How much the first ‘Jeopardy!’ winner took home, and what it’d be worth today

(NEXSTAR) – After 31 consecutive games, Jamie Ding’s historic “Jeopardy!” winning streak came to an end on April 27. 

In the final game of his run, which earned him a total of $882,605, the 33-year-old finished with $19,010. While that may be a drop in the bucket for his “Jeopardy!” pot, it’s probably enough to make the first-ever winner of the now-famous game show gawk. 

“Jeopardy!” – which wasn’t the creator’s first choice for the name of the show – debuted on NBC in 1964. It’s considered among the first of its kind to bring back factual knowledge, and it quickly became recognizable for requiring contestants to respond in the form of a question.

While “Jeopardy!” is now filmed in California, it was initially taped in New York City. 

That’s where Mary Cabell Eubanks found herself spending time with a friend while her husband was at work. To occupy themselves, Mary, now in her 80s, said they “would try out to go on various programs where people entered to win something and others were simply fun programs........

© The Hill