Frank Spangenberg

Frank Spangenberg (born July 26, 1957) is an American police officer who garnered a modicum of fame in 1990 when he set the five-day record on the game show Jeopardy!

Related Topics:
July 26 - 1957 - American - Police - 1990 - Jeopardy!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spangenberg, at the time a member of the New York City Transit Police Department (which is now the Transit Bureau of the New York City Police Department), won $102,597 in five days. At the time, winners were capped after five consecutive victories. Since the show doubled its dollar values in 2002 his record has been broken several times. When winnings are adjusted to match the current values ($205,194), Spangenberg's record holds for any player's initial five games, however Ken Jennings's best five consecutive games beat this score ($221,200). Spangenberg also was 4th all time in single day winnings ($30,600) before the dollar values for the clues were doubled. He would be fifth in that statistic, as four of the top five single-day winnings took place before the dollar values were doubled -- since the rule change, there have been thirteen times a player has won an adjusted $25,000 and only once a player has won more than an adjusted $30,000 (Ken Jennings with the record setting adjusted $37,500) in a single day.

Related Topics:
New York City Transit Police - New York City Police Department - 2002 - Ken Jennings

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spangenberg did not win the Tournament of Champions in 1990, losing to Larry McKnight in the semi-final, but he did win the show's 10th Anniversary Tournament in 1993. He has appeared in the show's two most recent special tournaments, the 2002 Jeopardy! Million Dollar Masters Tournament, losing in the first round, and advancing to the two-day semifinal where he lost to eventual champion Brad Rutter in the 2005 Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions.

Related Topics:
Brad Rutter - Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While Spangenberg officially won $102,597 from his five days, he was restricted by a show cap of $75,000 (since removed), and $27,597 was donated to Gift of Love Hospice, operated by the Missionaries of Charity. That rule also bit Bob Blake, officially a winner of $82,501, who donated $7,501 to Oxfam.

Related Topics:
Missionaries of Charity - Oxfam

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Shortly after Spangenberg's win, the cap was raised to $100,000, and in 1997, to $200,000 after cars became a part of a champion's prize. In 2003, the rule was eliminated.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~