James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

When I watched 'Jeopardy!' as a kid, I would primarily watch with my grandmother. She was the most beautiful person the world has ever seen. Her first language wasn't English, so she couldn't follow along well, but she wanted to share this experience with me since she saw it was something I really liked.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

As a gambler, I hold myself to an especially high standard of honor, and it disgusts me when people try to cheat at games.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

Anytime you learn something new, you're just trying to file it away - might be useful one day.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

If you believe in yourself, you don't have to do things the same way everyone else is doing it.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

The first bet I remember was on the Chargers in Super Bowl 29 with my classmates. I lost a lot of weeks' allowance.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

Baseball was my goal from a young age, but gambling had significantly fewer barriers to entry.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

I wouldn't recommend sports betting as a career. It requires a ton of effort and mastery of many different skills, and successful bettors are unwilling to teach you because you would be their competition.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

Holzhauer Haters' is pretty catchy, but I have not encountered too many haters. I'm sure they are out there, but I don't spend my free time looking up every person's opinion of James Holzhauer.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

My source of income is sports betting. I have some investments also.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

Nobody likes to lose.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

I want to not lose what makes me be me.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

There are big advantages to having a lot of chips early on in a poker tournament. You can make plays that other people can't.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

I think there's a mental block for betting big amounts that doesn't exist for me but it does for other people.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

I sketched out what I believed to be my optimal strategy for 'Jeopardy:' Play fast, build a stack, bet big, and hope for the best. In my mind, playing a seemingly risky game actually minimizes my chances of losing.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

Like Dave Mustaine, I ain't superstitious.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

I really like not having to justify my decisions to anyone else, as well as the freedom to vacation whenever I want.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

In gambling we say you are 'on tilt' when your mood gets in the way of making your best decisions. And nobody plays well on tilt.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

I've already begun giving to children's nonprofits in the Las Vegas area.

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

Parenting is much more nerve-wracking than 'Jeopardy!'

James Holzhauer
James Holzhauer

I went to Illinois. Most people think I went to Princeton or something. But I was never a diligent student.