Ken Jennings Finally Copped To The Strange Lies He Told On Jeopardy

Lights, camera, action… a slight blond figure takes the stage as the game show Jeopardy! begins. Legendary host Alex Trebek, urbane and friendly, welcomes him to the show for what seems like the millionth time. As usual, the two are having the chat that begins the contest. But this time, Ken Jennings has something to say that’s just a bit strange…

Top man

Jennings wasn’t just any contestant on the long-running quiz show, though. No, he was the greatest. Not only did he win 74 times on the spin, but he also scooped a whole pile of money during his run. In fact, the unassuming trivia buff won the most cash of any quizzer, going into the history books by becoming a millionaire more than twice over.

Creative myth-building

Not that Jennings let it go to his head. He was a gracious and much-loved contestant, who enjoyed a friendly chat with Trebek before each show. All part of the game, of course. But after a while, a bit of craziness entered their exchanges, and Jennings indulged in some creative myth-building. Yet all the while, the genial host simply smiled and nodded.

Early life

A native of the state of Washington who spent his earliest years close to Seattle, Jennings didn’t stay there for long. With his lawyer dad stationed in different places across the globe, the youngster went with him, spending time in exotic spots such as Singapore and South Korea. In time, he returned to the States for college. There, he found the love of his life, Mindy, and later married her. With a job as a software engineer, he settled down with his wife and kids in Utah.

Visiting LA

The quizzer was actually a citizen of Salt Lake City, an apt place for a Mormon. The likeable trivia hound then found himself in Los Angeles in his late 20s, on a visit with a pal. He and his buddy had long thought about trying out for Jeopardy! Little did he know, though, that one fine day in 2004 he’d not only appear on the show but also become its most famous player.