Once you’re in the Jeopardy! family, you’re in it for life. Former Champion Alison Betts revealed that she got a job with the game show.
Betts, from San Jose, California, won five games of Jeopardy! in April 2024, winning $124,500, including her second-place earnings in her sixth game. She then played in the 2025 Tournament of Champions and the Invitational Tournament in 2026.
The former writer and creative executive hasn’t played on the game show since, but now she will continue to be a part of the show while working on it. Betts shared the news on Instagram on July 10.
“I’m honored, thrilled, and quite frankly shocked to be able to announce that I’ve accepted a full-time role as a development producer at Jeopardy!,” she captioned the post. In the photo, Betts smiled outside of the sound stage. She wore her Jeopardy! ID and a red and white stripped shirt.
According to ScreenSkills, a development producer “finds stories and scripts and writes them up, so they are suitable for TV and film.” They makes notes on how the script will appeal to the audience.
“If you would have told the 8-year-old girl playing Sega Genesis Jeopardy! that one day she’d grow up to work on the show, she’d have laughed at you, and then probably made you blow in the cartridge to get the game working again.”
“In all seriousness though, I am so grateful to have this opportunity, and I hope I can do the J! community proud in my new role. Now, to answer what I imagine will be the three most pressing questions:,” she said.
“1. This does not affect your eligibility! Befriending and becoming a part of the J alumni community has been one of the highlights of my Jeopardy experience, and nothing about my new role precludes continuing to have those relationships. If you’re a former or future Jeopardy! hopeful, your ability to be on the show remains intact (unless of course you’re a member of my immediate family…sorry kids.)”
“2. This does in fact mean I’ve officially retired from Jeopardy! game play! Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because we’ll always have Foghorn Leghorn,” she went on.
“3. And yes, I do get to eat at The Commissary whenever I want. It’s why I took the job. #jeopardy,” Betts ended.
She is not the only former Jeopardy! champion to get a job on the show. Ken Jennings is the current host, and Sam Buttrey works for the show’s social media.
Former contestants and fans sent her congratulations in the comments. The game show is also looking to hire a new clue writer, so if you’d like to work with Betts, be sure to get your application in by today.
Jeopardy!, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Paramount+