Matt Amodio, PhD Student Residing in CT, Breaks “Jeopardy!” Records

Yale University’s Matt Amodio has been making headlines as one of the most successful “Jeopardy!” contestants of all time. Originally from Medina County, Ohio, but residing in New Haven, Connecticut as a Ph.D. student in computer science, Amodio has already won thirty “Jeopardy!” games in a row. He is currently in third place for most money won in regular play (gaining a whopping $1,107,401). Meanwhile, Amodio is currently in fourth place for all-time winnings.
Amodio made his “Jeopardy!” debut on the July 21st, 2021 episode, winning against Joshua Saak, who was making his fourth consecutive appearance on the show. Amodio’s first showing was impressive, and he has continually steamrolled through the competition since, eventually becoming the third person in the show’s 38-season long history to reach the one-million-dollar winnings mark. Amodio only needs to win three more episodes of “Jeopardy!” to gain second place in terms of consecutive games won. James Holzhauer is currently in second place with 32 consecutive games won, and “Jeopardy!” legend Ken Jennings is in first place with 74 consecutive games won.
Holzhauer recently took a shot at Amodio with a meme making fun of his 23-day total earnings (Holzhauer had won $1,780,237, and Amodio had won $825,801). The meme, featuring a picture of Holzhauer and Amodio side-by-side with their earnings displayed, featured the caption, “When you order something online vs. when it arrives.” While many “Jeopardy!” fans took issue with this, Amodio jokingly responded, “I thought these memes were supposed to have the more attractive person on the left.” Regardless of whether Holzhauer had mean intentions, Amodio still took it in stride.
Many have enjoyed witnessing Amodio’s winning streak, saying it is what the show needed after the controversies it had recently faced. Following former host Alex Trebek’s death, producer Mike Richards was set to take his place. However, he was booted as host after sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuits resurfaced and insensitive comments about women on a podcast made headlines.

New episodes of “Jeopardy!” air every weeknight at 7:00 EST on ABC.