Amy Schneider Makes History as First-Ever Woman to Surpass $1 Million on 'Jeopardy!'
Schneider is the fourth person to earn over $1 million in non-tournament ‘Jeopardy!’ history
Oakland, California-based engineering manager Amy Schneider has racked up over $1 million in earnings as she continues her record-breaking winning streak on “Jeopardy!” On Jan. 7, Schneider won her 28th straight game with a total of $42,200, taking her total earnings to a whopping $1,019,600. She is now only the fourth player in the show’s history to earn over $1 million in non-tournament play.
“It feels amazing,” Schneider told Jeopardy.com. “It feels strange. It’s not a sum of money I ever anticipated would be associated with my name.”
Humble as she may be, Schneider possesses an impressive body of knowledge that has helped her smash record after record. She is the first trans person ever to qualify for the “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions and the highest-ever earning woman in the show’s history. Schneider is also fourth in both consecutive games won and highest winnings.
Schneider had said previously on the show that she planned to spend some of her earnings on travel. She also told Jeopardy.com she wanted to add some designer names to her wardrobe.
But for the moment, Schneider is focused on the experience more than the rewards.
“This has been something I have wanted since I can remember,” she said. “Being in the history of the game, I think is something. You know, the money doesn’t feel real yet, but that is something that I will never not be proud of.”
Still, not all of her time since starting on the show has been roses and record-breaking. Schneider was robbed in her hometown of Oakland on New Year’s Eve.
“Hi all,” Amy started in a tweet about the robbery. “So first off: I’m fine. But I got robbed yesterday, lost my ID, credit cards and phone. I then couldn’t really sleep last night and have been dragging myself around all day trying to replace everything.”
Hi all! So, first off: I'm fine. But I got robbed yesterday, lost my ID, credit cards, and phone. I then couldn't really sleep last night, and have been dragging myself around all day trying to replace everything.
— Amy Schneider (@Jeopardamy) January 4, 2022
No arrests have been made in the case. According to the Associated Press, “Jeopardy!” producers issued a statement after learning of the matter.
“We were deeply saddened to hear about this incident, and we reached out to Amy privately to offer our help in any capacity,” the statement read.