Former Jeopardy! champion Jamie Ding recently shared his thoughts on his massive winning streak. He told People magazine on Monday that he hopes his television success can help put immigrants in a positive light.
The 33-year-old law student from New Jersey gained a massive following after winning 31 straight games. His incredible run ranks as the fifth-longest winning streak in the history of the legendary quiz show. Ding sits just behind iconic champions like James Holzhauer, Matt Amodio, Amy Schneider, and current host Ken Jennings.
Ding saw his historic run come to a sudden end on Monday evening. He lost to a new player named Greg Shahade. The New Jersey resident walked away with a staggering $882,605 in total prize money.
During an exclusive interview, Ding reflected on his personal journey. He remarked how important it was to him, "as an immigrant and a person of color," that he "was able to become part of the history of an American institution."
"'Jeopardy!' really is an institution and America's turning 250 years old and the federal government is going after immigrants in a way unlike anything that we've seen in the recent past," Ding said. "So I hope that immigrants can be seen in a positive light too."
Ding is a naturalized American citizen and the son of Chinese immigrants. He previously discussed his views on current events when asked what he planned to do with his massive cash prize.
"There are some causes I would like to support," Ding said last week. "Some organizations could really use the money because the federal government is making so many cuts and things are getting so expensive, and it's a tough time out there for so many people."
Ding emphasized his desire to give back to his community. "I haven't committed to anything definitive yet, but it's tough out there for immigrants," Ding added. "I've always wanted to be doing good things for others and now I'll have significantly more power to do that."