Jeopardy! offered the latest episode (Season 41, Game 178) of the iconic trivia game show, airing Wednesday, May 14, 2025. In this episode, three contestants— Brandon Monsman from Cleveland, Jen Johnson from Timonium, and Andrew Jones from Queens—were in a fierce battle.
As they fought through the two rounds and the important Final Jeopardy, everyone was at the top of their game. Everyone wants to know: Who won Jeopardy! tonight?
Today's Jeopardy! winner was Brandon Monsman, who came back from a tough Double Jeopardy round. He won with a final score of $16,400, making him the new champion.
Even though Andrew Jones got off to a good start, he ended up in third place. Jen Johnson came in second. In the Final Jeopardy category called South American Cities, the question was about a famous landmark near a capital city. The correct answer, What is Quito?, was very important in deciding who won tonight.
People keep watching Jeopardy! because it's fun and interesting to see smart people compete in an intellectual setting. Although the format stays the same, the stakes seem to rise with each new episode.
The Jeopardy round featured a range of categories that tested the contestants' knowledge and quick thinking. The categories were: We Are Really Going To Stump You, On Guard, Knives Out, Picture The Hit Song, 2 E Or Not 2 E, and That Is The Question.
Andrew started strong, securing six correct answers before the break. Brandon followed with two correct responses, while Jen had four. The scores were close at the break, with Andrew leading at $3,800, followed by Brandon and Jen both at $2,000.
Statistics at the Break:
As the round progressed, Andrew continued to add to his score, answering five more questions correctly before the end of the Jeopardy round. By the end, his total score stood at $4,400, with Brandon at $3,600 and Jen at $2,800.
Scores after Jeopardy round:
Also read: Who won Jeopardy! tonight? May 9, 2025, Friday
In Double Jeopardy, the competition heated up. The categories for this round were: Trick Or Treaty, Authors’ Homes, Jesus Had A Day, Fun Around The U.S., Big Box Office Energy, and Rhyme Time.
Also read: Today's Final Jeopardy! answer: Monday, May 12, 2025
Jen found the Daily Double in the second category, doubling up her score to $4,000. However, Andrew had a setback after he incorrectly wagered on a True Daily Double, dropping him to $0.
Despite this, Andrew bounced back with impressive accuracy, but a wrong answer on the round's penultimate clue gave Brandon the lead heading into Final Jeopardy.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Scores before Final Jeopardy:
The Final Jeopardy category was South American Cities. The clue asked contestants about a popular monument near a capital city that was built 800 feet too far south due to a surveying error. Jen and Brandon both correctly answered "What is Quito?", while Andrew mistakenly answered "What is Buenos Aires?".
The clue: GPS technology has determined that a popular monument near this capital was built about 800 feet too far to the south
Correct answer: What is Quito, Ecuador?
Final Jeopardy results:
Brandon Monsman
Brandon Monsman, a bartender from Cleveland, Ohio, demonstrated a lot of confidence. He knew a lot and could think quickly throughout the game, especially during the Double Jeopardy round.
He made a strong comeback after a bad start by using Andrew's mistake in the next-to-last clue to his advantage. This move paid off and helped him win. Brandon finished with a total score of $16,400, even though he was behind at the start.
With his ability to make quick decisions and timely responses, he correctly answered "What is Quito?" in Final Jeopardy, winning the game. Brandon will be back tomorrow to defend his title.
Also read: Who won Jeopardy! tonight? May 13, 2025, Tuesday
Jen Johnson
Jen Johnson is a communications manager from Timonium, Maryland. On Jeopardy!, she showed both brains and strategy. The whole game, she answered questions correctly and with confidence. During the Jeopardy! round, she had a perfect record with no wrong answers.
Jen did the right thing by doubling up on a Daily Double, which raised her score. Despite her performance and her extensive knowledge, she couldn't catch Brandon in the last few minutes. Jen won $8,401 for giving the right answer on Final Jeopardy, putting her in second place.
Andrew Jones
Andrew Jones is a graduate student from Queens, New York, and he has won two episodes of Jeopardy! before. His performance tonight showed his diverse knowledge, evident especially in the Jeopardy round, where he got ahead with six right answers.
Read more: Today's Final Jeopardy! answer: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
However, in Double Jeopardy, Andrew lost when he made a wrong True Daily Double bet, which put him at zero. He was able to come back and briefly take the lead, but Brandon quickly passed him when he made a crucial mistake on the second-to-last clue in Double Jeopardy.
Even though Andrew was right in Final Jeopardy, his earlier mistake cost him the win. He came in third place with $6,001, which, while a good showing, was not good enough to keep his title.
Also read: Who won Jeopardy! tonight? May 8, 2025, Thursday
Jeopardy! is different from other game shows because the clues are given as answers, and contestants have to answer with the questions that go with them. This twist on the usual format of a game show tests people's ability to think quickly and rewards those who know a lot about a lot of different topics.
Jeopardy! is different from shows that depend on luck because it stresses intelligence, strategy, and mental agility. This makes it both challenging and fun to watch.
Structured rounds of Jeopardy!, like Daily Doubles and Final Jeopardy, add a bit of strategy and suspense as players decide how much to bet and how to handle their leads. This unique format sets it apart from others by focusing on remembering information and making tactical decisions. This has made it a long-time audience favorite.
Also read: Today's Final Jeopardy! answer: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Jeopardy round
Categories:
Statistics at the First Break (15 clues):
Scores after the Jeopardy round:
Interviews:
Double Jeopardy round
Categories:
Double Jeopardy highlights:
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Scores going into Final Jeopardy:
Final Jeopardy:
Final results:
As the episode ended on May 14, 2025, Brandon Monsman was named the new Jeopardy! champion. Even though Andrew Jones had an early lead, Brandon fought back hard and won with $16,400. Jen Johnson landed in second place and won $8,401 for her efforts.
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At the end of the episode, Brandon's win also means that he would be back tomorrow to defend his title. The unique trivia format of Jeopardy! continues to engage viewers, showing off intellect and a neck-to-neck competition.