Sam Kavanaugh is a Minneapolis substitute teacher. A name that is making the headlines after he won the Jeopardy’s Tournament of Champions on May 28, and won $250,000 as prize money. Sam will return on the stage of Jeopardy yet again and he is all pumped up to prove that he is the true Champion of the game. Sam will face Andrew He and Larissa Kelly tonight.
Sam Kavanaugh Early Life, Family & Education
It is speculated that Sam Kavanaugh is around 30 years old, but the exact year or age isn’t available on the internet. He was born and raised in Carlton, Minnesota. His parents are Duluth school teachers and he followed in their footsteps, becoming a teacher himself.
His father wasn’t just an educator, he also owned a sheep farm. Kavanaugh spent his early life there and that is where he learned hard work. He attended Carlton High School and later went to Carleton College, in Northfield, Minneapolis, from where he graduated in 2013. More details about his private life aren’t accessible.
Career
Sam Kavanaugh had dreamed of being in the Jeopardy Tournament for so long. He started taking the test to be on the show when he was just a senior. He was selected after his first try but because he was really nervous, he couldn’t compete. He continued taking the exam till he was once again selected in 2017. From there his journey towards his success started.
Jeopardy Tournament of Champions, season 37 just ended on May 28. After a 10-day trivia battle, Sam Kavanaugh emerged as the winner, earning $250,000. He was up against Jennifer Quail, a wine-tasting consultant from Dowagiac, and Veronica Vichit-Vadakan, a librarian from Portland. The final was a two-day challenge.
Since Sam Kavanaugh had previous experience from a series of wins for 5 days on the Jeopardy Tournament in 2019, he was able to handle this year’s competition. The experience also played a part in his success, helping him with potential moves to win each stage. He won $28,600 to earn his spot at the finals. He missed the Final Jeopardy question about Poland, but he thankfully bet only $12, and since he had a very successful lead the previous day, it wasn’t a loss.
Social Media
He is active on his Instagram account and he can be found under the username @ sam_kavanaugh_jeopardy_champ and he has around 196 followers. Sam shares some aspects of his life there. He recently shared that their barn cat had kittens along with adorable pictures of them. He also shared tips on how to prepare for the Jeopardy Tournament through a tweet. After winning, till it was aired he had to keep it a secret that he won and he said that it was the weirdest secret he has ever kept in his entire life.
Sam Kavanaugh Biography |
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|---|---|
| Real Name | Sam Kavanaugh |
| Birth Date | 1994 |
| Age (as of 2024) | 30 Years |
| Residence | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Teacher |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sun sign | – |
Physical Statistics |
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| Height | in feet inches – 5’ 8” – in Centimeters – 172 cm |
| Weight | in Kilograms – 68 kg – in Pounds – 149 lbs |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Slim |
Family |
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| Father | – |
| Mother | – |
| Sister | – |
| Brother | – |
Qualification/Education |
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| School | Carlton High School |
| College | Carlton College |
Relationship Status |
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| Marital Status | Single |
| Affair | No |
| Who is his wife/girlfriend? | None |
Personal Life
It isn’t public knowledge whether he is married or not. His social media accounts don’t show his private life, and he doesn’t seem to be married. But he may be married but it’s away from the media. After winning, he made sure to thank his family, friends, and everyone else who played a part and he hopes to pay them back for all the love and support.
Sam Kavanaugh Net Worth
Kavanaugh’s exact net worth is not revealed. In terms of figures, it isn’t exactly known. But it is estimated that by 2021, Kavanaugh had earned over a net worth of $750 thousand. After winning the Jeopardy Tournament recently he won prize money of $250,000. He also won $156,000 in his 5 days winning streak in Jeopardy 2019.
Trivia
- While in college, he had a thesis paper titled “Minneapolis Zombie Pub Crawl”.
- He later revealed that he also had to wear a costume for the presentation.
- He also openly said that he struggled with insomnia and it was thanks to yoga that helped him reduce stress and get the needed rest before the tournament started.
- Kavanaugh advised high schoolers that it’s more to be curious than smart and memory techniques helped him memorize.
