We'll take "Former Champs" for $1,000! The answer is: These 10 contestants with the highest winnings in Jeopardy! history.
Some reality TV shows reward creativity—think MasterChef or American Idol. Others hand out big checks for outlasting the competition, like Survivor and Big Brother. But when it comes to shows that pay out for pure brainpower, Jeopardy! takes the spotlight. You would need an incredibly sharp mind to make the list of the highest winnings Jeopardy! has ever handed out.
If you’ve never caught an episode, here’s what you need to know about the brainy twist on a quiz show: The host gives contestants the answers to a range of tough queries, and they must reply with the right question to get rewarded. A ticking clock, fierce competitors and hard Jeopardy! questions make it one of the toughest games on TV.
Reader’s Digest put together this list of contestants who cracked the code and cashed in big. Keep reading to meet the champs who made history with the highest winnings on Jeopardy! of all time.
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The highest winnings on Jeopardy! in regular-season play
Ken Jennings
Winning amount: $2,520,700
Ken Jennings tops the leaderboard for the highest winnings during Jeopardy!’s regular season, racking up $2,520,700 over a historic 74-game streak. He’s also in second place on the leaderboard for all-time winnings, with $4,370,700. A recent rule change at the time, which allowed contestants to stay on the show indefinitely, gave Jennings the runway to dominate the buzzer for six months straight.
Though his streak ended on a question about H&R Block, the loss hardly slowed him down. Jennings went on to become a fan favorite and, in 2023, stepped into the iconic role of Jeopardy!’s permanent host.
James Holzhauer
Winning amount: $2,462,216
The professional sports gambler from Las Vegas created a new level of buzz for Jeopardy!, keeping the viewers of the classic TV show glued to the screen during a run that showcased his dry humor and unorthodox style. He trails Jennings by just $58,484 for the highest winnings Jeopardy! ever saw in a regular season, a feat he accomplished in just 32 games (compared with Jennings’ 74-game run).
He also holds all 10 spots for single-game winnings, consistently breaking his own records in a streak that culminated in his top high win of $131,127. His signature strategy of betting on top dollar amounts first, waging amounts related to important personal dates and betting big on the Daily Double served him well.
Matt Amodio
Winning amount: $1,518,601
Matt Amodio, a PhD student from MIT and Harvard, made his mark with one of the highest winnings on Jeopardy! in 2021 with a brainy, button-pressing streak that lasted 38 games. This earned him the third-highest winnings in regular-season play. Unlike many other champs, Amodio stuck to one quirky habit: answering every clue with “What’s…” regardless of grammar, a strategy that became his signature.
Though his run ended just shy of Holzhauer’s game total, Amodio’s consistent gameplay earned him a permanent spot on the leaderboard. His winnings, totalling over $1.5 million, secured his place as one of the quiz show’s most memorable power players.
Amy Schneider
Winning amount: $1,382,800
Amy Schneider became a household name thanks to her remarkable 40-game winning streak on Jeopardy!, placing her fourth on the all-time regular season earnings list. A former engineering manager from Oakland, California, she impressed viewers with her sharp recall and calm demeanor.
Her historic run made her the highest female earner in show history, the first woman to cross $1 million in regular-season earnings and the first openly transgender contestant to qualify for the Tournament of Champions—milestones that inspired fans across the country.
Cris Pannullo
Winning amount: $748,286
Cris Pannullo made waves on Jeopardy! with his strategic gameplay and quiet confidence. A customer success operations manager from New Jersey, he brought a laser-focused approach to the buzzer and a bold wagering style that paid off, earning him nearly $750,000 over the course of 21 wins in 2022. That impressive total secures him a spot on this list with the fifth-highest winnings in Jeopardy! history.
Like Holzhauer (who rests three spots before him), Pannullo favored high-value clues early and didn’t shy away from big bets on Daily Doubles. But it wasn’t just numbers that set him apart; his coolness under pressure, innovative game show answers and consistent lead going into Final Jeopardy helped him secure victories in the majority of his games. Although his streak eventually ended, Pannullo’s performance ranks him firmly among the show’s legends.
Mattea Roach
Winning amount: $560,983
Canadian quiz phenom Mattea Roach hit the leaderboard in 2022 with a jaw-dropping 23-game winning streak that earned her $560,983—the sixth-highest winnings in Jeopardy! history. At just 23 years old, she became the most successful Canadian contestant ever and shattered longstanding records. What made her stand out was her meticulous style and a strategic edge that kept the lead tight in Final Jeopardy.
Roach’s winning streak was a proud moment for her family and a meaningful milestone for LGBTQ+ visibility, especially for young queer women watching at home.
Jason Zuffranieri
Winning amount: $532,496
Jason Zuffranieri tried to get on Jeopardy! nine times before finally landing a spot in 2019 and immediately launching a 19-game winning streak. Ranked the seventh-highest-winning Jeopardy! player during regular season play, the rocket-scientist-turned-math-teacher from Albuquerque quickly became a resounding force on the buzzer.
Scott Riccardi
Winning amount: $455,000
In the summer of 2025, Scott Riccardi, a mechanical engineer from Somerville, New Jersey, dominated Jeopardy! with 16 straight wins, earning him $455,000 and landing him in the eighth slot on the all‑time regular-season earnings leaderboard. His streak ended with an incorrect answer in Final Jeopardy, and challenger Jonathan Hugendubler, whose wager was $1 higher than Riccardi’s, won the title of champion. Despite the loss, Riccardi’s run secured him a place in the 2026 Tournament of Champions and earned him a spot on the highest winning Jeopardy! legends leaderboard.
David Madden
Winning amount: $430,400
David Madden carved out his place in Jeopardy! history way back in 2005 with a 19-game winning streak that earned him over $430,000, placing him among the show’s top 10 highest-earning regular-season players. His run was especially impressive for the era, long before marathon streaks became a common occurrence. Though his winning streak eventually ended at the hands of challenger Victoria Groce, Madden’s smart gameplay and steady presence made him a standout long before the age of super-streakers.
Julia Collins
Winning amount: $428,100
Julia Collins made Jeopardy! history in 2014 as one of the show’s most successful female contestants, winning 20 consecutive games and earning $428,100 during regular-season play. She currently holds the No. 10 spot on the all-time regular-season winnings leaderboard and remains the third top-earning woman in that category. Her total Jeopardy! win, including tournament play, stands at $478,100. Collins’ remarkable run came to an end on a question about Oscar-winning novelist John Irving, but her legacy as a trivia trailblazer still stands strong.
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Sources:
- Jeopardy!: “Leaderboard of Legends”
- Entertainment Weekly: “Jeopardy champion Matt Amodio is one of the top 10 highest-winning contestants ever”
- CBS News: “Amy Schneider’s “Jeopardy!” winning streak ends after 40 consecutive victories”
- Jeopardy!: “Jeopardy! Super-Champion Cris Pannullo’s Streak Ends With 21 Wins”
- Jeopardy!: “Mattea Roach: ‘This Experience Has Changed Me Forever For the Better'”
- Yahoo: “Scott Riccardi’s ‘Jeopardy!’ run ends at 16 games. Where he ranks among all-time champs”
- TV Insider: “‘Jeopardy!’ Fans React After Stunning, Unexpected End to Season”
- The Sun: “OUT WITH A BANG Jeopardy! superchamp Scott Riccardi’s 16-day winning streak ends after shocking upset from newcomer on season 41 finale”
- The Sun: “DAILY TROUBLE Jeopardy! champ Arthur Chu loses over fatal error after controversial player’s fiery return leaves fans divided”
- Sporting News: “Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time: Full results, winners by episode during champions tournament”
- Ken Jennings: “About Ken”
- Jeopardy!: “Life After Jeopardy!”
- Daily Princetonian: “Two alumni and former quiz bowl teammates to appear in final round of Jeopardy! All-Star Games”
- Jeopardy!: “Who Is Jason Zuffranieri?”
- YouTube: “Julia Collins Eliminated on Jeopardy! June 2, 2014”
