Ken Jennings Shares Rare Emotional Milestone in His ‘Jeopardy!’ Career

Ken Jennings is experiencing a moment he never dreamed would ever come true.

Ken’s career on Jeopardy! began back in 2004, when he made a record-breaking turn as a contestant on the quiz show. After winning 74 games, he eventually amassed over $2 million in winnings and became the greatest player of all time. While he’d later come back on to compete against IBM computer Watson in 2011, he entered a new era of Jeopardy! when he became the show’s permanent host (replacing the late Alex Trebek) in 2022.

Well, now Ken has hit a new era in his TV tenure. Posting a photo of himself on a billboard outside of the TV studio Jeopardy! films at in Los Angeles, he shared just how incredible a moment like that meant to him.

“One of the more surreal moments of my life, spotting the new billboard on the side of Sony’s Stage 10. There’s a me one now,” he wrote in an emotional caption on Instagram on February 11. “There’s a feeling past imposter syndrome that I can only describe as ‘stolen valor.’ I mean, come on. This is Jeopardy!, the single highest achievement of Western culture — and that’s clearly for reasons that have nothing to do with me and pre-date me by decades.”

“It’s the show that meant so much to me as a nerdy kid keeping score at home every night,” he added. “It already changed my life once, 20 years ago. I don’t know how it happened that I work here now, on the Alex Trebek Stage. I’m more than a little uncomfortable with that, but it also makes me very happy.”

When fans learned of Ken’s unexpected TV milestone, they made sure to celebrate the occasion with heartfelt messages for him.

“Ken Jennings, you are phenomenal! No one else can fill your shoes ☮️❤️,” one person wrote in the comments. “Alex Trebek, who is resting in eternal peace, would’ve been so proud of you, Ken,” another replied. “You are the only one who could have picked up the Jeopardy mantle,” a different follower added.

As fans may know, Ken isn’t just the host of Jeopardy!. Except for Colin Jost hosting Pop Culture Jeopardy!, he emcees all the shows in the TV franchise. What’s more, new episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy! season 3 are airing every Wednesday night — and he’s already commented how he has high hopes for more famous faces to make appearances on the show.

Congrats, Ken!

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