Amy Schneider becomes the 1st woman to win $1 million on Jeopardy!
It's been quite a year for Jeopardy!, and another champion has just made history.
Amy Schneider continued her impressive streak on Friday's Jeopardy!, and her winnings now total $1,019,600 after 28 games. This makes her the first woman to ever win more than $1 million on the quiz show.
Schneider has been making history throughout her Jeopardy! run. She previously became the first transgender contestant to qualify for the show's Tournament of Champions, and she holds the records for most money and most consecutive games won by a woman.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Now, Schneider is just the fifth person to win over $1 million on Jeopardy!, and the fourth to do so during regular-season play. Ken Jennings won $2.5 million during his 74-game winning streak in 2004, while James Holzhauer won $2.4 million in 2019, and Matt Amodio won $1.5 million in 2021. Brad Rutter also won nearly $5 million on the show when tournaments are taken into account.
During one of her Jeopardy! episodes in November, Schneider wore a pin for the transgender flag, and she reflected afterward, "I didn't want to make too much about being trans, at least in the context of the show. I am a trans woman, and I'm proud of that fact, but I'm a lot of other things, too!" By December, she pointed out that "I'd noticed that everyone who had ever won as much money as I did, went on to win at least a million dollars, and I liked the sound of winning a million dollars!"
Schneider's run comes during the same season that Matt Amodio scored the second-longest Jeopardy! winning streak ever, and Jonathan Fisher, who defeated Amodio, won an impressive 11 games. "Season 38 has certainly been the season of the super-champions," Jennings noted. After the show was embroiled in controversy over its selection of a new host, it's finally the kind of drama producers can be happy with.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Saint Paul de Vence: a paradise for art lovers
The Week Recommends The hilltop gem in the French Riviera where 20th century modernism flourished
By Alexandra Zagalsky Published
-
'People in general want workers to earn a decent living'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What might a Trump victory mean for the global economy?
Today's Big Question A second term in office for the 'America First' administration would send shockwaves far beyond the United States' shores
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published