
Kenneth Wayne Jennings III holds the record for the longest winning streak on the U.S. syndicated game show Jeopardy! Jennings won 74 games before he was defeated by challenger Nancy Zerg on his 75th appearance. His total earnings on Jeopardy! are US$3,022,700 ($2,520,700 in winnings, a $2,000 consolation prize on his 75th appearance, and $500,000 in the Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions). Jennings held the record for most winnings on any game show ever played until the end of the Ultimate Tournament of Champions (first aired on May 25, 2005), when he was displaced by Brad Rutter, who defeated Jennings in that tournament. After winning, he began working on a book, Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs, which explored American trivia history and culture. Ken also appeared as a member of the mob sitting in podium #13 from the new game show 1 vs. 100 in 2006, and in 2007 Jennings was the champion of the first season of the US version of Grand Slam. Jennings was selected to co-host Jeopardy after the death of Alex Trebek.
Series
Books

The Human Body
2015

U.S. Presidents
2014

Because I Said So!
The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales, and Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids
2012

100 Places to See After You Die
A Travel Guide to the Afterlife
2023

Brainiac
Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs
2006

Outer Space
2014

The Complete Kennections
5,000 Questions in 1,000 Puzzles
2025

Ken Jennings's Trivia Almanac
8,888 Questions in 365 Days
2007

Ancient Egypt
2015

Greek Mythology
2014

Planet Funny
How Comedy Took Over Our Culture
2018

Dinosaurs
2016

Maps and Geography
2014

Maphead
Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks
2011