Who won Jeopardy! Tonight? May 15, Thursday, 2025

Tonight's episode of Jeopardy! ended with a spectacular turn of events. There was a lot of tough competition, but in the end, a bartender from Cleveland, Ohio, named Brandon Monsman, won and became a two-day champion. His calm and well-thought-out betting strategy, especially in Final Jeopardy, was a big part of his victory.

Neeraj Borle, an investment first managing director from New York, and Nick Marino, a mechanical engineer from San Francisco, fought hard, but Brandon Monsman won. The final round was a big turning point. In Final Jeopardy, Neeraj placed a bet that was too large, allowing Brandon to win the game with a wager of $0. Even though both Nick and Neeraj performed well throughout the game, the final clue was what made the difference.

As a game, it is intellectually challenging and requires strategy. Jeopardy! has remained a beloved classic in American game show history. The show's unique format, which tests contestants' knowledge across a wide range of areas and rewards quick thinking and strategy, keeps viewers engaged night after night. Tonight's win by Brandon further demonstrated how knowledge and strategy work together on this famous game show.

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Jeopardy! episode highlights May 15, Thursday, 2025

Jeopardy Round:

Some of the fun categories that started the Jeopardy! round were First Lines of Hit Songs, Bestselling Nonfiction, The Early 21st Century, A Barrel of Monkeys, Amped Up, and You Put Me on the Supreme Court.

Nick Marino and Brandon Monsman were tied for first place after 15 clues when the game began. Nick had given six correct answers and one incorrect one, while Brandon had provided four correct answers and no incorrect ones. Neeraj Borle was slightly behind; he had three correct answers and no incorrect ones.

There was a competitive vibe, and during the interviews, each contestant shared something personal. Nick mentioned how much he loves birthday parties, Neeraj recounted a story about swimming in the Great Barrier Reef on his honeymoon, and Brandon joked about how he used to think his name was "Brandonono."

Nick found the Daily Double right after the first break and answered all eleven questions correctly. He then took the lead at the end of the round with only one question wrong. Neeraj came in second with eight correct answers and one incorrect, while Brandon finished third with five correct answers and two incorrect. The scores were as follows after the Jeopardy! round:

• Nick: $5,600
• Neeraj: $3,600
• Brandon: $2,400

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Double Jeopardy Round:

The Double Jeopardy! round introduced categories like The Desert Menu, A Category Good, Royal Roles, The Name on the Disease, L.O., and Sailor. It was in this round that both Neeraj and Brandon found the Daily Doubles, making strategic but conservative wagers to stay in the game.

Nick had the lead with $14,200 going into Final Jeopardy!, while Neeraj wasn’t far behind with $12,400, and Brandon had $7,200. The scores after Double Jeopardy! were:

• Nick: $14,200
• Neeraj: $12,400
• Brandon: $7,200

Despite the close scores, Final Jeopardy would prove to be the ultimate decider.

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Final Jeopardy Round:

Nick Marino, a mechanical engineer from San Francisco, California, did really well on Jeopardy! During the Jeopardy and Double Jeopardy rounds, he showed how smart and quick-witted he was by getting 11 questions right in the first round and 16 in the second.

In Final Jeopardy, he lost because he made a huge bet that didn't work out. His performance was impressive, though. Nick's personal stories, like how much he loved birthday parties, made his game more interesting.

Nick showed how smart he was throughout the show, even though he finished the night with $3,599 in his bank account. His game was strong despite the loss, and he deserves recognition for his accomplishments.

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Contestant Profiles:

Nick Marino:

Nick Marino, a mechanical engineer from San Francisco, California, did really well on Jeopardy!. During the Jeopardy! and Double Jeopardy! rounds, he showed how smart and quick-witted he was by getting 11 questions right in the first round and 16 right in the second.

In Final Jeopardy, he lost because he made a big bet that didn't work out. His performance was impressive, though. Nick's personal stories, like how much he loved birthday parties, made his game more interesting.

Nick showed how smart he was throughout the show, even though he ended the night with $3,599 in his bank account. His game was good, despite losing, and he deserved to win the title.

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Neeraj Borle:

Neeraj Borle, a managing director of investments from New York, entered the game with substantial knowledge and confidence. He answered 17 out of 20 questions correctly on Double Jeopardy, demonstrating his expertise across various subjects. In Final Jeopardy, he lost everything when he made a risky bet of $8,000. He ended up with only $4,400.

Neeraj recounted an interesting story about swimming in the Great Barrier Reef during his honeymoon, which demonstrated his daring nature. Even though he lost, Neeraj proved to be a tough opponent. His performance in the earlier rounds highlighted his quick thinking and extensive knowledge.

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Brandon Monsman:

A bartender from Cleveland, Ohio, named Brandon Monsman, returned as the defending champion after a successful run the previous day. He brought a sense of calm and strategic thinking to tonight's game. He stood out for his ability to maintain his composure in tough situations.

In Double Jeopardy, Brandon answered 12 questions correctly, and in Final Jeopardy, he made a key, risk-free bet of $0. This bet secured his victory in the end. His silly story about believing his name was "Brandonono" as a child revealed his fun personality, making him a likable contestant. Brandon won $7,200 at the end of the game and will return to defend his title and try to get a third win.

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Jeopardy is way different from regular game shows

Jeopardy! is different from other game shows because it is intellectual and has a unique format. On most game shows, contestants answer questions by saying what they think the answer to be. However, on Jeopardy!, the answers are presented first, and players must deduce the correct question. This unique format tests both your knowledge and your critical thinking skills.

The show also features strategic elements like Daily Doubles and Final Jeopardy, where contestants can risk some of their winnings. This introduces another layer of tension and excitement.

Another aspect that makes Jeopardy! stand out is that it has a lot of different categories, from history to pop culture to science to literature. This variety makes sure that no contestant can solely rely on their strengths.

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Jeopardy! Game Recap - May 15, 2025

Jeopardy! Round:

Categories:

• First Lines Of Hit Songs
• Bestselling Nonfiction
• The Early 21st Century
• A Barrel Of Monkeys
• “Amp”ed Up
• You Put Me On The Supreme Court

Key Stats After 15 Clues:

• Nick: 6 correct, 1 incorrect
• Brandon: 4 correct, 0 incorrect
• Neeraj: 3 correct, 0 incorrect

Interview highlights:

• Nick is a fan of birthday parties and was once pranked at one.
• Neeraj swam the Great Barrier Reef during his honeymoon.
• Brandon believed his name was “Brandonono” due to a childhood prank.
• Nick's Performance: Found the Daily Double, answered correctly, leading after 30 clues.

Jeopardy Round Stats:

• Nick: 11 correct, 1 incorrect
• Neeraj: 8 correct, 1 incorrect
• Brandon: 5 correct, 2 incorrect

Scores after Jeopardy round:

• Nick: $5,600
• Neeraj: $3,600
• Brandon: $2,400

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Double Jeopardy round:

Categories:

• The Desert Menu
• A Category Good
• Royal Roles
• The Name On The Disease
• “L.O.”
• Sailor

Daily Doubles:

• Both challengers found them but made conservative wagers.
• Nick's Lead: Nick was ahead by $1,800 heading into Final Jeopardy.

Double Jeopardy round stats:

• Nick: 16 correct, 1 incorrect
• Neeraj: 17 correct, 2 incorrect
• Brandon: 12 correct, 3 incorrect

Total unplayed Clues This Season: 30 (none today)

• Scores Going into Final:
• Nick: $14,200
• Neeraj: $12,400
• Brandon: $7,200

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Final Jeopardy round:

• Category: Women of History
• Neeraj's Mistake: Bet too much, which impacted his score.
• Brandon's Strategy: Bet $0, ultimately leading to his 2-day championship win.

Final Scores:

• Brandon: $7,200 – $0 = $7,200 (Who is Aerhart) (2-day total: $23,600)
• Neeraj: $12,400 – $8,000 = $4,400 (Who is Phyllis Schafly?)
• Nick: $14,200 – $10,601 = $3,599 (Who is Roosevelt?)

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Conclusion: Brandon is the new 2-day champion and will return tomorrow to compete for win #3!

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In tonight’s Jeopardy! episode, Brandon Monsman emerged as the winner after a thrilling and strategic battle in the Final Jeopardy round. Despite fierce competition from Nick Marino and Neeraj Borle, Brandon's careful betting strategy and knowledge led him to secure the win. His victory sets the stage for tomorrow’s game, where he will seek to extend his reign as champion.