Arts & Entertainment

Holzhauer Loses 'Jeopardy!' After Record-Breaking Streak

Holzhauer wagered a surprisingly small amount during Final Jeopardy.

James Holzhauer congratulates Emma Boettcher, who unseated him as champion after a 32-game streak.
James Holzhauer congratulates Emma Boettcher, who unseated him as champion after a 32-game streak. (YouTube, Jeopardy!)

NAPERVILLE, IL — James Holzhauer's unbelievable run on "Jeopardy!" came to an end during Monday's show. Before the show aired, a leaked clip circulated on social media showing the reigning "Jeopardy!" champ losing after a historic 32-game streak that broke several records.

Naperville native Holzhauer went into the Final Jeopardy round with $23,400, trailing behind another contestant with $26,600. Holzhauer responded with the correct question, but only wagered $1,399.

Seemingly surprised, "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek said of Holzhauer's wager, "A modest one for the first time." He wound up with a total of $24,799.

Find out what's happening in Across Americafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Holzhauer, a professional gambler, has forged a reputation for wagering large amounts and taking away record-breaking single-day wins. He currently holds the top 10 spots for single-game records on the show.

His opponent, Emma Boettcher, made a risky wager of $20,201, leaving her with a total of $46,801.

Find out what's happening in Across Americafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"What a game, oh my gosh," Trebek said as Holzhauer walked over to high-fiving Boettcher.

Holzhauer, who had broken the $2 million mark in total winnings, fell short of the 74-game streak and over $2.5 million record set in 2004 by Ken Jennings.

According to New York Post, the leaked clip of Holzhauer losing drew copyright challenges from Sony Pictures, the producer of "Jeopardy!" But it was still on YouTube as of early Monday afternoon.

An employee at an Alabama CBS affiliate that shows "Jeopardy!" at 9:30 a.m. Central time watched Monday morning's broadcast and confirmed to the Washington Post that the leaked clip was part of Monday's episode.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.