Author Topic: Winnings cap on Jeopardy? (Read 10375 times)

Sonic Whammy · « **on:** July 27, 2003, 02:59:14 PM »

Hey guys.

In response to the new rule about \"play until you lose\" on Jeopardy for next year, my friend Robert Brown brings up an interesting question. He says that way back when, he recalls hearing about the show having a $75,000 cap on player's winning, at which point, any overage would be donated to charity. Specifically, when Spangenburg won over $100K way back when, they mentioned this, or so he says.

But with the new rule, we're assuming that even if the cap existed, there's no way it can now, otherwise why would you really continue forever.

If anyone knows about the idea of a cap ever existing, how and when, please let me know.

Stay Way Past Cool!

Brian Sapinski
The Sonic Whammy
http://sonicwhammy.20fr.com

clemon79 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2003, 03:02:11 PM »

[quote name=\'Sonic Whammy\' date=\'Jul 27 2003, 11:59 AM\'] He says that way back when, he recalls hearing about the show having a $75,000 cap on player's winning, at which point, any overage would be donated to charity. Specifically, when Spangenburg won over $100K way back when, they mentioned this, or so he says.
[/quote]
This was in fact the case. I would imagine it was at LEAST raised when they doubled the money, and is probably history now under the play-til-you-drop rules if it wasn't before.

Kevin Prather · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2003, 08:14:17 PM »

When the $149,000+ winner (i cant remember his name) reached his 5th day, Alex kept mentioning that he was anxious to see if he'd win over $150,000. But he said nothing about a $150,000 cap.

zachhoran · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2003, 08:22:18 PM »

[quote name=\'Sonic Whammy\' date=\'Jul 27 2003, 01:59 PM\'] Hey guys.

In response to the new rule about "play until you lose" on Jeopardy for next year, my friend Robert Brown brings up an interesting question. He says that way back when, he recalls hearing about the show having a $75,000 cap on player's winning, at which point, any overage would be donated to charity. Specifically, when Spangenburg won over $100K way back when, they mentioned this, or so he says.

From 1984-90, the limit was $75K(winnings over that amount went to charity). When two players, Bob Blake and Frank Spangenberg, broke the $75K mark in the 1989-90 season, the limit was raised to $100K in 1990-91 season. No one cracked the $100K mark after that until Brian Weikle(sp?) did just a few months ago(aided by doubling of the dollars).

On the 1997-98 season premiere GSN aired two weeks ago, Alex mentioned a $200K winning limit. I'm not sure whether that limit still exists or not. I'm assuming it won't once the new season begins, anyway.

[/quote]
Zach

Don't make too much of a big deal about this post if it doesn't look like my usual type of post

Don Howard · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2003, 08:26:12 PM »

Based on my memory of America's favorite answer and question game with host Alex Trebek, here's how I'm sure it's been. Please fix me if I goof it up.

1984-90 $75,000 win 5 times and you're gone
1990-97 $100,000 win 5 times and you're gone
1997-2001 $200,000 win 5 times and you're gone but you get a nice car
2001-2003 no money limit win 5 times and you're gone but get a very nice car
**this went into effect with the dollar-doubling**
2003- no money limit you keep winning, you keep on coming back

Chapagne wishes!

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2003, 08:36:10 PM »

In other words, it appears that Jeopardy wanted to give the impression that there was a cap, but every time people started reaching it for one reason or another, they just kept lifting it. And of course the Tournament of Champions players weren't playing for charity, so they arbitrarily considered those winnings to be separate. For that matter, did they even say anything about the fact that they had an annual $100,000 tournament at the same time that they supposedly had a $75,000 cap?

trainman · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2003, 11:23:31 PM »

Don, if I recall correctly from three weeks ago when I saw the 1997-98 season premiere at work, the cap actually went up to $250,000 in 1997 with the addition of the car prize, or so Alex claimed.

zachhoran · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2003, 10:08:47 AM »

The winnings cap did go up at the start of the 1997-98 season, but only to $200K. Now I don't think there is a winnings cap on J!. Is there still one on WOF?

BrandonFG · « **Reply #8 on:** July 29, 2003, 04:35:27 PM »

[quote name=\'zachhoran\' date=\'Jul 28 2003, 09:08 AM\'] Now I don't think there is a winnings cap on J!. Is there still one on WOF? [/quote]
The thing is, would one be needed since contestants only stay for one day?

HSquares2003 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 12, 2003, 09:54:14 PM »

Also, WOF did have a cap of 125k IIRC, and anything over 125k was donated to charity. This happened quite a few times on the 3 day champion era. With WOF being a one day and your gone show, it could reach it's cap, but not likely.

As for Jeopardy, it is the toughest of any game show(maybe Millionaire is just as tough), if somebody can play for a month or two without a defeat, they deserve every $ they get IMHO.

zachhoran · « **Reply #10 on:** August 12, 2003, 11:10:47 PM »

The $125K winnings cap was in effect in the early 90s(when the show taped at CBS TV City). By the 1994-95 season(the last taped at CBS), $200K was the winnings cap. Even if that winning cap still exists, which I believe it doesn't, no one is likely to crack it in one show.

Author Topic: Winnings cap on Jeopardy? (Read 10375 times)

HSquares2003