What happened to Jeopardy Champion Ben Chan? Know Details
by A Maria
Updated Apr 18, 2023
Who is Ben Chan?
Ben Chan is known not only for his success on the game show "Jeopardy!", but also for his career as an assistant professor of philosophy at St. Norbert College. Chan is a lifelong fan of "Jeopardy!", and was motivated to try out for the show after the unexpected death of a close friend.
Despite not having a bucket list, Chan saw being on the show as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He prepared thoroughly for the experience and played with joy, hoping to have no regrets. Chan obtained his bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College and his doctorate from the University of California-Los Angeles prior to becoming a teacher.
What happened to Jeopardy Champion Ben Chan?
Ben Chan made his debut on Jeopardy! on April 12, 2023, and won for three consecutive days, earning over $69,000. However, on April 17, his fans were disappointed to learn that he was not among the contestants for that day's episode. Reports suggest that his absence was due to an unexpected illness.
In a statement, St. Norbert College stated that "Due to an ill-timed illness, Ben Chan's return to 'Jeopardy!' was delayed." As a result, viewers watched a match-up between Toni Van Kampen, a retired systems analyst from Illinois, Daniel Ciarrocchi, a writer from Maryland, and Madeleine McKenna, an attorney from California, instead of seeing Chan continue his winning streak.
When will Ben Chan return to Jeopardy?
Aside from his fame as a game show contestant, Ben Chan is recognized for his profession as an assistant professor of philosophy at St. Norbert College. Despite his absence due to illness, it's not the end of Chan's stint on the popular game show. He is anticipated to make a comeback on Monday, May 15, 2023, and continue his run on Jeopardy!
What is wrong with the contestant on Jeopardy tonight?
Ben Chan, the latest standout contestant on JEOPARDY!, was unable to compete for his fourth consecutive win on the show's episode on April 17 due to his sudden illness. As a result, there was no returning champion for the next round, and Ben will not be back on the program until May 15th. Chan, who teaches at St. Norbert College in Green Bay, Wisconsin, had won three games and $69,001 total.
Reports from sources stated that "Due to an ill-timed illness, Ben Chan's return to Jeopardy! was delayed. See him try for his 4th win on Monday, May 15th." The specifics of his condition are unknown, as Ben has not provided any further details about his illness. On his Twitter bio, Chan confirmed the sad news and announced that he will be returning to the show on May 15th for his fourth win.
Ben Chan professional career
Ben Chan grew up in New York, where his parents settled after emigrating from Hong Kong and Guangdong in the late 1960s. They met in New York City and went into business together, opening a restaurant. Chan himself is a highly educated individual, having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of California-Los Angeles.
He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Chan has been working as a philosophy professor for almost a decade and has been employed at St. Norbert College in De Pere since 2013.
Ben Chan Biography
Name
Ben Chan
Residence
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Profession
Philosophy Professor
Assistant professor of philosophy at St. Norbert College in De Pere, working at the college since 2013
Nationality & Ethnicity
American
Chinese Ethnicity, with parents emigrating from Hong Kong and Guangdong in the late 1960s
Education & School
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
What happened to Jeopardy Champion Ben Chan - FAQs
Chan is known for being a successful game show contestant on "Jeopardy!" as well as for his career as an assistant professor of philosophy at St. Norbert College.
Chan was motivated to try out for "Jeopardy!" after the unexpected death of a close friend.
Chan did not have a bucket list, but he saw being on "Jeopardy!" as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Chan prepared thoroughly for his appearance on "Jeopardy!" and played with joy, hoping to have no regrets.
Chan earned his bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College and his doctorate from the University of California-Los Angeles prior to becoming a teacher.