Date of first appearance:
March 1987
Total winnings:
$61,800 on five regular shows (this was before the dollar amounts doubled) + $5,000 on the 1988 Tournament of Champions
Records held:
5-time champ
Favorite anecdote associated with being on the show:
After my shows aired, an amazing number of people came up to me in the street and said, "You look so familiar--did I go to high school with you?" When I asked, "Do you watch Jeopardy!?" they'd answer, "Of course! That's where I saw you!" This died down after a while, but I could tell when my shows were re-run, because there would be a sudden upsurge.
Did being on Jeopardy! have any affect on your life?
I used my winnings (the part I didn't lose in the stock market) to get an M.B.A., which had a major impact on my career. Also, putting my Jeopardy! experience on my résumé has gotten me a lot of job interviews over the years. I don't think it convinced anybody to hire me all by itself, but it sure made my résumé stand out from the crowd.
Did you do anything crazy with your winnings?
I invested all of it in the stock market, which seemed like a sane idea at the time. It promptly crashed, wiping out about a third of my winnings.
Is there anything else you would like viewers to know about you?
I'm the proud father of the world's most adorable one-year-old, Sophie Tran-Ryan. |
"As a college student, he was the top winner of the 1986-87 season. Today he's a corporate controller. From Richmond, California..."
2005 Ultimate Tournament of Champions Round 1 player: $5,000.
1987 Tournament of Champions semifinalist: $5,000.
Season 3 5-time champion: $61,800. |
