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Entertainment • Television

Ken Jennings

Ken Jennings is an American game show host, author, and former quiz show contestant best known for his record-setting run on Jeopardy!.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Ken Jennings is an American game show host, author, and former quiz show contestant best known for his record-setting run on Jeopardy!. He won 74 consecutive games in 2004 and later became a host of Jeopardy!, first sharing duties and then serving as the sole host. Jennings was born on May 23, 1974, in Edmonds, Washington.

Early life and education

Ken Jennings was born in 1974 in Edmonds, Washington, and grew up overseas for part of his childhood, including time in South Korea.

Jeopardy! contestant career

Jennings became widely known in 2004 after winning 74 straight Jeopardy! games. That streak set the record for the longest in the program's history and made him the highest-earning American game show contestant at the time.

Host career

After guest-hosting and sharing duties with Mayim Bialik, Jennings became a host of Jeopardy! in 2021 and the show's sole host in 2023.

Other work

Jennings is also an author and has appeared in other media projects, including Jeopardy! specials and related television work.

Key facts

  • Jennings won 74 consecutive games on Jeopardy! in 2004, the longest winning streak in the show's history.
  • His regular-game winnings on Jeopardy! totaled $2,522,700.
  • He was named Jeopardy! host in 2021 and became the sole host in 2023.
  • He won Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time in 2020.
  • Jennings was born on May 23, 1974, in Edmonds, Washington.
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Canadian context

Ken Jennings is widely known to Canadian viewers because Jeopardy! has long had a strong audience in Canada and remains a familiar syndicated quiz franchise on Canadian television.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Ken Jennings?
Ken Jennings is an American game show host, author, and former Jeopardy! contestant best known for his record-setting 74-game winning streak.
How old is Ken Jennings?
He was born on May 23, 1974, which makes him 52 years old as of 2026.
How much did Ken Jennings win on Jeopardy?
He won $2,522,700 in regular-game Jeopardy! winnings.
What is Ken Jennings' longest winning streak?
His longest winning streak on Jeopardy! was 74 consecutive games in 2004.
Is Ken Jennings the host of Jeopardy?
Yes. Jennings has hosted Jeopardy! since 2021 and became the sole host in 2023.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Jennings
    Supports: Birth date, 74-game winning streak, hosting since 2021, sole host since 2023
  2. Ken Jennings — https://www.ken-jennings.com/about
    Supports: Biography, 74 wins, $2.52 million, Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time, hosting role
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ken-Jennings
    Supports: Birth date, hometown, 74 consecutive Jeopardy! wins, host role
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1668506/
    Supports: Birth date and age
  5. ABC — https://abc.com/cast/56db633b-f804-4b53-b028-cd975d304c28
    Supports: Host naming, guest hosting, split duties, sole-host status, 74-game streak, GOAT win
  6. TV Insider — https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ken-jennings/
    Supports: Age, birth date, Jeopardy! winnings, record streak, host role
  7. Ken Jennings — https://www.ken-jennings.com/about
    Supports: Hosted by Jeopardy! since 2021 and formal host role details