An earthquake on Jeopardy!: Jamie Ding storms through 20 straight wins, stacking a mind-blowing fortune that feels almost unreal—now the shadow of Ken Jennings is starting to shake. Recreating a near-impossible record untouched for over 60 years, the law prodigy shocks the stage with a flawless run of 45 correct clues, turning every episode into a moment of history in motion. From underdog to game show ‘monster,’ Jamie Ding is closing in on an untouchable throne, and the ending of this streak could leave the entire world stunned.
NEED TO KNOW
- Jamie Ding has extended his Jeopardy! winning streak to 20 games
- During his impressive run, the game show champ has also tied a record held by host Ken Jennings
- Ding and Jennings are the only two players to get 45 clues right in a single game
Jamie Ding has made Jeopardy! history.
The New Jersey law student and game-show champion marked his 20th straight victory on the Thursday, April 9 episode of Jeopardy!, while also tying a longtime record held by show legend and now-host Ken Jennings.
As he secured his 20th consecutive game win, Ding tied fellow great Julia Collins in all-time consecutive wins. His $572,600 total earnings also ranks sixth in all-time regular-season winnings.
In the same run that he accomplished the feat, Ding responded correctly to 45 clues (including Final Jeopardy!) during game 3. In the show’s over-60-year history, only one other contestant has done so: Jennings, who also got 45 clues right during a 2004 game, according to the game show.
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Alex Trebek, the late Jeopardy! host who oversaw Jennings’ initial run, told PEOPLE in 2019 that when Jennings “finally lost” it was a “sad day.” Trebek also called Jennings’ streak “the perfect” wave: “I shed a tear, just because this marvelous series, this marvelous streak had suddenly come to an end. And it will never be matched. By anybody.”
As for Ding, he’s now in good company on the all-time leaderboard. Ding is the first contestant since 2022 to win 20 or more consecutive games, with the most recent players to do so being Amy Schneider (40 games), Mattea Roach (23 games), and Cris Pannullo (21 games).
If Ding ties Pannullo’s 21 games, he will rise to No. 6 on the game show’s all-time consecutive wins list. For season 42 in particular, the competitor also holds the single-game winnings record at $56,400.
Back in March, Jennings asked Ding if there was a “goal” he had in mind for his Jeopardy! run. “Eh, $8 billion is probably too high,” he joked.
“Somewhere between now and $8 billion,” Jennings joked. “So before you bankrupt Sony Television, you will leave us. Will you retire undefeated at like $7,999,000, somewhere around there?” Ding added: “Yeah, let’s shoot for that.”
Jeopardy! airs daily. Check local listings.