Jeopardy’s Scott Riccardi ends 16-day winning streak in surprise fashion

After winning an impressive 16 consecutive games and amassing $455,000 in winnings, Scott Riccardi’s streak on Jeopardy! came to a shocking end at an unexpected time

Scott Riccardi’s jeopardy streak has come to an end

Scott Riccardi has officially landed in the Jeopardy! record books, but his impressive winning streak may be overshadowed by the way it came to an end.

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The game show has remained popular with viewers over the years, especially when players go on long winning streaks and amass large sums of cash in the process.

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However, when it comes to Riccardi, who cinched the year’s record for most games won by a player and had many fans thinking he would edge out records by James Holzhauer and Amy Schneider as well, the streak he set also ended in an impressive–and shocking–manner.

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On the Friday, July 25 episode of the show, which also served as the season finale before a brief hiatus and new episodes in the fall, he was looking to extend his streak to 17 games.

Riccardi’s streak came to an end after an incorrect guess and too high wager in final jeopardy on the season finale

Unfortunately, he was surprisingly bested in the end by new competitor Jonathan Hugendubler.

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Despite a strong start and early lead, Riccardi faltered during Final Jeopardy.

Going into the round, Riccardi was ahead with a total of $$23,600, with Hugendubler in second at $14,000 and fellow competitor Charlotte Cooper in third with $7,800.

Host Ken Jennings then introduced the final category as 20th Century Names, with the clue reading “According to one obituary, in 1935 he owend 13 magazines, 8 radio stations, 2 movie companies and $56 million in real estate.”

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Cooper and Hugendubler were both correct with their guesses of “Who is Hearst,” and with their wagers, they ended the game with $15,600 and $23,601 respectively.

However, Riccardi guessed incorrectly–and wagered too much, dropping down to $18,600–and officially crowning Hugendubler as the new champ.

The moment registered shock in the studio, as audience members were heard audibly gasping, Hugendubler stared with shock and brought his hands to his face, and Riccardi appeared stoic.

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Fans on social media were equally stunned, especially because it occurred on the final episode of the season, with many believing that was the first time that had happened as well.

“Np one expected this ending to a season! But we’ll see Scott in the Tournament of Champions,” one person wrote.

“Holy s–t. The first time a superchampion has lost on the last day of the season. What a way to wrap it up, congrats Jonathan!!” another said.

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Jonathan Hugendubler who beat Riccardi, was stunned to learn he had won

While Riccardi’s time has come to an end, he won’t be forgotten when it comes to the superchampions who have made history on the show.

Not only does he now hold the record for the most consecutive games won by a contestant since 2022, he ties 10th overall in Jeopardy! History, alongside Ryan Long.

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The other contestants with the longest streaks are David Madden (2005) and Jason Zuffranieri (2019), with 19 games each, Julia Colling (2014), with 20 games, Cris Pannullo (2022), with 21 games, Mattea Roach (2022), with 23 games, James Holzhauer (2019), with 32 games, Matt Amodio (2021), with 38 games, Amy Schneider (2022), with 40 games, and, of course, host Kennings, who went on an unbeatable 74-game streak in 2004.

Riccardi also currently holds the eighth place spot for highest winnings in regular season play with $455,00. The others who place above him are Zuffranieri with $532,496, Roach with $560,983, Pannullo with $748,286, Schnieder with $1,382,800, Amodio with $1,518,601, Holzhauer with $2,462,216 and Jennings with $2,520,700.