Kenneth Wayne "
Ken"
Jennings III (born May 23, 1974) is an
American game show contestant and author. Jennings holds the record for the longest winning streak on the
U.S. syndicated game show Jeopardy! and as being the second highest-earning contestant in game show history. In 2004, Jennings won 74
Jeopardy! games (in a row) before he was defeated by challenger Nancy Zerg on his 75th appearance. His total earnings on
Jeopardy! are $3,196,300, consisting of $2,520,700 over his 74 wins, a $2,000 second-place prize in his 75th appearance, a $500,000 second-place prize in the
Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions, a $100,000 win for second-place prize in the
Jeopardy Battle of the Decades, as well as half of a $300,000 prize in the IBM Challenge, when he competed against
Watson.