‘Jeopardy!’ contestant loses $6,000 due to mispronunciation during pivotal daily double moment

‘Jeopardy! 'contestant Zoe Grobman’s mispronunciation cost her $6,000 and a chance to advance.

The January 7 episode of Jeopardy! brought an intense and memorable moment as contestant Zoe Grobman faced a costly setback in the Second Chance Tournament. Competing against Josh Heit and Enzo Cunanan, Grobman’s mispronunciation of a response during a pivotal Daily Double cost her $6,000 and the chance to advance.

The moment unfolded in the “Potent Quotables” category, where the clue referenced a pale dry sherry mentioned in an Edgar Allan Poe story. Grobman’s response, “What is Amontillado?” was marked incorrect due to her pronunciation. Reflecting on the outcome in a Reddit comment, Grobman expressed frustration, saying the misstep cost her at least $12,000 and two additional games. Despite the disappointment, she defended her strategy, explaining that wagering big was necessary against fast competitors. “Live by the DD, die by the DD,” she quipped.

Heading into Final Jeopardy, Grobman had $6,600, while Cunanan led with $15,600 and Heit followed with $9,600. Although Grobman gave her best effort, Cunanan clinched the win with a final score of $19,400, changing his answer just in time to secure victory.

This wasn’t Grobman’s first time tackling Jeopardy!’s challenges. Her initial appearance in October 2024 also showcased tough competition. Reflecting on her experiences, Grobman noted that mastering buzzer techniques was more valuable than studying academic topics, many of which never came up in the game.