Jeopardy! is a syndicated American quiz show with a history stretching back more than six decades. Created by Merv Griffin — who also created Wheel of Fortune — the show first aired on NBC in 1964, hosted by Art Fleming. It aired in various formats until 1979, then was revived in syndication in 1984, with Canadian broadcaster Alex Trebek as host. The modern syndicated version has aired continuously since then, becoming one of the most beloved and recognizable programs in television history.
The show’s format is distinctive because contestants are given clues in the form of answers and must respond with a question. Three contestants compete across categories on a game board, selecting clues with increasing dollar values. Correct responses add to a contestant’s score, while incorrect responses subtract from it.
Special clues known as Daily Doubles allow contestants to wager part or all of their earnings. The game culminates in the Final Jeopardy! round, where all three contestants write down their responses to a final clue and wager a portion of their score. The contestant with the highest total at the end of the round wins the game and returns to compete again as champion.
During its long run, Jeopardy! has produced some of the most remarkable records in game show history. Ken Jennings won 74 consecutive games in 2004 — the longest streak in the show’s history. James Holzhauer set the record for highest single-game winnings at $131,127 in 2019. Amy Schneider, who won 40 consecutive games in 2022, became the highest-earning woman in the show’s history with $1,382,800.
Alex Trebek remains one of the most iconic hosts of the show, having hosted for 37 seasons from 1984 until his death on November 8, 2020. Following his passing, a rotating roster of celebrity guest hosts filled in the role until Ken Jennings was named permanent host in 2023. Jennings also served as co-host of the show alongside actress Mayim Bialik before being named the permanent host.
