Warning: This page contains spoilers for the July 25, 2025, game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please note that the game airs as early as noon Eastern in some U.S. television markets.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category 20th Century Names) for Friday, July 25, 2025 (Season 41, Game 230):
According to one obituary, in 1935 he owned 13 magazines, 8 radio stations, 2 movie companies & $56 million in real estate
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Jonathan Hugendubler, an adjunct professor & trivia host from Baltimore, Maryland
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Charlotte Cooper, a graphic designer from San Francisco, California
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Scott Riccardi, an engineer from Somerville, New Jersey (16-day total: $455,000)
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
Scott Riccardi enters today’s game, the last game of Season 41, as a 16-day champion. Whoever wins today—whether it be Scott or either challenger, Charlotte Cooper or Jonathan Hugendubler—will have to wait until September 8 and the start of Season 42 to defend their title again, as Jeopardy! enters into its usual six weeks of encore presentations beginning Monday. I’ll be honest, though: I am kinda looking forward to the ability to disconnect a bit over the next six weeks. While The Jeopardy! Fan is very important to me, I have very much improved my work-life balance over the past few months and very much look forward to continuing that over the summer break.
To me, the two biggest draws of superchampions like Scott—especially when he’s on his game—are “What day will he lose on?” and “How much money will he win every day?” I find the answer to both of those questions incredibly intriguing—and I do think the first question is very reliant upon “how well do the challengers play?” I do suspect that a challenger will likely need to be close to Scott’s level and play very close to perfectly in order to unseat him, similarly to how Emma Boettcher unseated James Holzhauer back in 2019.
(Content continues below)
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Correct response: Who is William Randolph Hearst?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2025 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
William Randolph Hearst was one of the largest media moguls of the early 20th century, who owned a significant swath of American media of the time. His media empire still exists in the form of Hearst Communications, although he was nearly financially ruined in the late 1930s as a result of his newspapers’ support of Adolf Hitler’s policies in Germany.
The citations in later obituaries regarding Hearst’s holdings in 1935 would have come from the October 1935 issue of Fortune magazine.
This felt like a relatively straightforward Final Jeopardy clue to me; however, Citizen Kane (a movie obliquely based upon Hearst) is a movie that I have both seen and enjoyed.
We have many new offerings at The Jeopardy! Fan Online Store! Here are our current featured items, including our new Masters Season 3 Player List T-shirt:
Game Recap & Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Friday, July 25, 2025 Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: War Bonds; Stars; Televised Criminal Behavior; What’s That Spell?; Compound Words In Other Words; Freakier Fridays)
Jonathan started with three incorrect responses early, but almost got out of the hole by the break. Scott had 7 correct to lead; after 15 clues, the scores were Scott $5,600 Charlotte $2,200 Jonathan -$200.
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
Scott 7 correct 0 incorrect
Charlotte 3 correct 0 incorrect
Jonathan 3 correct 3 incorrect
Today’s interviews:
Jonathan had parents who were radio morning show hosts for nearly four decades.
Charlotte had an internship at Lucasfilm.
Scott plays Super Smash Bros. competitively and considers himself “extremely adequate”.
Scott found the Daily Double immediately coming out of the break, picking up $2,000 from it and extending his lead by halftime.
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Scott 16 correct 0 incorrect
Charlotte 6 correct 1 incorrect
Jonathan 6 correct 3 incorrect
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Scott $10,800
Charlotte $3,000
Jonathan $800
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Stately Bodies Of Water; Writers On Writing; They’re All Greeks To Me; The Way We Wore; Famous Animated Voices; 16-Letter Words)
Jonathan found both Daily Doubles within the first three clues to pull within $2,000 of Scott. Unfortunately for him, that was a close as he got during the round—Scott picked up 13 correct responses in Double Jeopardy to take a good-sized, but not runaway, lead going into Final Jeopardy.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Scott 29 correct 0 incorrect
Jonathan 13 correct 3 incorrect
Charlotte 12 correct 1 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 40 (0 today).
Scores going into Final:
Scott $23,600
Jonathan $14,000
Charlotte $7,800
Charlotte came up with Hearst. Jonathan came up with Hearst. Scott came up with Howard Hughes—and Season 41 wraps with a new champion in Jonathan Hugendubler. Jonathan will return on September 8 to defend his title.
Tonight’s results:
Charlotte $7,800 + $7,800 = $15,600 (Who is Hearst?)
Jonathan $14,000 + $9,601 = $23,601 (Who is hearst?) (1-day total: $23,601)
Scott $23,600 – $5,000 = $18,600 (Who is Howard Hughes?)
Other Miscellaneous Game Statistics:
Daily Double locations:
1) WHAT’S THAT SPELL? $800 (clue #16)
Scott 5600 +2000 (Charlotte 2200 Jonathan -200)
2) STATELY BODIES OF WATER $1600 (clue #1)
Jonathan 800 +2000 (Scott 10800 Charlotte 3000)
3) THEY’RE ALL GREEKS TO ME $2000 (clue #3, $30800 left on board)
Jonathan 4400 +4400 (Scott 10800 Charlotte 3000)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 236
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
Scott 3 4 5 5 3 5 3 3 4*
Charlotte 4 4 4 5
Jonathan 3 4 5
DJ! Round:
Scott
Charlotte
Jonathan 4* 4 5*
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Jonathan 4.17
Scott 3.89
Charlotte 4.25
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 40 (0.17 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Jonathan $11,200 Coryat, 13 correct, 3 incorrect, 22.81% in first on buzzer (13/57), 1/1 on rebound attempts (on 1 rebound opportunity)
Scott $22,400 Coryat, 29 correct, 0 incorrect, 45.61% in first on buzzer (26/57), 2/2 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
Charlotte $7,800 Coryat, 12 correct, 1 incorrect, 21.05% in first on buzzer (12/57), 1/1 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $41,400
Lach Trash: $9,800 (on 6 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $2,800
Lead Changes: 2
Times Tied: 1
Player Statistics:
Scott Riccardi, career statistics:
464 correct, 32 incorrect
27/28 on rebound attempts (on 72 rebound opportunities)
43.45% in first on buzzer (421/969)
23/30 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $58,000)
12/17 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $23,047
Charlotte Cooper, career statistics:
13 correct, 1 incorrect
1/1 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
21.05% in first on buzzer (12/57)
0/0 on Daily Doubles
1/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $7,800
Jonathan Hugendubler, career statistics:
14 correct, 3 incorrect
1/1 on rebound attempts (on 1 rebound opportunity)
22.81% in first on buzzer (13/57)
2/2 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $6,400)
1/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $11,200
Jonathan Hugendubler, to win:
2 games: 48.883%
3: 23.895%
4: 11.681%
5: 5.710%
6: 2.791%
Avg. streak: 1.956 games.
Andy’s Thoughts:
- Scott finishes his run in regular play sitting 18th in terms of most correct responses given on the show.
- It would be fitting if the last Harry Potter clue on the show had to do with “avada kedavra”, because that’s what the show should do with those clues.
- Today’s box score will be linked to when posted by the show.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Scott $23,600 Jonathan $14,000 Charlotte $7,800)
Scott: Standard cover bet is $4,401. (Actual bet: $5,000)
Charlotte: Bet between $0 and $3,400—Jonathan is probably most likely to bet $9,601, and this stays above that to take second if he’s incorrect. (Actual bet: $7,800)
Jonathan: Bet between $5,200 and $6,199—this both passes Scott’s cover bet as well as gives you the best chance of holding onto second place. (Actual bet: $9,601)
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I went with Murdock knowing that his family had been in the business for a long time. As for Hearst, I first learned of the family when I was seven years old and Patty was kidnapped.
Andy!
We have come to the end of another AMAZING Jeopardy season.
Thanks for all your efforts… they have certainly increased my enjoyment!
I second Rick’s comment to Andy! This site definitely enhances my enjoyment of Jeopardy!
Have a great offseason Rick!
Although I immediately thought of Hearst I mistakenly jumped to the conclusion that his obituary was in 1935 and I knew he died later.
Luckily I did not fall for that trap as I just assumed that if they had meant that his obituary was in 1935 it would have been worded differently. [Not that I am necessarily right about that, it was just my thought process] I’m also lucky that they clearly allowed just Hearst because although the Randolph quickly occurred to me the same time as the Hearst (and I knew a first name came before the Randolph), I was far less sure what that first name was and had to just say Hearst and cross my fingers that was enough.
Same here. Although it sounded exactly like Hearst, I knew that he was still alive in 1941 when Citizen Kane was released. (He actually died in 1951.)
I almost fell into the same trap. But at least I would’ve written down Hearst and spent the rest of the time trying to think: If not him, whom?
Anyway, this brings me to 125-56 as a final FJ score, or 69% get rate (nice). Add in 27-22 over the postseason, and I think I did pretty well for myself. Now if only the producers would pull my name out of the pool…
Hey!
If any Jeopardy! producers are reading this…
Please put WWORDuke, MasterDoge, Lisa, and Jeff on the show!!
Hah!! Thanks.
Um, I will say Doge and I get our practice in through the “This Is Jeopardy” Discord server. We use some software written for us and some practice games we write for each other to get into the spirit of the game. There’s a LOT of people who have been on Jeopardy who play along with us (like Nam Nguyen, Marko Saric, rowan ward, Mark Lashley, Brian Chang… yes, I’m a namedropper). In fact, we helped Jonathan get ready for today!
Whoa!
That sounds so very cool and groovy.
Thanks, Rick, but I wouldn’t make it on the show. When I was younger with a more nimble brain I could do fairly well, but didn’t have several more decades of watching PBS to fill in more facts (like for today’s FJ). Now I know more than I did then, but do not do as well on the non-FJ clues because of having to realize I know the “answer” fast enough to hit the buzzer before anyone else!
Well Rick! The other 3 would be great selections, but I’d be on for a good comedy of coming in 3rd, by a mile behind my competitors! But it would still be very fun, admittedly!
…and now we’ll see Scott in the next ToC. Nice!
I wonder if I’ve retro-jinxed his streak by my July 21 comment. 🙂
Well I enjoyed this J! season! I’ll be back in September. Enjoy the rest of the summer, y’all.
I first thought Of Hughes and then re-read the clue and realised it had to be Hearst. Would I have had enough time to change my answer if I was on stage? Hard to say but probably not.
Sorry to see Scott go but the new champ will be interesting to watch.
As always, thank you Mr. Moderator for all of your hard work. Enjoy your break!
THE GIANT IS SLAIN!
Perfect capper on the season. This was fun!
I knew Scott could be beat, having gotten some finals at home that he missed around games 5-6, it just took someone being mathematically alive to take advantage, which hadn’t happened in a while. Congrats to Jonathan, I think it’s been since Amodio that we had a superchamp span seasons.
I missed today’s episode, (re) taking a mandatory online course for work.
I came here wanting to see if Scott won again, was surprised that he hadn’t.
When I read the answer/clue for today’s Final Jeopardy, I immediately said without hesitation “Who was Wiliam Randolph Hearst?” This without knowing when he died. The reference to all his holdings was enough for me. (Did Howard Hughes have much media holdings? I didn’t think so.)
See everybody in September,
Hughes was a massive figure in Hollywood, more entertainment than media, although I think the distinction is more blurred in 2025. He did not, as far as I know, have any publishing holdings. I find it interesting that the clue makes no mention of newspapers, for which Hearst is/was best known.
And yes, Ken addressed that too!
I used to play bar trivia in Baltimore where Jonathon is the host. A super nice and fun guy! I am so happy for him!
That is very cool to hear.
That is awesome! We’ll see how far he can take this starting on September 8th!