Jeopardy! has a brand new celebrity in its midst as Scott Riccardi emerges as the most recent champ, ending a protracted drought. The 25-year-old engineer has been on a sizzling streak since defeating Jason Singer on July 3, racking up one-day winnings of $17,600.
Identified for his rapid-fire responses, entertaining faculty anecdotes, and fearless Day by day Double wagers, Riccardi is shortly turning into a fan favourite. And no marvel, as his charisma and appeal are matched solely by his sharp mind.
Will Riccardi make his personal mark on the long-running sport present? Solely time will inform. However earlier than we discover out, listed below are six issues it is best to know in regards to the new Jeopardy! champion.
He’s the primary participant since 2023 to win over $50k in a single sport
Riccardi is the primary participant since Ben Chan on Might 15, 2023, to win over $50,000 in a single regular-season play of Jeopardy! On July 4, 2025, in his second look as returning champ, Riccardi received a grand complete of $50,400 for one sport.
He has a wealth of tech data due to his background
Riccardi graduated from Rutgers College in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, the place he focused on mechanical and 3D design. After incomes his diploma, he started his profession on the Rutgers Middle for Superior Power Techniques as an undergraduate workers engineer, specializing in power effectivity.
He went on to work at RePowered Inc., an organization within the renewable power sector specializing in photo voltaic applied sciences, the place he served as a photo voltaic venture and product improvement engineer. He later transitioned right into a design engineer function.
At present, Riccardi works as a assist engineer specializing in safety and life security methods.
He’s recognized for his revolutionary problem-solving methods
When Riccardi was locked out of his home in faculty, he wanted to get the discover of his roommates, however appeared unable to. After making an attempt numerous strategies, together with calling them, texting them, and throwing rocks on the home windows, he got here up with an ingenious plan that used his tech expertise.
“I spotted I may stream my telephone to the TV, so I figured, how can I convey a whimsical predicament? So I picked the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme, at full quantity,” he shared on Jeopardy!. “When that didn’t work, I spotted I’d be extra direct with this. So I picked that clip of Eric Andre on the fence screaming, ‘Let me in!’ And that didn’t work, however it might have been terrifying had it [worked].”
He had a Jeopardy! themed celebration
For his twenty fifth birthday, two buddies took him out to brunch, and when he returned, they shocked him with a customized Jeopardy! board. The mastermind behind the celebration even dressed because the late, nice Alex Trebek (wig included).
“We competed in a bunch of video games,” recalled Riccardi on the sport present. “I wasn’t allowed to reply any of the questions that had been about me. And the winner was awarded a framed photograph of me piping pastry cream in a really nerve-racking scenario.”
He gained infamy at his faculty for an newbie modeling second
“So for my first week of school, there was a complete carnival out on the quad for my dorms, and there was a bunch of free stuff, inflatable bouncy castle-type issues. And there was free cherry Italian ice, which after all, I partook of,” recalled Riccardi. “And some weeks later, think about my shock when, emblazoned throughout the very entrance web page of our college web site is a bit worldwide pupil factor, the place they use that [picture] as a inventory photograph, and my mouth was utterly purple from cherry Italian ice.”
“Like, a gory scene?” requested Ken Jennings.
“Like a switch pupil from Transylvania,” remarked the Jeopardy! champ.
The New Jersey native let down his house state when he missed a Sopranos query
On the July 7 episode of Jeopardy!, contestants got the clue: “Ten years in jail haven’t completed any rehabilitation for Richie Aprile in Season 2 of this present.” The clue even featured a picture of actor David Proval. Any HBO fanatic value their weight in pasta knew the reply was The Sopranos, however the present could have been earlier than the time of Somerville, New Jersey native Scott Riccardi, who opted to not reply.
“None of them understanding The Sopranos reply shocked me and possibly the Jeopardy! workers as properly because it was a high of the board clue,” posted one Redditor.
“Jersey man ought to’ve recognized it,” wrote one other fan.
“How are you from New Jersey and on Jeopardy! and never getting a Sopranos query proper?,” wrote one fan on X.
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