‘Put Jamie Ding on the $20 bill:’ "Jeopardy!" sensation wins nearly $1 million but doesn’t expect life to change. How he measures up to other champs

Em NortonSat, May 2, 2026 at 10:05 AM UTC

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Thirty-one game Jeopardy winner Jamie Ding appears behind the gameshow podium during a recent episode of the trivia show.

On a regular day, Jamie Ding is a program administrator for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. But from March 13 to April 27, he was a "Jeopardy!" victor.

Ding's winning streak is the fifth longest in Jeopardy history, putting him just one winning match short of matching James Holzhauer's (1) spot in the line-up.

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After a 31-game winning streak, Ding is returning back to his normal life in Lawrenceville, New Jersey with his $880,000 winnings. While this cash prize likely sounds like a large sum to many, The New York Times (2) wrote that Ding said "he did not expect his "Jeopardy!" windfall to change his life all that much."

Now that his streak is over, Ding told the New York Times (2) he plans on donating some of his winnings and saving the rest in a high-yield savings account (HYSA).

While he may not expect to see much change in his life from this windfall, "Jeopardy!" fans think highly of him. In a Substack (3) post praising Ding's game and admiring his charming awkwardness, Eric Webb dubs him a national hero, writing, "Put Jamie Ding on the $20 bill."

How does Ding's haul compare to other top winners?

Ding's winnings probably seem a pretty hefty sum to most viewers — and they are. But, many "Jeopardy!" players have gone home with even more cash.

Ken Jennings has the highest winnings at $2,520,700, followed by James Holzhauer with $2,462,216 Matt Amodio with $1,518,601 (4) and Amy Schneider with $1,382,800.

That being said, there is a catch for any game show winner: taxes. The tax rate will depend on your income outside of your winnings, as your winnings themself are taxed as ordinary income, which can go up to 37% (5). At the end of the day, this affects the amount of cash you truly take home.

Back in 2022, Forbes wrote (6) that winner Amy Schneider was set to face some hefty taxes. With her winnings alone she would fall into the 37% rate for federal income tax, and since she lived in California, she would've also had to pay up to 13.3% for state income tax.

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Best plans for lump sum winnings

Plan on being the next "Jeopardy!" fan favorite? It's important to be prepared for the large windfall that can come with it.

Ding's plan for his winnings seems practical enough: save most for the future, and give back. That being said, putting all or most of your winnings into a HYSA might not be the best choice.

Putting some of the money in a HYSA might be a good call for you, especially if you have a specific short-term savings goal, like an emergency fund you need to build up. But, by dispersing your winnings over various saving and investing vehicles, you can add some diversity and create room for longer term gains. For instance, investing in equities is a good tactic for combatting inflation and earning higher returns. Of course, market volatility is always a risk.

If you come into a large windfall like Ding — even if it's not for knowing "what are waffle fries?" (2) — discussing the best path forward with a financial advisor before making any concrete decisions can ensure you are on the right track to achieving your financial and personal goals.

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.

The New York Times (1),(2); Substack (3); Jeopardy! (4); H&R Block (5); Forbes (6)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Money”