Additional Coverage:
- ‘Jeopardy’ champion Scott Riccardi clears the air after speculation that he lost a game on purpose (marketrealist.com)
Somerville, NJ resident Scott Riccardi’s impressive 16-game *Jeopardy! * win streak came to a surprising end, sparking fan speculation and prompting the champion to address the rumors.
Riccardi, who amassed $455,000 in winnings, was defeated by Jonathan Hugendubler in a nail-biting Final Jeopardy! round.
Throughout the game, Riccardi maintained a comfortable lead. Going into Final Jeopardy!, the category was “20th Century Names” and the clue was: “According to one obituary, in 1935 he owned 13 magazines, 8 radio stations, 2 movie companies, and $56 million in real estate.”
While both Hugendubler and fellow contestant Charlotte Cooper correctly answered “Who is William Randolph Hearst?”, Riccardi’s incorrect response of “Who is Howard Hughes?” cost him the game.
The unexpected loss fueled speculation on social media, with some fans suggesting Riccardi intentionally lost to compete sooner in the Tournament of Champions. Riccardi addressed the rumors directly on Reddit, congratulating Hugendubler and explaining his thought process during Final Jeopardy!.
He admitted to overthinking the clue and focusing on the movie companies aspect, leading him to Howard Hughes. He acknowledged that Hearst didn’t cross his mind until Cooper revealed her answer.
Riccardi confessed to being unprepared for a Hearst-related clue and praised both Hugendubler and Cooper for their strong performances.
Despite the loss, Riccardi remains the top winner of Jeopardy!‘s 41st season and is set to compete in the Tournament of Champions.