Final Jeopardy: 20th Century Bigwigs (1-28-26)

The Final Jeopardy question (1/28/2026) in the category “20th Century Bigwigs” was:

The subtitle of a 2022 bio of this magnate who died in 1976 is “The meek shall inherit the Earth–but not its mineral rights”

Semifinal 2 of the 2026 Tournament of Champions features: 8x champ, Laura Faddah, a manager from Memphis, TN; 4x champ, Steven Olson, a band director from Princeton, IL; and 5x champ, TJ Fisher, a marketing specialist from San Francisco, CA.

Round 1 Categories: Vexillology – The Eleventh Hour – Moo-vies – Book It – Rags & Riches – Go Ahead, End With a Preposition

Laura found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Book It” under the $600 clue on the 18th pick of the round. She was in the last place with $200 now, $4,000 less than Steven’s lead. Laura bet the $1,000 allowance and she was RIGHT.

In a 1906 novel he wrote of “splitters” who earned 50 cents an hour doing nothing but chopping hogs down the middle show

WHO IS UPTON SINCLAIR?

Steven finished in the lead with $6,200. TJ was second with $3,400 and Laura was last with $2,000. All clues were shown.

Round 2 Categories: Vex-ology – From the Neck Up – How Large Thou Art – “N” the City – The Victors – Tv Shows on TV Shows

Laura found the first Daily Double in “‘N’ the City” under the $2,000 clue on the first pick. In last place with $2,000, she had $4,200 less than Steven’s lead. Laura bet it all and couldn’t figure it out beyond the first 4 letters so she was WRONG.

Once named for Nicholas II, a city on the Ob was given this new name meaning “new Siberia” show

WHAT IS NOVOSIBIRSK?

Steven got the last Daily Double in “From the Neck Up” under the $1,200 clue on the 4th pick. He was in the lead with $9,400 now, $6,000 more than TJ in second place. Steven made it a true Daily Double and guessed corpus callosum. That was WRONG.

Also called gray matter, this outermost part of the brain with a 2-word name integrates sensory impulses show

WHAT IS THE CEREBRAL CORTEX?

TJ finished in the lead with $13,800. Steven was next with $8,400 and Laura was in third place with $1,600. All clues were shown.

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NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHO IS J. PAUL GETTY?

The subtitle of Wyn Derbyshire’s biography of J. Paul Getty (1893-1976), is actually a quote often attributed to the oil tycoon, who was the richest man in the world at one time. The book’s title is “Jean Paul Getty”, his birth name.

In 1949, Getty made a deal with Saudi Arabia’s King Ibn Saud. “In exchange for $9 million up front and $1 million annually, Getty purchased exclusive mineral rights for 60 years. Four years and $18 million of sunk costs later, Getty struck oil.” See Getty’s page on Philanthropy Roundtable for what he did with his some of his millions.

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Laura went with DeBeers, a diamond company named for 2 de Beer brothers who died in the 19th century. Laura lost her $1,599 bet and finished with $1.00.

Steven also had DeBeers. He lost $5,404 and finished with $2,996.

TJ wrote down Du Pont. That wasn’t specific enough even if it was that family. He lost $3,001 but won the game with the $10,799 he had left. TJ Fisher will join Scott Riccardi in the finals.

2 triple stumpers from RAGS & RICHES:

($600) As a kid, this jazz legend performed as “Traps” the Drum Wonder

($800) It was the 1535 testimony of Solicitor General Richard Rich that got this guy convicted of treason

More clues on Page 2

2 years ago: TWO of the players got this FJ in “AMERICAN MUSICIANS”

Also an author, this singer who had 5 Top 40 hits in the 1970s was called the “Pirate Laureate” show

WHO IS JIMMY BUFFETT?

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