#1 - BRAD RUTTERCareer Winnings: $3.255 million
The top seed in the first-ever U.S. version of GRAND SLAM, Brad Rutter won over $3 million on JEOPARDY. Rutter is best known for winning the JEOPARDY ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS in 2005, taking home $2.1 million in prize money. He previously won $1 million on (JEOPARDY) MILLION DOLLAR MASTERS in 2002 and $100,000 on the TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS in 2001. Rutter has always enjoyed trivia and was the captain of his high school quiz bowl team. He later hosted his own game show, "InQuizitive," a college bowl-type show for high school students, in his hometown of Lancaster, PA. He currently participates in the oldest pub quiz in California.
#2 - KEN JENNINGS Career Winnings: $3.02 million
Ken Jennings is one of the most recognizable game show contestants of all-time. He had a record setting 74 game winning streak on JEOPARDY, yielding $2.52 million in winnings. Jennings is one of the favorites on GRAND SLAM. Jennings was born in 1974 just outside Seattle, WA, but grew-up overseas. His family spent fifteen years in Korea and Singapore, where his father worked as an attorney. His only lifeline to American pop culture during those years was TV on the Armed Forces Network, where he watched JEOPARDY religiously after school. Jennings was working as a software engineer in 2004 when he got the phone call telling him that his contestant audition was a success and he would soon appear on JEOPARDY. He spent a month making flash cards and cramming on familiar show subjects. Much to his surprise, Ken's appearance extended beyond a single game in June: he took advantage of a recent rule change allowing JEOPARDY champs to appear on the show indefinitely, and spent the next six months on American TV. Before losing on the November 30 show, (he didn't know enough trivia about H&R Block) Ken won 74 games and $2.52 million. Ken Jennings is now a public speaker and has co-invented two trivia games: 'Can You Beat Ken?' the board game from University Games, and 'Quizzology,' a CD trivia game from Major Games. Jennings wrote a book about his bizarre JEOPARDY adventures and the phenomenon of trivia in American culture, entitled “Brainiac.” He currently resides near Seattle, WA with his wife Mindy and their two children.
#3 - KEVIN OLMSTEAD Career Winnings: $2.207 million
Kevin Olmstead is one of two contestants to appear on both MILLIONAIRE and JEOPARDY. However, he is the only one to win over $2 million from his appearances on those shows, walking away with $2.18 million from MILLIONAIRE alone. Olmstead is the biggest single show winner ever in 2001. He works as an environmental engineer and the Quiz Bowl coach at the University of Michigan. Olmstead is also a member of the National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) which produces questions and produces Quiz Bowl tournaments for high schools and colleges nationwide. In addition to the above mentioned game shows, Olmstead also appeared on 1 Vs. 100 (he did not win any prize money).
#4 - ED TOUTANT Career Winnings: $1.871 million
Ed Toutant has enjoyed game shows since childhood and has become one of the most successful players. Toutant was a big winner on MILLIONAIRE in 2001, walking away with $1.86 million. He enjoys trivia and plays weekly at local pubs in his hometown of Austin, Texas and in national tournaments. These competitions allow him to reconnect with former competitors and he enjoys the social arena. He is currently the three-time defending "Smarty Pants Champion" at the Game Show Congress event. In addition, Toutant has appeared on THE CHALLENGERS game show.
#5 - DAVID LEGLERCareer Winnings: $1.765 million
David Legler held a 14-month reign as the richest quiz show winner. A former naval submarine lieutenant, Legler brought home $1.765 million after a winning streak on TWENTY-ONE in 2000. Legler feels he has an advantage on GRAND SLAM because of his education; he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and a Master's Degree in Finance. In addition to TWENTY-ONE, Legler has also appeared on 1 Vs. 100. He currently lives in Blue Springs, MO with his wife and daughter and works as a finance manager.
#6 - JOHN CARPENTER Career Winnings: $1.25 million
John Carpenter is one of the most famous game show contestants of all-time. Carpenter is the memorable first-ever $1 million winner on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Carpenter made it to the final question of the show without using his 'Phone a friend' lifeline. On the last question, Carpenter used the lifeline, not to get assistance as most contestants do, but instead to call his father to tell him that he was about to win a million dollars. He then answered the question correctly and was the first millionaire on the hit show. He followed that appearance by competing on the TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS where he won $250,000. Carpenter lives in Hamden, CT with his wife and child. Surprisingly, John Carpenter works for the IRS!
#7 - RAHIM OBERHOLTZER Career Winnings: $1.12 million
Rahim Oberholtzer won over a million dollars on TWENTY-ONE in 2000. He auditioned for the show after seeing an ad on TV and was surprised when he was chosen as a contestant. Oberholtzer works in finance, so he expects the 'Numbers and Logic' category to be one of his strong suits on GRAND SLAM. Rahim feels he may be considered an underdog because he has only appeared on one game show, compared to multiple game show appearances some of the other contestants have to their credit. He is also a big poker fan and generally plays once per month. Oberholtzer is single and lives in Houston, Texas.
#8 - NANCY CHRISTY Career Winnings: $1 million
Nancy Christy was the first and only woman to win $1 million on MILLIONAIRE. Half the field in GRAND SLAM has won a million dollars on game shows and Christy will be the 8th seed in this tournament. Christy has been working as a junior high school teacher for the past decade. She also coaches an Academic Team at her school; a role that helped her prepare for GRAND SLAM. In addition to MILLIONAIRE, Nancy has appeared on 1 Vs. 100 and 1 Vs. 100 LAST MAN STANDING. Her first career start found Nancy working in Washington D.C. as a political speech writer and fund raiser. Christy now lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her son and daughter.
#9 - OGI OGASCareer Winnings: $500,000
Ogi Ogas appeared on MILLIONAIRE in 2006 and still regrets not having answered the $1 million question. He is the top-ranked player in the GRAND SLAM field of contestants who did not win a million dollars on game shows. Ogas is a graduate student whose studies include Brain Science. In fact, he created a software program to help him better prepare to be a contestant on MILLIONAIRE. His research for his studies is funded by the Department of Homeland Security, where he hopes to work one day. He expects to excel in the 'Numbers and Logic' category but feels 'Pop-culture' will be his weakness because he does not own a television. Ogas is married and lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
#10 - PHYLLIS HARRISCareer Winnings: $497,150
Phyllis Harris is one of the most diverse game show winners in the field of GRAND SLAM. She has won on MILLIONAIRE, SUPER GREED, WHEEL OF FORTUNE, TRIVIA TRAP, SCRABBLE and CARD SHARKS. Harris is a knowledgeable 'jack of all trades' and has an uncanny ability to retain a wide assortment of factual knowledge. Harris won $9,350 on CARD SHARKS in 1979 that helped fund her college education. Her impressive wins include $23,000 on WHEEL OF FORTUNE, $64,000 on MILLIONAIRE and an impressive $400,000 on SUPER GREED (2000). Harris is extremely competitive and is not afraid of competing against the men in GRAND SLAM. Harris is a mortgage broker who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
#11 - THOM MCKEECareer Winnings: $312,700
Thom became one of the original game show phenoms when he set a record-breaking performance on TIC TAC DOUGH in 1980. McKee is ready to prove that he's still has talent as he prepares to take the stage for GRAND SLAM. McKee remained on TIC TAC DOUGH for a record 46 days and won over $300,000. He was the first player to win consecutively on a game show for that length of time. A former Navy pilot, McKee hosted a weekly trivia show on the Navy Academy radio station during his senior year that helped boost his game show knowledge. He has also appeared on TO TELL THE TRUTH and THE KRYPTON FACTOR.
#12 - FRANK SPANGENBERGCareer Winnings: $269,596
One of the most famous JEOPARDY champions, Frank Spangenberg serves as a lieutenant in the New York Police Department. He is a 4th generation NYPD officer. Spangenberg was the first person to win over $100,000 (in a five day period) on JEOPARDY in 1990. Spangenberg later added to his game show winnings by appearing on special JEOPARDY shows including: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS (and the 10th Anniversary show), MILLION DOLLAR MASTER and the ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS. Spangenberg has a Bachelor's Degree in History and a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice and Public Administration. Prior to joining the NYPD he worked as a teacher.
#13 - LESZEK PAWLOWICZCareer Winnings: $194,700
Leszek Pawlowicz has appeared on JEOPARDY, WIN BEN STEIN'S MONEY and HISTORY IQ. On JEOPARDY, he also won $100,000 on the TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS and appeared on the 2005 ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS. Pawlowicz feels that his skills match well with GRAND SLAM as he compares it to the final round of WIN BEN STEIN'S MONEY. Leszek works as an independent computer contractor and currently resides in Flagstaff, Arizona.
#14 - MICHELLE KITTCareer Winnings: $107,500
Michelle Kitt is the biggest winner ever on the U.S. version of THE WEAKEST LINK. She is the only LINK contestant participating on GRAND SLAM, but feels that the show may have best prepared her for the similar quick-fire format. Kitt auditioned after a friend told her about the event. She enjoyed the 'Hollywood treatment' that goes along with being a contestant on GRAND SLAM. Even though she has enjoyed game show success, Kitt is more proud of being named 'Counselor of the Year' at summer camp and winning an instructional design competition in graduate school. She is currently single and lives in Glen Allen, Virginia.
#15 - VICTOR LEE Career Winnings: $83,333
Victor Lee led his team to a victory in the 2007 WORLD SERIES OF POP CULTURE. Lee faces an uphill battle on GRAND SLAM as he faces the #2 seed, Ken Jennings, in the first round. Lee was a student at NYU and participated in the College Bowl (four years) serving as president during his final two years. He plans to attend law school in the future. Lee is the youngest contestant on GRAND SLAM and enjoys watching TV in his spare time. Victor considers himself to be a quick-thinker but is concerned the 'Numbers and Logic' category may be his weakest area. Lee, who has also appeared on JEOPARDY, is single and lives in Leonia, NJ.
#16 - AMY KELLY Career Winnings: $20,500
Amy Kelly is the biggest winner in the history of LINGO. She and her sister partnered to win $41,000 on this GSN hit show in 2007. Kelly is a long shot to win GRAND SLAM but there are always upsets and she looks forward to taking-on the #1 seed in the first round. Kelly believes her best game category will be 'Words & Letters.' She has also been researching persons considered to be "human calculators" in an effort to learn a few math tricks fast! She currently works as a writer for "Ultimate Guitar" in Los Angeles. Kelly and her husband live in Van Nuys, California.
