Scott Riccardi’s impressive winning streak on “Jeopardy!” continues to gain momentum, as he clinched his 14th victory on July 22, 2025, bringing his total winnings to $390,902. Remarkably, this episode coincided with what would have been the birthday of former host Alex Trebek, who passed away in 2020 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Ken Jennings, the current host and a “Jeopardy!” legend, took a moment to honor Trebek during the episode, stating “Happy birthday, Alex.”
Riccardi is now just one win away from tying with Adriana Harmeyer, who set a remarkable record last season with 15 victories and total earnings of $349,600. Should Riccardi continue his winning streak through to the season finale on July 25, he will be invited back for the show’s 42nd season.
During the July 22 episode, Riccardi faced off against Paul Ryan from Weymouth, Massachusetts, and Adriene Holland from Powder Springs, Georgia. His strong performance in the first round allowed him to build a substantial lead, entering Double Jeopardy! with $11,600, while his opponents were at $3,800 and $3,000.
Riccardi maintained his lead in Round 2, amassing $30,000 by the time he reached Final Jeopardy!, where the category was “Languages in History.” The clue prompted a strategic finale, as Ryan correctly identified the answer as German, raising his total to $13,000, while Holland’s incorrect guess of English dropped her total to $4,600. Riccardi guessed English as well but made a strategic wager of only $1,999, securing his win with total earnings of $28,001.
Reflecting on his experience, Riccardi shared, “It sounds completely made up. I really have experienced every type of game…It’s been a good variety.” With the chance to join the ranks of notable multi-day champions like Ken Jennings and Matt Amodio, Riccardi expressed some trepidation regarding the upcoming Tournament of Champions, noting the impressive backgrounds of many contestants in quiz formats.
As the excitement builds towards the season finale, Riccardi’s journey showcases not only his knowledge but also the spirit of competition that “Jeopardy!” embodies, underscoring the show’s enduring legacy and its connection to the late Alex Trebek.