Ken Jennings Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
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Ken William Jennings (born May 23, 1974) holds the records for the longest winning streak and the most money won on the syndicated game show Jeopardy.
| Table of contents |
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2 Ken Jennings' streak on Jeopardy! 3 Records 4 Jennings and previous Jeopardy! champions 5 See also 6 Game summaries 7 Rumors 8 External links |
Biography
From Murray, Utah (near Salt Lake City), Jennings is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a graduate in Computer Science and English of Brigham Young University, where he played on the school's quizbowl team for three years. Jennings was born at Stevens Memorial Hospital in Edmonds, Washington and turned 30 years of age in May 2004. He also identifies himself as an avid comic book and movie buff with a web site listing his top 2000 favorite movies. He completed an IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma at Seoul Foreign School and achieved "honors" at both University of Washington and Brigham Young University. He currently writes questions and edits the literature and mythology categories for NAQT, a quizbowl organization. He is now a software engineer for CHG, a healthcare-placement firm.
Jennings grew up in Seoul, South Korea (1981–1992) and Singapore (1992–1996), where his father worked for an international law firm and then as Asia Pacific Division Counsel of Oracle Corporation. He watched Jeopardy! on Armed Forces Television while growing up. Jennings served a two year LDS mission in Madrid, Spain from 1993 to 1995.
Ken is married to Mindy Jennings, and they have a son named Dylan. Mindy's parents, who prefer to be anonymous despite Ken's fame, live in Ottawa, Ontario. Ken claims to have learned a Canadian accent by watching The Kids of Degrassi Street.
Ken Jennings' streak on Jeopardy!
Including shows aired through November 6, 2004, Jennings has won US $22,305,801 through 68 games. In addition to his daily winnings, Jennings will certainly return for the "Tournament of Champions", where he will likely be the odds-on favorite to win an additional $250,000.
The episode aired July 23, 2004 was the 20th-season finale; all of Jennings' episodes from then were taped in February and March. Jennings returned on the first show of the 21st season, which was taped in late April, and aired on September 6, 2004. Two weeks of the 21st season were taped before the summer hiatus. Since he did not lose before the 2004 Tournament was taped (which then aired from September 20 through October 1), he will have to wait until the 2005-06 season to compete in the Tournament of Champions. If he does not lose during the current season, however unlikely this is, what the program will do about that Tournament remains unclear.
In 2003, at the start of the syndicated show's 20th season, Jeopardy! changed its rules, allowing a contestant to remain on the show for as long as he or she continued to win. Previously, contestants could not return after winning five consecutive games. After the rule change, and until Jennings's run, the record winning streak was set by Tom Walsh, who won $184,900 in seven games in January 2004.
Jennings' winning streak on Jeopardy! has made him something of a celebrity; he has received a good deal of American media coverage and appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman to present Letterman's "Top 10 List". Jeopardy! ratings have gone up 62 percent during Jennings' run on the show (11.1 million viewers was a ten-year high); for three weeks in July 2004, it surpassed traditional leader Wheel of Fortune to become television's highest-rated syndicated program. By day 11 of Jennings' streak, the jokes had already begun. Patricia Davis, a co-contestant, wrote "Whatever Ken's answer is" for her Final Jeopardy response.
When asked what he intends to do with his winnings, Jennings said that he intended to tithe to his church, donate to public television and National Public Radio, go on a trip to Europe, and invest the rest for his family. Jeopardy! contestants typically receive their winnings approximately 120 days after their last game airs.
Trademarks
Jennings has become known for his quirky behaviors:
Records
Jennings has already broken or tied the following records:
| Description | Current Record | Previous Record |
|---|---|---|
| Most consecutive appearances on Jeopardy! | 68 episodes (68 wins) | 8 episodes (7 wins, 1 loss) by Tom Walsh, January 5-14, 2004 |
| Most total appearances on Jeopardy!, including tournaments | 16 episodes by Bob Verini, 1986-2002 (regular season-5, Tournament of Champions-4, Super Jeopardy!-3, Masters Tournament-4) | |
| Most consecutive appearances on a syndicated game show | 46 episodes (43 wins) by Thom McKee on Tic Tac Dough, 1980 | |
| Highest total winnings on Jeopardy! in non-tournament play | US $2,305,801 | US $184,900 by Tom Walsh, January 5-13, 2004 US $102,597 (adjusted to $205,194) by Frank Spangenberg, January 9-15, 1990 (prior to increase in clue value) |
| Highest total winnings on Jeopardy! including tournaments | US $1,155,102 by Brad Rutter, 2001-2002 | |
| Highest total winnings on a syndicated game show | US $1,155,102 by Brad Rutter on Jeopardy!, 2001-2002 | |
| Highest total winnings on a game show | US $2,180,000 by Kevin Olmstead on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, 2001 | |
| Highest total winnings in one day on Jeopardy! | US $75,000 (game 38) | US $52,000 by Brian Weikle, April 14, 2003 (Jennings tied this record three times before he broke it) US $34,000 (adjusted to $68,000) by Jerome Vered, May 21, 1992 (prior to increase in clue value) |
| Highest 5-game total on Jeopardy!, consecutive | US $221,200 (games 34-38) | US $154,200 by Tom Walsh (games 3-7), January 7-13, 2004 US $102,597 (adjusted to $205,194) by Frank Spangenberg, January 9-15, 1990 (prior to increase in clue value) |
| Highest 5-game total on Jeopardy!, best 5 games | US $281,000 (games 10, 28, 29, 37, and 38) |
Only one game show record remains which Jennings has yet to break:
| Description | Previous Record |
|---|---|
| Most consecutive appearances on a game show | 75 days by Ian Lygo on 100%, 1998 |
Jennings won US $156,000 in his first five days on Jeopardy!, so if the five-day rule had not been eliminated, he would still be the all-time non-tournament winner in Jeopardy! history. The previous record holder, Tom Walsh, won $184,900 in seven days, but only $118,100 of that came in the first five days. No other Jeopardy! contestant has won more than $150,000 in non-tournament play.
If winnings are further adjusted to make them comparable to the seasons before the clue values were doubled, Jennings' adjusted total of $78,000 would place him 11th in the Trebek era of Jeopardy!, behind Frank Spangenberg ($102,597) and nine others.
Jennings and previous Jeopardy! champions
See also
As Jennings has captured the imagination of pundits across the nation, he naturally invites comparisons to characters in pop culture.
Game summaries
| Game | Day | Air Date | Winnings | Running Total | Opponents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4558 | Day 1 | Wednesday, June 2 | $37,201 | $37,201 | Jerry Harvey, Julia Lazarus |
| 4559 | Day 2 | Thursday, June 3 | $22,000 | $59,201 | Chad Kaihe, Carrie Youngblood |
| 4560 | Day 3 | Friday, June 4 | $37,000 | $96,201 | Neil Thom, Dane Petersen |
| 4561 | Day 4 | Monday, June 7 | $30,000 | $126,201 | Josh Hornik, Clinton Wieden |
| 4562 | Day 5 | Tuesday, June 8 | $29,799 | $156,000 | Corey Halgren, Paula Filson |
| 4563 | Day 6 | Wednesday, June 9 | $25,000 | $181,000 | Kevin Stanley, Anne Fritz |
| 4564 | Day 7 | Thursday, June 10 | $50,000 | $231,000 | Laura Adomunas, (Susan Gress)*** |
| 4565 | Day 8 | Friday, June 11 | $35,158 | $266,158 | Al Arsenault, Ethan Culbreth |
| 4566 | Day 9 | Monday, June 14 | $25,000 | $291,158 | Joe Riley, Carla DenHartog |
| 4567 | Day 10 | Tuesday, June 15 | $50,000 | $341,158 | David Steinhardt, Karen Gasperino |
| 4568 | Day 11 | Wednesday, June 16 | $35,000 | $376,158 | Josh Thorpe, Patricia Davis |
| 4569 | Day 12 | Thursday, June 17 | $34,000 | $410,158 | Steve DiGiulio, Dierdre Basile |
| 4570 | Day 13 | Friday, June 18 | $30,000 | $440,158 | Bret Bradigan, Ellen Cook |
| 4571 | Day 14 | Monday, June 21 | $31,601 | $471,759 | Matt Ottinger, (Scheri Mullins) |
| 4572 | Day 15 | Tuesday, June 22 | $15,200 | $486,959 | Rick Faulkner, Kelly Parker |
| 4573 | Day 16 | Wednesday, June 23 | $26,000 | $512,959 | Sarah Jane Woodall, Cathy Weber |
| 4574 | Day 17 | Thursday, June 24 | $40,000 | $552,959 | Bryan Givens, Miriam Bamberger |
| 4575 | Day 18 | Friday, June 25 | $48,801 | $601,760 | Michael Cudahy, Chris Edwards |
| 4576 | Day 19 | Monday, June 28 | $21,000 | $622,760 | Michael Magdalena, Lori Fountain |
| 4577 | Day 20 | Tuesday, June 29 | $40,000 | $662,760 | Alan Paul, Laura Leslie |
| 4578 | Day 21 | Wednesday, June 30 | $35,000 | $697,760 | Ryan McClarren, Sue Richman |
| 4579 | Day 22 | Thursday, July 1 | $40,000 | $737,760 | Chris Mason, Vicki Reynolds |
| 4580 | Day 23 | Friday, July 2 | $17,600 | $755,360 | Mary Ann Eitler, (Judy MacLeod Reardon) |
| 4581 | Day 24 | Monday, July 5 | $19,600 | $774,960 | (Nick Aretakis), Lucinda Sabino |
| 4582 | Day 25 | Tuesday, July 6 | $14,000 | $788,960 | Tom Aquino, (Jenny Miller) |
| 4583 | Day 26 | Wednesday, July 7 | $40,000 | $828,960 | Michael Vance, Vanessa Osborne |
| 4584 | Day 27 | Thursday, July 8 | $40,000 | $868,960 | Leonard Koss, Oliver Mellet |
| 4585 | Day 28 | Friday, July 9 | $52,000 | $920,960 | Darcy Vernier, Kate Carlyle |
| 4586 | Day 29 | Monday, July 12 | $52,000 | $972,960 | Rich Carrol, Jennifer Lajewski |
| 4587 | Day 30 | Tuesday, July 13 | $32,000 | $1,004,960 | Max Corrick, Irene Lawrence |
| 4588 | Day 31 | Wednesday, July 14 | $17,500 | $1,022,460 | Darcy Smith, Greg Narver |
| 4589 | Day 32 | Thursday, July 15 | $28,000 | $1,050,460 | Tom Vanderloo, Lou Ascatigno |
| 4590 | Day 33 | Friday, July 16 | $50,000 | $1,100,460 | Frank McNeil, Mary McCarthy |
| 4591 | Day 34 | Monday, July 19 | $35,000 | $1,135,460 | Tim Crockett, Beverly Herter |
| 4592 | Day 35 | Tuesday, July 20 | $29,200 | $1,164,660** | Christopher Mensel, Susan Keller |
| 4593 | Day 36 | Wednesday, July 21 | $30,000 | $1,194,660 | Art Borgemenke, (Liese Tamburrino) |
| 4594 | Day 37 | Thursday, July 22 | $52,000 | $1,246,660 | Michael Jaeger, Denele Hamada |
| 4595 | Day 38 | Friday, July 23 | $75,000* | $1,321,660 | Kristine O'Connell-McCoy, Sarah Mulloy |
| Various | Monday, July 26 to Friday, September 3 | Summer Hiatus, Season 20 Reruns | |||
| 4596 | Day 39 | Monday, September 6 | $10,001 | $1,331,661 | J.D. Smith, Betsey Casman |
| 4597 | Day 40 | Tuesday, September 7 | $21,800 | $1,353,461 | Rich Hartz, Bob Watts |
| 4598 | Day 41 | Wednesday, September 8 | $27,200 | $1,380,661 | Laura Gustafson, Adam Meyer |
| 4599 | Day 42 | Thursday, September 9 | $21,800 | $1,402,461 | Todd Perkins, Amy Helmes |
| 4600 | Day 43 | Friday, September 10 | $30,000 | $1,432,461 | Bill Scheller, Kollin Min |
| 4601 | Day 44 | Monday, September 13 | $45,000 | $1,477,461 | Dana Doland, (Bruce England) |
| 4602 | Day 45 | Tuesday, September 14 | $40,000 | $1,517,461 | Robert Quinn, Kate Duffy |
| 4603 | Day 46 | Wednesday, September 15 | $37,600 | $1,555,061 | David Fishbach, Cara Butler |
| 4604 | Day 47 | Thursday, September 16 | $30,000 | $1,585,061 | Elaine Skopelja, John Cook |
| 4605 | Day 48 | Friday, September 17 | $50,000 | $1,635,061 | Greg Taylor, Marilyn Werner |
| 4606-4615 | Monday, September 20 to Friday, October 1 | Tournament of Champions | |||
| 4616 | Day 49 | Monday, October 4 | $29,601 | $1,664,662 | Jeff Suchard, (Beth Salkind) |
| 4617 | Day 50 | Tuesday, October 5 | $35,038 | $1,699,700 | Jay Wolman, Pat Greene |
| 4618 | Day 51 | Wednesday, October 6 | $38,400 | $1,738,100 | Bill Carter, Kathryn Dorminey |
| 4619 | Day 52 | Thursday, October 7 | $40,000 | $1,778,100 | Jennifer Lord, Steve Kornya |
| 4620 | Day 53 | Friday, October 8 | $30,000 | $1,808,100 | Al Lindke, Aimee Watson |
| 4621 | Day 54 | Monday, October 11 | $35,000 | $1,843,100 | Tristan Mabry, Sunny Schomaker |
| 4622 | Day 55 | Tuesday, October 12 | $35,000 | $1,878,100 | Marcy Palino, Matt Kleinmaier |
| 4623 | Day 56 | Wednesday, October 13 | $28,300 | $1,906,400 | Larry Bellinger, Marielle Poss |
| 4624 | Day 57 | Thursday, October 14 | $29,900 | $1,936,300 | Graham House, K.C. Backer |
| 4625 | Day 58 | Friday, October 15 | $40,000 | $1,976,300 | Josh Rosenfeld, Jose Ruiz Jr. |
| 4626-4630 | Monday, October 18 to Friday, October 22 | Kids Week | |||
| 4631 | Day 59 | Monday, October 25 | $30,000 | $2,006,300 | Nathan Gordon, Jennifer Harriss |
| 4632 | Day 60 | Tuesday, October 26 | $25,000 | $2,031,300 | (Mary Carpenter), Jeff Matthews |
| 4633 | Day 61 | Wednesday, October 27 | $34,001 | $2,065,301 | Merritt Hamilton Allen, Adam Villani |
| 4634 | Day 62 | Thursday, October 28 | $30,000 | $2,095,301 | Bob Joseph, Lori Ann Tennant |
| 4635 | Day 63 | Friday, October 29 | $30,000 | $2,125,301 | Sandy Grimwade, Brian Shipley |
| 4636 | Day 64 | Monday, November 1 | $26,600 | $2,151,901 | Lisa Ellis, Ben Wiles |
| 4000 | Tuesday, November 2 | 4,000th Episode Special (widely pre-empted by election coverage) | |||
| 4637 | Day 65 | Wednesday, November 3 | $45,099 | $2,197,000**** | Rob Perry, Denise Tanyol |
| 4638 | Day 66 | Thursday, November 4 | $50,000 | $2,247,000 | (Jennifer Knapp), Jerry Taggart |
| 4639 | Day 67 | Friday, November 5 | $25,600 | $2,272,600 | Elizabeth Costello, John Murray |
| 4640 | Day 68 | Saturday, November 6 | $33,201 | $2,305,801 | Leo Wolpert, Ryan Cook |
* Largest Jeopardy! one-day winning total.
** Broken record of highest overall winnings ever won on Jeopardy!, including special tournaments
*** An opponent's name in (parentheses) indicates that the opponent was ineligible to compete in Final Jeopardy!
**** Broken record of total winnings on a game show
+ While the weekend airings on Jeopardy are commonly re-runs, at least in most markets, the syndicator apparently handled the election-induced rescheduling in an unexpected way; Jennings did appear on the Saturday, November 6th airing
Average daily winnings: $33,919.40
The theoretical maximum win for a single day of Jeopardy! is $566,400, but this requires choosing all of the Daily Doubles last and that they're all placed behind the lowest valued clues, for which the odds are 3,288,600 to 1 (assuming they are randomly placed). Depending on placement and order of the Daily Doubles, a so-called "perfect game" (every question correct, always maximum wager when called to do so) can range from $208,000 to $566,400, with a mean of $374,400.