Jeopardy News: For $222,597, Who is Larissa Kelly?

Who is Larissa Kelly? No problem, Alex! Try: The “winningest” female champion in Jeopardy history.

After May 28, many people may have who (and what, and where) questions running through their minds when discussing the 28-year-old who entered the show's Hall of Fame following a seven-day appearance.

The UC Berkeley graduate student will take home nearly $222,597 in cash, coming in behind Jeopardy’s all time champ Ken Jennings ($2.5 million), and 2nd place hall-of-famer David Madden ($430,000). Kelly made her appearance almost four years after a second member of her household, hubby Jeff Hoppes. Both are history graduate students at the $45,000 a year university: Kelly could pay for two years of school for the couple with her winnings. Or since Kelly is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in 19th century Mexican history: she could take an excursion to Mexico. When we caught up with Kelly, she stated "my husband and I will be giving some money to charity" and saving the rest to purchase a house when they're ready.

A graduate of Princeton University, the innocent looking Kelly was on mock trial, and was frequently on the defense’s side. “I always played a murderer or someone who committed manslaughter or negligent homicide,” said Kelly during her appearance on the show. (Whichever side, she frequently won.)

Her strategy did not hurt, either. “My husband and I both knew that hunting for Daily Doubles in the higher value clues would be a successful strategy, and since it worked well in my first game, I stuck with that throughout the rest of the my games,” said Kelly in a statement to Jeopardy. In addition, Kelly brushed up by playing a few games. "I prepared for Jeopardy by playing past games of the show on the J Archive," says Kelly. "I also used to play Quizbowl, which I think was a big help."

We’ll see if that strategy works for the rest of the members of her family. In July, her sister Arianna will appear on the show.

Related Stories:

• What Your Tax Rebate Will Buy You in Gas and Groceries
• Life Lessons from American Idol: You Can Be A Winner Even When You Finish Second
• Five Fast Ways to Blow A Windfall