Jake DeArruda became a mini celebrity last year after his exciting and memorable three-day Jeopardy run. Now, the 24-year-old once again finds himself in the spotlight after returning to the popular game show.
DeArruda, a delivery dispatcher from Vermont, was only 23 when he won three games in a row in season 39 to secure an $86,000 prize. This week, he was back at it as he returned to the show for the Tournament of Champions segment.
A video of the contestant went viral on Thursday after a comical exchange between him and host Ken Jennings. Asked by Jennings what he had done with the money he earned in previous shows, he had a hilarious response.
“I was 23 when my games aired last year so I did what anybody under the age of 25 would do I promptly spent the check on sports gambling and women and alcohol,” said DeArruda.
How TOC player Jake DeArruda spent his original Jeopardy winnings.
"Sports gambling, women and alcohol…
"$20 on a CFB pick 'em…$20 to take my date and I to the top of the Gillette Stadium lighthouse…Several 4 packs of hard cider to get through the awful Patriots season." pic.twitter.com/tomPBOaJ5F
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 29, 2024
He went on to provide a detailed breakdown of how the money was invested.
“And by that, of course, I spent $20 on a college football pick’em that went horribly wrong, $20 to take my date and I to the top of the Gillette Stadium Lighthouse. And several four packs of hard cider to get through the awful Patriots season that I endured.”
New England Patriots fans will relate to DeArruda’s suffering. Last year, the team finished last in the AFC East with an abysmal 4-13 record. The football on display was tough to watch and hard cider may have been a solution for DeArruda to numb the pain.
DeArruda became a polarizing figure last year after a Jeopardy run filled with highs and lows. While some viewers related to the young mans excitement and enthusiasm others were unimpressed with his conduct. On Wednesday, he may have made a few fans in the sporting world after sharing a very relatable story.
