Kenneth Wayne Jennings III is an American game show host, author, and highly successful former game show contestant. He holds the record for the highest earnings among American game show contestants, accumulating over $4.5 million in winnings, primarily from his appearances on "Jeopardy!". Jennings served as an interim host for "Jeopardy!" and "Celebrity Jeopardy!" alongside Mayim Bialik from 2021 to 2023, earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his hosting. In late 2023, he was named the permanent main host of "Jeopardy!".
May 23, 1974: Birth of Kenneth Wayne Jennings III
On May 23, 1974, Kenneth Wayne Jennings III was born. He would go on to become an American game show host, author, and the highest-earning American game show contestant.
1996: Jennings Transfers to Brigham Young University
In 1996, Ken Jennings transferred to Brigham Young University after two years as a volunteer missionary in Madrid, Spain. He played on the school's quizbowl team and graduated in 2000.
2000: Jennings Graduates from Brigham Young University
In 2000, Ken Jennings graduated from Brigham Young University with a double major in English and computer science.
2003: Jeopardy! Rule Change
In 2003, Jeopardy! changed its rules to allow contestants to remain on the show as long as they continued winning, enabling future champions like Ken Jennings to set new records.
2003: Jeopardy! Rule Change
Before 2003, Jeopardy! contestants were limited to five consecutive wins. In 2003, the rules were changed to allow contestants to remain on the show as long as they continued to win, paving the way for Ken Jennings' record streak.
January 2004: Tom Walsh's Winning Streak on Jeopardy!
In January 2004, Tom Walsh set a then-record winning streak on Jeopardy! with $186,900 in eight games. This record was later surpassed by Ken Jennings.
June 2, 2004: Start of Jennings' Winning Streak
On June 2, 2004, Ken Jennings began his winning streak on Jeopardy! by unseating two-time returning champion Jerry Harvey during the show's 20th season.
September 20, 2004: Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions Begins
The Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions began on September 20, 2004, but Ken Jennings did not participate as he had not yet been defeated.
October 1, 2004: End of Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions
The Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions concluded on October 1, 2004, with Ken Jennings continuing his winning streak.
November 2, 2004: Jeopardy! Episode Rescheduled
On November 2, 2004, the Jeopardy! episode featuring Ken Jennings was rescheduled due to the 2004 United States presidential election, pushing his week's episodes from Wednesday to Saturday.
November 10, 2004: Start of Jeopardy! College Championship
The Jeopardy! College Championship began on November 10, 2004, causing a temporary interruption in Ken Jennings' winning streak.
November 23, 2004: End of Jeopardy! College Championship
The Jeopardy! College Championship concluded on November 23, 2004, allowing Ken Jennings to resume his winning streak.
November 30, 2004: Jennings' Reign Ends
On November 30, 2004, Ken Jennings' reign as Jeopardy! champion ended when he lost his 75th game to challenger Nancy Zerg.
December 1, 2004: Jennings Guest Appearance on Jeopardy!
On December 1, 2004, the day after his defeat, Ken Jennings made a guest appearance on Jeopardy!, where host Alex Trebek acknowledged his success and the records he had broken.
December 28, 2004: Announcement of Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions
On December 28, 2004, Sony announced the Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions, a 15-week, 75-show event featuring past champions, including Ken Jennings, who was automatically placed in the finals.
2004: Entertainment Weekly Recognizes Jennings' Jeopardy! Streak
In 2004, Ken Jennings' record-breaking 74-show winning streak on Jeopardy! was recognized by Entertainment Weekly. They featured his performance in their end-of-the-decade 'best of' list, highlighting his total winnings of $2,520,700.
2004: Jennings' 74-Game Winning Streak on Jeopardy!
In 2004, Ken Jennings won 74 consecutive Jeopardy! games before being defeated by challenger Nancy Zerg in his 75th appearance. His total earnings from this streak amounted to $2,520,700.
2004: Politicians Approach Jennings for Senate Run
In 2004, Democratic politicians Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid approached Ken Jennings about running for the United States Senate from Utah, a request he ultimately declined.
November 2005: Jennings' "Six Degrees of Ken Jennings" Column Debuts
November 2005 marked the beginning of Jennings' column, "Six Degrees of Ken Jennings," in Mental Floss magazine.
2005: Release of Jeopardy! DVD
In 2005, Ken Jennings' losing episode was included in the DVD release of Jeopardy!: An Inside Look at America's Favorite Quiz Show by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
2005: Jennings Appears in Cingular Wireless Commercials
In 2005, capitalizing on his "Jeopardy!" fame, Jennings was featured in commercials for Cingular Wireless (later acquired by AT&T). The advertisements playfully depicted him as having numerous "friends and family" emerging after his game show success.
2005: Jennings Wins Second Place in Ultimate Tournament of Champions
In 2005, Ken Jennings won a $500,000 second-place prize in the Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions.
2005: Moderator at NAQT Tournament
In 2005, Ken Jennings served as a moderator at the NAQT High School National Championship Tournament in Chicago, reading literature and mythology questions. This was part of his involvement with the National Academic Quiz Tournaments.
2005: Jennings and Michael Davies Develop Game Show
In 2005, Ken Jennings and television producer Michael Davies began developing a new game show format for Comedy Central.
February 25, 2006: Jennings on "Not My Job" Segment
Ken Jennings appeared on the "Not My Job" segment of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! program on February 25, 2006, successfully answering all three questions.
April 2006: Jennings' Game Show Development Stalls
By April 2006, development on the game show Jennings was working on with Michael Davies had stalled. The project's future was uncertain.
July 4, 2006: Launches Trivia Email
On July 4, 2006, Ken Jennings began sending out a weekly email containing seven trivia questions. The seventh question was designed to be Google-resistant, and subscribers competed for a signed copy of his newest book every ten weeks.
September 13, 2006: Jennings Appears on The Colbert Report
Ken Jennings made an appearance on The Colbert Report on September 13, 2006, discussing his book Brainiac with Stephen Colbert.
2006: 1 vs. 100 Participation
In 2006, Ken Jennings appeared on the first two episodes of the NBC game show 1 vs. 100 as a mob member. He incorrectly answered a question about the color of the number 1 space on a roulette wheel, resulting in his elimination from the game.
2006: Publication of Brainiac
In 2006, Ken Jennings published his book, Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs, exploring his Jeopardy! experience and American trivia culture.
2006: Moderator at NAQT Tournament
In 2006, Ken Jennings returned as a moderator at the NAQT High School National Championship Tournament in Chicago, continuing his role of reading literature and mythology questions. This was part of his ongoing involvement with the National Academic Quiz Tournaments.
February 9, 2007: 1 vs. 100 Special Episode
On February 9, 2007, Ken Jennings appeared on a special 'Last Man Standing' episode of 1 vs. 100. He was eliminated on the final question, which asked which of three people had been married the most times. Jennings answered King Henry VIII, but the correct answer was Larry King.
August 4, 2007: Wins Grand Slam Tournament
On August 4, 2007, Ken Jennings won the Grand Slam game show tournament, which featured 16 former game-show winners in a single-elimination format. Jennings defeated Ogi Ogas in the finals to become the 2007 Grand Slam Champion, earning $100,000.
December 2007: Marion Jones Stripped of Medals
In December 2007, Marion Jones was stripped of her Olympic medals, a fact that almost ended Ken Jennings' winning streak during his first Jeopardy! episode in 2004.
October 10, 2008: Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Appearance
On October 10, 2008, Ken Jennings appeared on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and won $500,000. Although he had the opportunity to win a million dollars, Jennings opted not to risk his winnings. He later discovered he would have answered the million-dollar question correctly.
October 2008: Jennings Regains Record on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
In October 2008, Ken Jennings regained the record for highest American game show winnings during an appearance on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?.
2008: Stump the Master on GSN
In 2008, Ken Jennings appeared on GSN's trivia game Stump the Master, where he answered questions submitted by home viewers. If Jennings answered incorrectly, the caller won a prize. His correct answers increased the jackpot.
2009: Stump the Master on GSN
In 2009, Ken Jennings continued his participation on GSN's Stump the Master, answering trivia questions from home viewers. The show provided prizes for correct and incorrect responses, with Jennings' correct answers increasing the jackpot.
2009: Multiple Game Show Appearances
In 2009, Ken Jennings made appearances on multiple game shows, including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire as a frequent expert for the 'Ask the Expert' lifeline and the proposed CBS revival of Pyramid, titled Million Dollar Pyramid.
2009: Moderator at NAQT Tournament
In 2009, Ken Jennings once again moderated the NAQT High School National Championship Tournament in Chicago, reading questions as part of his continued participation with the National Academic Quiz Tournaments.
October 2010: Jennings' "Six Degrees of Ken Jennings" Column Ends
In October 2010, Jennings' "Six Degrees of Ken Jennings" column in Mental Floss magazine came to an end.
2011: Jennings Discusses Senate Run in Reddit AMA
During a Reddit AMA in 2011, Jennings recounted being asked to run for the U.S. Senate in 2004 by Democratic politicians.
2011: Jennings Competes in Jeopardy! IBM Challenge
In 2011, Ken Jennings participated in Jeopardy!'s IBM Challenge, where he lost to the Watson computer but earned a $300,000 second-place prize and became the first person to beat third-place finisher Brad Rutter.
2011: Jeopardy! IBM Challenge
In 2011, Ken Jennings participated in the "IBM Challenge" on Jeopardy!, where he competed against IBM's supercomputer, Watson. The event took place over three days from February 14-16. Watson emerged victorious, with Jennings coming in second.
June 1, 2013: Jennings Debuts as Panelist on Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
Ken Jennings joined the panel of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! for the first time on June 1, 2013.
September 22, 2014: Controversial Tweet
On September 22, 2014, Ken Jennings tweeted, 'Nothing sadder than a hot person in a wheelchair,' which received significant backlash. The tweet resurfaced in 2020, leading to further condemnation from disability rights activists.
2014: Millionaire Contestant
In 2014, Ken Jennings appeared on Millionaire during Guinness World Records Edition themed week. He won $100,000 after deciding to walk away on his $250,000 question, which he would have answered correctly.
2014: Jennings Competes in Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades
In 2014, Ken Jennings competed in the Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades, securing a $100,000 second-place prize.
2014: Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades
Ken Jennings competed in the Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades in 2014, a special five-week tournament. He finished in second place, behind Brad Rutter.
March 2015: Parade Ceases Kennections Quiz
In March 2015, Parade magazine ceased the Kennections quiz, a weekly trivia column by Ken Jennings. The magazine also removed links to archived quizzes. This marked the end of Jennings' regular trivia feature in Parade magazine.
November 10, 2015: Jennings Sparks Controversy with Tweet About Deceased Star Wars Fan
On November 10, 2015, Jennings received criticism for a tweet he made regarding the passing of Daniel Fleetwood, a terminally ill Star Wars fan whose wish to see "The Force Awakens" was granted shortly before he died in December 2015.
May 26, 2016: 500 Questions Appearance
On May 26, 2016, Ken Jennings appeared on the second-season premiere of 500 Questions and was eliminated on the fourth question by Monica Thieu, leaving with no winnings. The show was a challenging quiz competition.
May 15, 2017: Win on @midnight
On May 15, 2017, Ken Jennings appeared on an episode of @midnight during its fourth season and won the competition. As a result, Jennings was declared the funniest person on the internet for the following day, May 16, 2017.
May 31, 2017: Jennings Draws Backlash for Tweet About Barron Trump
On May 31, 2017, Jennings ignited controversy with a tweet referencing an incident where Barron Trump, then 11 years old, mistook a photo of comedian Kathy Griffin holding a prop resembling his father for a real image. Jennings' tweet, intended as satire, drew criticism from those who felt it was inappropriate.
September 7, 2017: Launches Omnibus Podcast
On September 7, 2017, HowStuffWorks unveiled a new podcast titled Omnibus, co-hosted by Ken Jennings and John Roderick. The show focuses on discussing topics that might be lost to history.
March 2018: Active on FleetWit
As of March 2018, Ken Jennings was an active participant in the trivia app FleetWit, regularly playing in live trivia races. He had an average correct answer rate of 89 percent and had won over $2,000.
August 2018: Jennings Criticized for Comment About Elderly Woman on Twitter
Jennings faced criticism in August 2018 for his comment on Twitter regarding an elderly woman's tweet about her late son's fondness for the character ALF. His remark, which labeled her as an "awful MAGA grandma," sparked backlash and accusations of insensitivity.
April 2019: Trivia Expert Announcement
In April 2019, it was announced that Ken Jennings would be one of the eight recurring 'Trivia Experts' for the new Game Show Network program Best Ever Trivia Show, which premiered later that year.
June 10, 2019: Best Ever Trivia Show Premiere
On June 10, 2019, Best Ever Trivia Show premiered on Game Show Network, featuring Ken Jennings as one of the eight recurring 'Trivia Experts'. The show was hosted by Sherri Shepherd.
2019: Jeopardy! All-Star Games
In 2019, Jennings participated as a team captain in the Jeopardy! All-Star Games, leading "Team Ken." The team secured second place in the competition.
2019: Jennings Competes in Jeopardy! All-Star Games
In 2019, Ken Jennings participated in the Jeopardy! All-Star Games, winning a $100,000 second-place prize as his share of his team's $300,000 prize.
2019: Jeopardy! All-Star Games
In 2019, Ken Jennings teamed up with Monica Thieu and Matt Jackson to compete in the Jeopardy! All-Star Games, showcasing top trivia talents in a team format.
January 2020: Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time Tournament
Ken Jennings won the Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time tournament in January 2020, defeating James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter to earn the title.
March 3, 2020: Washington State Legislature Honors Jennings with Resolution
On March 3, 2020, the Washington State Legislature demonstrated their recognition of Jennings' accomplishments by passing Senate Resolution 8704, commending him for his success on game shows.
April 6, 2020: Master Minds Premiere
On April 6, 2020, Master Minds premiered on Game Show Network as the successor to Best Ever Trivia Show. Ken Jennings was one of the six trivia experts on the show, which was hosted by Brooke Burns.
May 2020: LearnedLeague Participation
In May 2020, Ken Jennings participated in the LL85 season of LearnedLeague, competing in the A Rundle of the Laguna league. He finished the season in 5th place.
September 2020: Consulting Producer for Jeopardy!
Jennings began working as a consulting producer on Jeopardy! in September 2020. His role included reading on-air categories.
October 29, 2020: Alex Trebek's Final Taping
Alex Trebek taped his final Jeopardy! episode on October 29, 2020.
November 8, 2020: Alex Trebek's Death
Alex Trebek, longtime host of Jeopardy!, passed away on November 8, 2020, after battling stage four pancreatic cancer.
November 2020: The Chase Revival Announcement
In November 2020, Ken Jennings was announced as one of the three chasers on the ABC revival of The Chase, hosted by Sara Haines. He was joined by Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer as the other chasers.
November 23, 2020: Ken Jennings Announced as Interim Jeopardy! Host
On November 23, 2020, Ken Jennings was announced as the interim host for Jeopardy! following the passing of Alex Trebek.
December 2020: Jennings Issues Apology for Past Social Media Comments
In December 2020, Jennings took to Twitter to issue an apology for previous comments he had made on the platform. He also deleted the tweets in question.
2020: Jennings Wins Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time
In 2020, Ken Jennings won the Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time tournament, earning a $1,000,000 first-place prize.
2020: Tweet Controversy Reignites
In 2020, Ken Jennings faced renewed criticism for a tweet from 2014 that said, 'Nothing sadder than a hot person in a wheelchair.' The tweet drew condemnation from disability rights activists, including Rebecca Cokley.
2020: Jennings Wins Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time
In 2020, Ken Jennings once again faced off with Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer in Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time and emerged as the winner.
January 2021: Jennings Defends Podcast Co-Host Amidst Controversy
In January 2021, Jennings found himself defending his friend and podcast co-host John Roderick, who had come under fire for a Twitter thread detailing an incident involving his daughter and a can of baked beans. Jennings' defense of Roderick, who had also made controversial statements in the past, sparked further debate.
February 19, 2021: Ken Jennings Concludes First Stint as Interim Host
Ken Jennings concluded his initial run as interim Jeopardy! host on February 19, 2021.
August 2021: Report: Social Media Controversies Hinder Jennings' Chances as Permanent "Jeopardy!" Host
In August 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported that Jennings had been a frontrunner to succeed Alex Trebek as the host of "Jeopardy!" However, his past social media controversies reportedly worked against him, leading to negative feedback from focus groups and concerns among Sony executives about potential backlash.
September 2021: Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik Announced as Jeopardy! Hosts
Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik were announced as the hosts of Jeopardy! for the remainder of season 38 in September 2021 after the departure of Mike Richards.
November 16, 2021: Ends Trivia Email
On November 16, 2021, Ken Jennings decided to discontinue his weekly trivia email after 800 quizzes. The decision was influenced by his increasing commitments related to Jeopardy!, book tours, and a lack of material for the seventh question.
2021: Jennings Begins Alternating as Jeopardy! Host
Starting in 2021, Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik alternated as hosts of Jeopardy! and Celebrity Jeopardy!, marking a new chapter in his game show career.
July 2022: Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik Become Permanent Jeopardy! Hosts
In July 2022, Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik were announced as the permanent hosts for Jeopardy! starting with season 39.
October 2022: Ken Jennings Appears on Celebrity Jeopardy!
Ken Jennings appeared as a Clue Giver on Celebrity Jeopardy! in October 2022 during a category titled "A Long Run on TV with Ken Jennings."
January 2023: Ken Jennings to Host Jeopardy! Masters
In January 2023, it was revealed that Ken Jennings would host a new primetime tournament called Jeopardy! Masters on ABC.
May 8, 2023: Jeopardy! Masters Premieres
The new primetime tournament, Jeopardy! Masters, hosted by Ken Jennings, debuted on ABC on May 8, 2023.
May 11, 2023: Mayim Bialik Withdraws from Jeopardy! Due to Hollywood Labor Disputes
Mayim Bialik stepped down from her Jeopardy! hosting duties on May 11, 2023, in response to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.
May 2023: Jennings Fills in as "Jeopardy!" Host Amidst Writers' Strike
During the Writers Guild of America strike in May 2023, Jennings stepped in as host for the final week of filming for "Jeopardy!" after co-host Mayim Bialik declined to participate in solidarity with the striking writers. Jennings' decision to cross the picket line drew criticism from some.
May 2023: Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Appearance
In May 2023, Ken Jennings competed against Mayim Bialik and Vanna White on an episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Jennings won $72,800 for the Equal Justice Initiative.
December 2023: Jennings Announced as Permanent Host of Jeopardy!
In December 2023, Ken Jennings was announced as the permanent main host of Jeopardy!, solidifying his role on the iconic game show.