Amy Schneider continues to break new ground on “Jeopardy!”
On Friday, the 42-year-old software engineering manager from California became the first woman in the history of the long-running game show to surpass $1 million in earnings during regular-season play, The New York Times reported.
Friday’s victory was the 28th straight for the Ohio native, who lives in Oakland. She has won $1,019,001 overall, People reported.
“It’s not a sum of money I ever anticipated would be associated with my name,” Schneider said in a news release.
I’ll get back to the backlogged game threads tomorrow. But I just want to acknowledge how overwhelmed I am by the things being written about me, and about what this run means. This has been a life-changing experience, thank you all so so much for your kindness and support ❤️
— Amy Schneider (@Jeopardamy) January 8, 2022
The other contestants to win more than $1 million are Ken Jennings, who had 74 wins and $2,520,700 in 2004; James Holzhauer, with 32 wins and $2,462,216 in 2019; and Matt Amodio, who earned $1,518,601 during a 38-game streak last year, People reported.
Five games into her streak, Schneider became the first transgender contestant to qualify for the show’s annual Tournament of Champions, the magazine reported.
“To be good at ‘Jeopardy!’ you just have to live a life where you’re learning stuff all the time,” Schneider said in a news release.
>> ‘Jeopardy!’ champion Amy Schneider says she was robbed in Oakland
She became the highest-earning female contender last month when she passed Larissa Kelly’s previous mark. Schneider also has the most consecutive victories for a female contestant, People reported.
With $1,019,600 in all-time winnings, Amy Schneider has joined a very exclusive club among Jeopardy! champions! pic.twitter.com/S1v9IF3gLE
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) January 8, 2022
Schneider, who grew up watching “Jeopardy!” at home with her parents and in eighth grade was voted most likely to appear on the show, the Times reported.
She has had a week of ups and downs -- her victories were a highlight, but on Monday she tweeted that she had been robbed in Oakland on Jan. 2, losing her credit cards, identification and phone.
Scheider’s next game will be aired on Monday, CNN reported.
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