Jeopardy! Contestant Admits Feeling Awful After Stealing Opponent’s Correct Answer — But He Insists The Mistake Was His Own
A costly wording mistake on Jeopardy! sparked an unexpected exchange between two contestants after one player lost money despite knowing the correct answer.
During the October 12 episode, Daniel Ransom gave a scientifically accurate response to a clue about hydrogen and helium, only to have host Ken Jennings rule it incorrect because of how he phrased it.
His opponent, Megan Whelan, then supplied the answer the judges were looking for and earned the money instead.
After the episode aired, Whelan admitted she felt terrible about benefiting from Ransom’s mistake. But Ransom quickly stepped in to defend her.
A Strong Start For Returning Champion Greg Monson
The episode featured returning champion Greg Monson, a videographer from Portland, Oregon, who entered the game with $31,300 in winnings from his first two appearances.
He faced librarian Daniel Ransom of San Francisco and managing editor Megan Whelan of Philadelphia.
Monson quickly established himself as the player to beat.
He discovered the first Daily Double in the category “Magazines” while holding $3,400 and wagered $1,400.
The clue asked contestants to identify the magazine whose first issue in 1967 featured a photograph of John Lennon from the film How I Won the War.
Monson correctly identified Rolling Stone, increasing his score to $4,800.
By the end of the Jeopardy round, he had built an impressive $11,400 total.
Whelan followed with $3,800, while Ransom was struggling at negative $1,200.
Daniel Ransom Fights His Way Back Into The Game
Monson continued his strong performance in Double Jeopardy, correctly answering another Daily Double in the “Historic Names” category.
The clue described a future political cartoonist who arrived in New York City as a boy in 1846 and secured a job after drawing the Hoboken ferry.
Monson responded with Thomas Nast and added $5,000 to his score, bringing his total to $22,000.
Ransom, however, began mounting a recovery.
He discovered the third Daily Double with $4,000 on the board and risked $3,000.
The clue referenced a musical in which a wolf sings “Hello, Little Girl” to Little Red Riding Hood.
Ransom correctly answered Into the Woods, raising his total to $7,000.
For the first time, he appeared to be gaining momentum.
But just three clues later, a seemingly straightforward science question brought that progress to an abrupt halt.
One Extra Phrase Costs Ransom $800
The pivotal moment came in the “Hydrogen” category.
The clue asked why helium is preferred over hydrogen for use in airships, even though both gases are lighter than air.
Ransom buzzed in and answered:
“It is inert, not flammable.”
Although his response included the relevant scientific distinction, it did not match the specific phrasing the judges required.
He was penalized $800.
Whelan then buzzed in with the shorter response:
“What is not flammable?”
Jennings accepted her answer.
“Yeah, Daniel, we needed the phrasing there,” the host explained.
The ruling turned an answer Ransom understood into a frustrating loss, while Whelan received credit for identifying the expected response.
Megan Whelan Admits She Felt Awful
Following the broadcast, Whelan joined an online discussion about the episode and addressed the moment directly.
She revealed that she had previously joked with her brother about how satisfying it might be to benefit when another contestant forgot the required wording.
But experiencing that situation during an actual game felt very different.
“I had told my brother that it would be great to steal an answer based on another contestant forgetting phrasing, but when it actually happened, I felt awful for Dan,” she wrote on Reddit.
Her admission showed that even a perfectly legitimate competitive advantage could leave a contestant feeling uncomfortable.
Ransom soon responded, making it clear that he did not blame her.
“Don’t feel bad! It was my goof,” he replied.
He also acknowledged that Monson’s commanding performance had made it difficult to settle into the competition.
“Greg was on such a roll, and it took me way too long to get into the game,” Ransom added.
The exchange offered a friendly conclusion to what had been an awkward moment on television.
Final Jeopardy Brings Another Twist
Heading into Final Jeopardy, Monson maintained a commanding lead with $25,600.
Whelan had $8,600, while Ransom stood at $6,600.
The final category was “2026 Farewells.”
Contestants were asked to identify a person whose obituary in The Guardian described finding freedom and fulfillment in California’s blue skies and swimming pools.
Ransom correctly identified artist David Hockney, although his written response contained a spelling error.
He wagered $2,400, finishing with $9,000.
Whelan was unable to identify the correct answer and lost $4,601, leaving her with $3,999.
Monson also answered correctly and added $3,400 to his score.
His final total reached $29,000, extending his winning streak to three games and bringing his cumulative earnings to $60,300.
He was set to return for a fourth appearance.
An Awkward Moment Ends With Good Sportsmanship
While Monson’s dominant performance secured another victory, the exchange between Ransom and Whelan became one of the episode’s most memorable moments.
Whelan’s admission that she felt uncomfortable benefiting from the mistake was met with reassurance rather than resentment.
Ransom accepted responsibility and acknowledged the difficulty of competing against a champion who had controlled much of the game.
The incident demonstrated how a small wording difference can have immediate financial consequences on Jeopardy! — and how two competitors can handle an uncomfortable moment with understanding after the cameras stop rolling.
Jeopardy! airs weekdays in syndication, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu and Peacock.