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James Holzhauer’s Jeopardy! Winnings Hit $2 Million as He Closes In on Ken Jennings’ Record

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“Jeopardy!” contestant James Holzhauer has hit $2 million and is closing in on a record $2.5 million haul set by Ken Jennings 15 years ago.
"Jeopardy!" sensation James Holzhauer speaks after being presented with a key to the Las Vegas Strip in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign in Las Vegas, Thursday, May 2, 2019. Holzhauer winnings have hit $2 million.Caroline Brehman—Las Vegas Review-Journal/AP
By Hailey Waller / Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) — “Jeopardy!” contestant James Holzhauer is closing in on a record $2.5 million haul set 15 years ago.

Holzhauer, a professional sports gambler from Las Vegas, topped $2 million in winnings on Friday’s episode of the quiz show, notching his 27th straight win. By contrast, it took record holder Ken Jennings 74 games to amass his fortune, according to the New York Times.

“Most people think I went to Princeton or something,” Holzhauer told the Times in April. “But I was never a diligent student.” He said he reads children’s books to gain knowledge.

Since Holzhauer started on “Jeopardy!” in early April, he surpassed $1 million in the shortest time ever and broke the show’s 2010 record for single-day cash winnings on April 9.

The prize money, $110,914, had the same digits as the birthday of his daughter, who was born on Nov. 9, 2014.

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