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Indian American veterinarian wins big on ‘Jeopardy!’
Nikhil Joshi, originally from Montville, New Jersey, appeared in three episodes that aired earlier this month.
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Staff Reporter - Mon, 16, Jun 2025
- 13:29 EDT
- 20
Nikhil Joshi / Image Courtsey: Suhas Doshi
An Indian American veterinarian, Nikhil Joshi won two games and more than $20,000 during a recent run on the popular game show “Jeopardy!”
Originally from Montville, New Jersey, Joshi appeared in three episodes that aired earlier this month.. A longtime fan of the show, Joshi won his first two appearances — answering questions on topics ranging from volcanoes to Nat King Cole — before being eliminated in his third game. His total winnings came to $20,199.
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“It was a dream come true,” said Joshi, who now lives in Maryland and is a member of the Marathi community. “I panicked. I started studying and cramming. I was enduring imposter syndrome and it was a very stressful period for me.”
Joshi had taken the show’s rigorous online test more than ten times over 15 years before finally advancing to the audition rounds in 2024. He was selected in February 2025 and taped his episodes that April in Los Angeles.
“For two months leading up to April, I was super stressed,” he said. “But when I entered the studio I was at peace and relaxed. I felt like I was in the zone.”
The show, hosted by Ken Jennings, has aired since 1964 and continues to draw nearly 9 million weekly viewers, according to Forbes. Joshi described Jennings as “very down-to-earth and super-friendly.”
His first episode aired on June 5, where he won $5,400 by correctly answering questions on the Arctic Ocean, onions, and Nat King Cole. On his second day, he swept a category on volcanoes and earned $14,799.
Born to parents from Pune, India, Joshi credited his upbringing and education for preparing him to compete. “‘Jeopardy!’ is not about random, esoteric knowledge,” he said. “Knowledge of basic U.S. and European history and science that I learned in high school gave me a good foundation.”
Joshi is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and holds an MBA from Boston University. He currently works in the animal health division of a pharmaceutical company.
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