ESPN NFL analystMina Kimeswon the Celebrity Jeopardy! All-Stars Grand Finale on Friday night on ABC, beating Ike Barinholtz and Steven Weber.
Entering Final Jeopardy, she stood with $12,500. Weber had $10,500, and Barinholtz had $5,100. The final clue asked for the name shared by a 1873 novel, a U.S. history era and a 2022 TV drama.
Using her background as a Yale English major, Kimes answered correctly, “What is the Gilded Age?” She finished with $21,410 to win the $1 million grand prize for charity. Weber wagered $8,000 to catch her but answered incorrectly and lost the game.
Since the destination of the check was already decided, she couldn’t take it home. But everyone is celebrating her jaw-dropping victory.
Adam Schefter celebrates as Mina Kimes takes home $1 million for charity
Kimes donated the $1 million prize to the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition in Los Angeles. On social media, she posted a photo from the Jeopardy! set with the million-dollar scoreboard, captioning it, “….well that happened @Jeopardy.”
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Feb 3, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Mina Kimes on radio row at the Super Bowl LX media center at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Following her epic W, her fellow NFL media colleague Adam Schefter congratulated her,writing, “Like her Seattle Seahawks, Mina is a champion.” The post is on its way to reaching around 1 million views in less than 24 hours.
Like her Seattle Seahawks, Mina is a champion. 🏆🏆 https://t.co/Oe2AuCl0vU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 16, 2026
SELAH NHC responded on Instagram, saying the funds “will keep our volunteer-led programs active and fuel a movement built on connection and humanity at a time when so many Angelenos are losing access to basics like food benefits, healthcare, and housing support.”
Kimes herselfcalledthe organization’s work “essential” and “life-changing” in a follow-up post, expressing gratitude to theJeopardy! team for the platform.
Beyond grateful to the Jeopardy folks for letting me play, and for the amazing people at SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition. They do essential, life-changing work here in Los Angeles; if you’re interested in learning more: https://t.co/7QrELA8wU1
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) May 16, 2026
Kimes is an NFL analyst, senior writer, podcast host, and television contributor for ESPN who first joined ESPN The Magazine in 2014. She appears regularly on NFL Live, SportsCenter, and First Take, where she has built one of the sharpest analytical voices covering the league.
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During the tournament, she finished with 155 correct answers and 24 incorrect answers. Her victory relied on thorough preparation, calm gameplay, and her background as a Yale graduate.