Is Megan Wachspress the Luckiest ‘Jeopardy!’ Champ Ever?

Martin Holmes June 21, 2022, 8:16 am

Megan Wachspress on Jeopardy! — Jeopardy/YouTube

Current Jeopardy! champion Megan Wachspress has had luck on her side throughout her stint on the long-running game show and has now qualified for the Tournament of Champions despite finishing last in winnings.

The attorney from Berkeley, California, has shown off her smarts during her five appearances, but there is no denying that luck has played a significant factor in her winning streak. This became clear on Friday, June 17, when contestant Sadie Goldberger appeared to win the game until a controversial call by judges deemed her correct Final Jeopardy! answer illegible, meaning Wachspress was announced the winner.

Wachspress’ good fortune continued on Monday, June 20, as she headed into the Final Jeopardy! against contestant Tory Leviton, who had a slight lead over the reigning champ. Both contestants answered incorrectly, but Wachspress won the episode as Leviton wagered more of his earnings, leaving the lawyer with her head in her hands over the miraculous victory.

With five consecutive wins, Wachspress has now earned her spot in the Tournament of Champions, which is still sinking in for the current champ. She took to Twitter on Monday evening to share her thoughts and feelings, explaining how embarrassed she felt about getting the Final Jeopardy! question wrong despite it covering an era she had studied for her dissertation.

What is Greek for “alone”? At this point I begin spiralling, running through the constellation of constitutional concepts associated with kingship. Prerogative? No, too obscure. Lese majestae? Latin, and even more obscure. Crown? Definitely not Greek.

— Megan Wachspress (@MegOnJeopardy) June 21, 2022

“I am well aware of how unbelievably lucky I am, how brilliant and quick my opponents have been, and how bizarre a run this has been,” Wachspress wrote. “Excited for the possibility of meeting some true super-champs at ToC and a shot at redemption if pirates somehow come up.”

I am well aware of how unbelievably lucky I am, how brilliant and quick my opponents have been, and how bizarre a run this has been. Excited for the possibility of meeting some true super-champs at ToC and a shot at redemption if pirates somehow come up.

— Megan Wachspress (@MegOnJeopardy) June 21, 2022

Even more surprising, Wachspress actually finished Monday’s episode in last place in earnings. She took home $401, while the second and third place runners-up received the bigger $2,000 and $1,000 consolation prizes. Wachspress also qualified for the Tournament of Champions with only $52,002, less than half as much as any other five-day champion this year.

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“They need to check Megan for hidden horseshoes,” tweeted one viewer after Monday’s episode. “Megan has the craziest luck on this show! Congrats!” added another.

Check out more reaction below.

They need to check Megan for hidden horseshoes 🍀

Congratulations for TOC!#Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/d4zGvW7s3L

— 🌿Fern🌿 (@ItmustbeBunneez) June 21, 2022

Megan has the craziest luck on this show! Congrats! #jeopardy

— cheflike (@cheflike19) June 20, 2022

When you win but actually lose #Jeopardy #MondayNight pic.twitter.com/FuDSxUFQYw

— 🌍The_Weary_Drifter🌏 (@citysims) June 21, 2022

Talk about pure luck… Megan loses on Friday after Sadie got screwed and backs into winning today. Right into the Tournament of Champions. #jeopardy

— Al Quint (he/him) (@SuburbanVoice) June 21, 2022

The winner on #Jeopardy won LESS MONEY, than the two losing contestants! How many times has that happened? @missmayim @KenJennings

— CHAS. HAGAN (@Hagan_Principal) June 21, 2022

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