JEOPARDY! champion Mattea Roach has wowed viewers with her historic winning streak, however, she lives a quiet life when not on the famous game show.
As of today, the 23-year-old has racked up an incredible $286,000 during her 13-game streak.
Mattea was born in Nova Scotia on October 26, 1998.
“My family thought is was very important that I say that I’m from Halifax,” Mattea previously told Jeopardy! co-host Ken Jennings while on the show.
She added: “I was there the first sixish years of my life and also did high school there.
“But I’ve also lived in Calgary for a couple of years when I was younger and Moncton in New Brunswick, which is where I learned French, so I’ve been a little bit all over.”
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However, Mattea was not able to travel to America until she was in middle school as she described her interesting journey to the States to Ken.
She explained: “I was a member of my middle school’s Bridge club and I was able to travel to travel to Washington D.C. for a youth tournament.”
“It was actually the first time I came down to the States,” Mattea said, adding that during this trip is where she met the co-founder of Microsoft Bill Gates.
Mattea, who is a graduate of the University of Toronto, currently works as a tutor in Ontario.
“All my student loans are paid off,” she previously shouted in near-tears on the show after reeling in $32K at the time.
Previously she worked as an Administrative Intern at Strategic Arts Management, a Parliamentary Guide at the Library of Parliament, and even saw work as a Debate Coach.
WILD CHILD
The contestant’s impressive winning streak has thrusted her into the limelight- as it did for Jonathan Fisher, Matt Amodio, and Amy Schneider, who also racked up double digit winning streaks this season.
Mattea’s success on the game show has allowed viewers to learn more about the young star, as she previously revealed she has seven tattoos including two on her legs dedicated to the band The Talking Heads.
She said: “On one leg I have ‘same as it ever was’ and on the other leg I have, ‘how did I get here?’ both from Once in a Lifetime.”
SPECIAL PLACE IN HISTORY
Mattea has also been open about her place in Jeopardy! history with all of her victories.
“It feels wild,” Mattea told the Jeopardy! website, after initially qualifying for the Tournament of Champions.
“After the fourth game, I was thinking, ‘I really want to be in that TOC,’ especially with the incredible season and all the amazing streaks and fantastic players that have been on.”
She continued: “To be a Canadian on Jeopardy! is always very special.
“Alex Trebek’s legacy is such a big part of the show.”
Mattea added: “So, yeah, I’m just glad that I’m putting on a good show for all the folks back up North.”
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Following Alex Trebek’s death in November 2020, various people have filled in as the host of Jeopardy!.
Currently, Ken is co-hosting the program with Mayim Bialik.
