21 of ‘Jeopardy!’s Most Memorable Champions in Recent Years
If the “do-do-do” of Jeopardy!‘s theme song plays in your head and Alex Trebek‘s voice was recognizable in nearly any setting, it’s safe to say you’ve encountered some of the show’s most memorable champions over the years.
It’s difficult to bring up champions without mentioning the “Greatest of All Time” winner Ken Jennings who first entered the scene nearly 20 years ago, but there have been plenty of others since. And following the Tournament of Champions, we’re taking a look at the stats of Jeopardy!‘s most memorable champions from the past few years.
Whether or not they made it to tournaments, these eager players of TV’s long-running game show have certainly left an impression. See how they stack up against one another below.
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Ken Jennings
Playing Since: 2004
Total Winnings: $4,370,700
Streak: 74 Games
Known for: Considered the show’s most memorable contestant in the game show’s history, Jennings’ impact has spanned decades and he most recently solidified his unofficial title by winning the “Greatest of All Time” tournament. Playing against the computer system known as Watson, Jennings became the ideal standard of what a Jeopardy! contestant should be. And following host Alex Trebek’s death, Jennings stepped in to share duties with Mayim Bialik.
Brad Rutter
Playing Since: 2000
Total Winnings: $4,938,436
Streak: 5 Games (at the time Jeopardy! retired 5-day consecutive winners)
Known for: Best known as the champion who earned the most money throughout his Jeopardy! run, Rutter has competed in various tournaments since his buzzy 2000 wins, becoming a consistent competitor to Jennings. He also participated in the “Greatest of All Time” tournament.
James Holzhauer
Playing Since: 2019
Total Winnings: $3,612,216
Streak: 32 Games
Known for: This gutsy contestant risked a lot when it came to final Jeopardy, betting nearly all of his winnings from each episode to double the amount. His risky antics had viewers tuning in for days on end and earned him a spot in the “Greatest of All Time” tournament against Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings.
Amy Schneider
Playing Since: 2022
Total Winnings: $1,682,800
Streak: 40 Games
Known for: Amy was always quick to buzz in, making her one of the show’s most successful players ever. Referred to fondly as “Jeopardy Amy,” she’s solidified her spot among other players as she ranks second in most consecutive wins behind Ken Jennings. Ultimately, she went on to win the Tournament of Champions, solidifying her spot in Jeopardy! history.
Matt Amodio
Playing Since: 2021
Total Winnings: $1,668,601
Streak: 38 Games
Known for: This competitor broke records and made bank during his lengthy run, surpassing James Holzhauer as the second-longest regular winning streak in the show’s history. His strategy for tackling high-price clues worked to his advantage.
David Madden
Playing Since: 200
Total Winnings: $763,733
Streak: 19 Games
Known for: Madden racked up 19 games, earning his place in the Jeopardy! pantheon in 2005 when he was still a master’s degree student in Berlin. He later co-founded the International Academic Competitions organization with his wife, Nolwenn, and the couple is behind the International History Bee, the International Geography Bee, and the International History Olympiad, according to his bio.
Cris Pannullo
Playing Since: 2022
Total Winnings: $748,286
Streak: 21 Games
Known for: Impressing during his run, Pannullo landed a coveted spot among some of Jeopardy!‘s top streakers, placing him sixth among the likes of Jennings and Schneider. His run was broken up as the Tournament of Champions aired before he could continue playing. Luckily Pannullo’s game play gave him a shot at redemption in the next Tournament.
Matt Jackson
Playing Since: 2015
Total Winnings: $713,612
Streak: 13 Games
Known for: This contestant was known for his quick buzzer reflexes, finishing categories quickly during the different rounds. Ultimately, his knowledge wasn’t enough to keep him in the game forever, but he did make his mark while in play.
Larissa Kelly
Playing Since: 2008
Total Winnings: $655,930
Streak: 6 Games
Known for: She broke Ken Jennings’ record for the most money won in the first five days of competition.
Mattea Roach
Playing Since: 2022
Total Winnings: $635,983
Streak: 23 Games
Known for: This young player wowed viewers with their knowledge as they quickly rose in the game show’s ranks. By the time thei winning-spree came to an end, Roach had earned a fifth place spot in the all-time consecutive wins and all-time regular season winnings lists.
Playing Since: 2005
Total Winnings: $622,801
Streak: 32 Games
Known for: This quick-witted queen made a very triumphant comeback indeed after becoming a one-day champion all the way back in 2005. She’s gone on to win the Invitational Tournament and Jeopardy! Masters Season 2.
Jason Zuffranieri
Playing Since: 2019
Total Winnings: $542,496
Streak: 19 Games
Known for: After winning 19 games in 2019, Zuffranieri resumed work as a math teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He told the Albuquerque Journal that his students were excited about his Jeopardy! fame—at first. “They know about it, but my job is to teach them daily,” he said. “It worked itself out, as we didn’t skip a beat in the classroom.”
Julia Collins
Playing Since: 2014
Total Winnings: $428,100
Streak: 20 Games
Known for: Known for her large sum of winnings and impressive consecutive streak, Julia has since participated in various tournaments for the game show over the years.
Buzzy Cohen
Playing Since: 2016
Total Winnings: $414,603
Streak: 9 Games
Known for: This competitor was met with mixed reactions from fans for his often sarcastic attitude towards gameplay and Trebek. Regardless of his reception, there’s no questioning his place among the champions, particularly due to his tournament win in 2017.
Austin Rogers
Playing Since: 2017
Total Winnings: $411,000
Streak: 13 Games
Known for: His quirky nature struck a chord with viewers as he engaged in sarcastic banter with Trebek from time-to-time. He returned for tournaments since his streak which placed him as the seventh highest consecutive winner during regular season play.
Ryan Long
Playing Since: 2022
Total Winnings: $299,400
Streak: 16 Games
Known for: A seemingly unlimited wealth of knowledge, this rideshare driver was quick to find the answers during his memorable run. Donning a colorful beaded necklace he played to make a better life for his young son.
Andrew He
Playing Since: 2021
Total Winnings: $259,365
Streak: 5 Games
Known for: Known for his impressive performance, He used his skills to outplay his competition, becoming a second-place champ at the 2022 Tournament of Champions.
Emma Boettcher
Playing Since: 2019
Total Winnings: $198,002
Streak: 4 Games
Known for: Even though Boettcher didn’t win many games, she was best-known as the contestant who beat James Holzhauer following his impressive run. She also set a record as the highest single-day winnings for any female competitor. Since her regular run, Boettcher has also participated in tournaments.
Sam Buttrey
Playing Since: 2021
Total Winnings: $150,000
Streak: 4 Games
Known for: Buttrey was known as the first Tournament of Professors Champion, gaining entry to the Tournament of Champions because of his victorious run there. Oh, and he looks a bit like Steve Martin.
Cindy Stowell
Playing Since: 2016
Total Winnings: $105,803
Streak: 6 Games
Known for: This impressive contestant made headlines when viewers learned that her win aired posthumously after Stowell died following a terminal colon cancer diagnosis. Despite her short-lived gameplay, Stowell’s memory lives on in her episodes and success. Despite dying before the episodes aired on television, it was later reported that Stowell was provided with advanced copies of some of her episodes.
Brian Henegar
Playing Since: 2023
Total Winnings: $68,202
Streak: 3 Games
Known for: Known for his impressive performance, he was dubbed “the machine” for how many prompts he’s able to answer correctly. He also became popular for the reaction to his very first win and his appearance–so much so that SNL made a joke about it.
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Conversation24 Comments
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R
James Holzhauer introduced NEW tactics to the game...(which Ken and Brad later used in the GOAT Tournament)...
He not only frequently bet nearly ALL of his winnings to double the amount on the Daily Doubles and Final Jeopardy...but he also was the first player to initiate the stratagem of going for the higher priced (lower on the board) clues => actually trying to find the Daily Double...
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O
Ken Jennings needs to be hired as the new host!! I feel like Alex would have wanted Ken to host!!
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C
Totally agree with Katie ,,, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE bring back KEN JENNINGS as the Host of Jeopardy! He had everything it takes to make the show the best it can be. I just know he would be Alex’s first choice!
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W
Glad they included Julia. She was my personal favorite but James 'The Buzzsaw' Holzhauer was a monster. Great list and interesting article!
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B
Austin Rogers for us was our favourite, incredible wit and presence, he would make a great host
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R
Sorry, but Austin Rogers seemed very smug to me.
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P
I wish Brayden Smith had been included on this list. He was one of my favorites, and one of Alex's last multi-day champions.
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C
He was one of my favorites too. So sweet. Sad to hear about his death.
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R
🤑 All did well
They must have been very smart to get that much money🤑
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O
Funny how people seem to "know" what Alex would want
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C
I used to feel this way too. I dreamed of finding a way to wipe that smirk off his face. But then I saw him mention his daughter just in passing. His whole face morphed into love and light. Now it’s the only James I see.🥰
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B
James and Austin are my favorites. Would love to see them back as some special
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R
I think Ken Jennings did very well and I wish I could do that
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C
jeopardy good wather
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R
Madden has been playing since 200? Groce has a 32 game win streak? What is fact checking, Ken?
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G
What is this? Which doesn't belong and why? Why is a 3 game winner on this list? Geez.
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R
James is “The High Roller.” Brad Ritter is “The Buzzsaw.” I liked Julia, too 🙂
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R
*Brad Rutter
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G
One of my all time favorites is Roger Craig from 2010. At that tine, he was the 1st person to pass Ken Jennings single day win. ($ 77,.000) Since then, several have gone beyond that. He was so engaging and enyoyed himself. He was back several times for tournaments and I will they could come up with something that could include him
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G
Add RICH to your adjectives for him.
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B
Yes, he just seems right
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G
Ken is coming back. What, you can't share? What would your parents say? 🙂
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C
It’s not called sharing when a vast majority of viewers DESPISE Mayim Bialik as a Jeopardy host because they correctly believe her incompetence is destroying an iconic, beloved show.
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R
You can have him. Smug, self-centered and smarmy. But mostly smug.
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