By James Greaves
BYU alumnus Ken Jennings broke the record for the most amount of money ever won on television, amassing winnings of $2,197,000.
The record-breaking contestant won over $45,000 on Wednesday-night''s Jeopardy!, his 65th straight win to break the previous all-time game show record held by Michigan engineer Kevin Olmstead, who won $2,180,000 on ABC''s 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' in 2001.
It is the last in a line of records the Utah man has broken, including the most consecutive showings on any game show, the most money won on Jeopardy! and the most money won on any television show. According to TVgameshows.net, it is also the largest amount won by an individual on television in any country.
Jennings winning steak has boosted ratings for the show, as well as his own bank account balance and has sparked nationwide interest. The phenomenon has been coined 'the Jennings Juggernaut.'
Andrea Deming, a BYU senior in community health and Jennings'' cousin, said she is very excited to see what Jennings will do.
'A lot of people kind of want him to lose,' she said. 'Some people think he is a hero. I''m really proud of him, I want him to keep going forever.'
Jeopardy! shows are taped in advance. Rumors in September reported Jennings will lose sometime after amassing $2.5 million -- around his 75th show -- though the show and Jennings have not given any statements and Jennings is not able to talk to press until after his streak ends on air.
'Ever since he started doing this he''s been really good at keeping secrets,' Deming said. She added that Jennings is more remarkable for his personality than his knowledge.
'He''s a really great guy,' she said. 'The one thing fun about him is that he''s really laid back. He''s so genuine on the show and in real life.'
Jennings, 30, a software engineer, lives in Murray with his wife and baby son.
Jeopardy can be seen in Utah on weeknights at 7:30 p.m. on KJZZ, Channel 14.