New Jersey has another reason to celebrate this weekend as Lawrenceville resident Jamie Ding notched his 21st consecutive victory on Jeopardy! during Friday's episode, tying him with fellow Garden State champion Cris Pannullo of Ocean City on the show's all-time wins list.
Ding's Friday performance brought his total winnings to an impressive $609,000, placing him sixth on the regular-season money list. The win came with his characteristic dominance—he had the game locked up before Final Jeopardy even began, holding $26,800 compared to his opponents' significantly lower totals.
The Final Jeopardy clue tested contestants' geography knowledge: "A river named for the sacred lotus flower flows toward this 890,000-square-mile body of water." Both Ding and fellow contestant Xaque Williams, a writer from Knoxville, Tennessee, correctly responded with "What is the Bay of Bengal?" Ding wagered $9,600 to finish with $36,400 for the day.
A Garden State Showdown
By matching Pannullo's 21-game streak, Ding has created a unique New Jersey tie at sixth place on the all-time wins list. Pannullo, who dominated the show during his run from September 30 to December 6, 2022, accumulated $710,865 and later competed in the 2023 Tournament of Champions, where he ranked fifth among contestants with the highest season winnings.
While Ding still trails Pannullo in total earnings, his performance has been nothing short of extraordinary. He currently sits in 14th place on the all-time earnings list and has already secured his spot in the upcoming Tournament of Champions.
More Than Just a Trivia Champion
What makes Ding's story particularly meaningful to our community is his day job: he works for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, helping fund affordable housing across the Garden State. As Sen. Cory Booker tweeted on April 1: "Jamie Ding! Making New Jersey proud! This Lawrenceville resident spends his days helping fund affordable housing across the Garden State, then goes on national TV and dominates. The man answers trivia on @Jeopardy and houses people for a living. New Jersey does not miss. Keep buzzing, Jamie."
Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Sen. Andy Kim have also publicly celebrated Ding's achievements, showcasing the pride our state takes in his success.
Originally from the Detroit area and a 2009 graduate of Grosse Pointe North High School, Ding came to New Jersey for his education at Princeton University, graduating in 2013. He's since made our community his home—and he's making us proud on the national stage.
Record-Breaking Performance
Beyond his winning streak, Ding has set remarkable records during his run. On the March 17 show, he achieved the highest Coryat score in Jeopardy! history with $42,400, surpassing the record of $39,200 set by current host Ken Jennings on June 10, 2004. A Coryat score represents the sum of the natural value of clues answered correctly, excluding Daily Doubles and Final Jeopardy.
Ding told his alma mater that being on the show is "phenomenal." When he's not dominating on Jeopardy! or working to provide affordable housing, he maintains an Instagram account with his sister called @attorneygeneraltsos, where they review General Tso's chicken at various restaurants—a fun detail he shared during one of his appearances.
Chasing History
With 21 wins under his belt, Ding now has his sights set on the next milestone. Above him on the all-time wins list are Julia Collins with 20 games (though Ding has already surpassed her), Jason Zuffranieri and David Madden with 19 games each, and Mattea Roach with 23 games from 2022.
The top four remain distant but not impossible targets: James Holzhauer with 32 games in 2019, Matt Amodio with 38 games in 2021, Amy Schneider with 40 games in 2022, and the legendary Ken Jennings, whose 74-game streak in 2004 remains the gold standard.
As our community watches Ding's continued success, one thing is clear: whether he's helping New Jerseyans find affordable housing or representing the Garden State on national television, Jamie Ding embodies the best of what our state has to offer. We'll be cheering him on as he continues his historic run.
