The claim made by the announcer in this week's spots plugging the end of the Monkey Dance Tournament is that it'll be "the biggest payoff in game show history". Wrong!! Kevin Olmstead=$2.18M (more than $2M) Ken Jennings during his mega-streak=$2.5M+ (more than $2M)
Get it right, researchers!! Dear me. And dear me.

You're forgetting about the $200K in fee items.

Alex even made mention to Olmstead once or twice when Ken got closer to that record.

Well, it's biggest GUARANTEED payoff if anything.

Remember, Ken Jennings you could argue that his biggest payoff was only about $75,000. His was over 75 days, so that's DEFINITELY out for biggest single payoff.

Kevin Olmstead, you could argue, won a $1,000,000 + progressive. Plus, his win was not guaranteed, since he was still playing against the house.

In this UToC, barring all three players completely screwing up and scoring under 0, $2,000,000 is guaranteed.

Actually, if you count the consolation cash, isn't it $2.75 million? That would make it the biggest payday.

John

It could be argued that payoff doesn't mean the prize itself, it could mean that it's the payoff to months of speculation of who is the number one Jeopardy! champion of all time.

PR people love weasel words. :)

"Departing contestants will receive this new Maserati! And a home in the middle of the Arizona Desert!"

The $250,000 for the third-place winner is the loveliest parting gift ever.