David Madden (Jeopardy! contestant)
A Jeopardy! phenom who used his winnings to build a nationwide empire of academic competitions for students.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American Jeopardy! champion and director of National History Bee and Bowl·Birthday: June 13·Millennials
Biography
David Madden stepped onto the Jeopardy! stage in 2005 and promptly went on a 19-game tear, displaying a cool, strategic mastery of the buzzer that landed him in the record books. His run, then the second-longest ever, netted over $430,000 and a permanent place in quiz show lore. But Madden, an art historian by training, didn't just cash his check and fade away. He leveraged his fame and intellect to co-found the National History Bee and Bowl, creating a rigorous circuit that has engaged thousands of middle and high school students across the country. His expertise was even tapped by IBM, where he twice defeated the Watson supercomputer in pre-public test matches. Madden has effectively built a career around the celebration of knowledge, transitioning from champion to architect of academic challenge.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
David was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won 19 consecutive games on Jeopardy! in 2005, the eighth-longest streak in the show's history.
- Co-founded and serves as Executive Director of the National History Bee and Bowl.
- Defeated the IBM Watson computer in two practice matches during its development phase.
Did You Know?
He holds a master's degree in art history from the University of Pennsylvania.
His official Jeopardy! portrait featured him holding a stuffed sloth.
He once correctly gave the response 'What is a bodkin?' for a clue about a dagger in Hamlet.
“Knowledge is a tool, and the buzzer is how you apply it.”
