of streaming opportunities, I'll have no problem watching something else.

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          BlueBandAid

          Different strokes, I guess. I watch the show to see how I do, and keep my own score. To me, the contestants are incidental.

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            GreenSushi

            I did favor Mike Richard's personable style and will give any future host a chance. However, the combo of a new direction of having only long-term contestants crush all incoming contestants and and not being able to tolerate temp host Jennings' nasal tone makes it impossible to enjoy the show. I will follow Bialik (since I find her to be personable nor does she have an annoying tone (plus she does the specials where there is no chance of one contestant crushing others for weeks/months at a time). Perhaps those who stop watching the show will be replaced by new fans.

            1. C

              CyanCherries

              Just the opposite for me. I have no issues with Ken Jennings, I despise Mayim Bialik and saw Mike Richards as an oily Vegas greeter. Ideally, my choice would have been Buzzy Cohen.

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                GreenSushi

                Buzzy, like many other long-term champs, was great at first - but his mugging for the camera was too much of a turn-off. The big diff, however, was that Cohen was sandwiched between a significant number of short-term contestants. During Trebek's time, viewers enjoyed a variety of contestants - some longer term, some 1-nighters. Once the long-term contestants took over the show - and I watched so many contestants being knocked off I began to formulate a theory. I first questioned why producers chose 2 much lesser contestants to appear with the current (long-term) champ. Then the formula became much too in your face; each long term contestant became less and less entertaining.

                I didn't mind the Professors Tournament - even when the most brilliant contestant of that tournament answered 99.9 percent of the answers within a second. He won the tournament, of course. The regular show, however became a bore - as one long-term champ replaced another. There was no darn break in-between. And, most of these contestants had an annoying tic of some sort. There was the mugs for the camera, a neck tilt/head bob, bending of the knee thing. And, there is really nothing entertaining about watching the 28th day of the newest champ (though I was already gone) - with her championship records announced through the media - accruing $10-Grand more than the closest scoring competitor, during the first Jeopardy Round. There was no possibility, so early on in the game, for the other two to catch up.

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                  PurplePopsicle

                  I remember a much younger Alex with a big mustache leaning forward with one leg raised behind him like a song and dance man while hosting Jeopardy. Buzzy is young and fun and very relatable.

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                    GreenHat

                    I remember watching a clip (on youtube) of an April fools day prank where the late great Alex T walked on stage wearing no pants. So I googled it and found a story of Ken Jennings recounting the story of when alex t. walked out wearing no pants - from 2005.

                    I guess, looking back, anything Mr. T. did was OK and I've just not been able to support Jennings (or any of the previously mentioned names as the replacement......outside of Ms. Bialik ). Maybe they should give Buzzy a try.

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      2. O

        OliveGrapes

        I’m usually okay when a contestant wins enough games to qualify for the tournament of champions and then loses shortly thereafter. I guess they’re screening more contestants now, maybe they need to be a bit stricter on who they bring in. These contestants competing again these champions have little chance of winning. I actually haven’t watched since the professors tournament. It just too boring right now. Nothing against Amy but it’s too predictable right now.

  9. R

    RedHat

    *he

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  10. R

    RedHat

    *he

    Oh, and "Amy" YWNBAW

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    1. J

      Jena

      SIAW