Kara Brown loses Jeopardy thriller, stumped by Harper Lee clue in dramatic final

Harrison Whitaker defended his championship title on Nov. 20, 2025. All three contestants stumbled over a Harper Lee clue in Final Jeopardy! It was a rare triple stumper that shocked everyone watching.

What Happened During the Dramatic Game

Harrison Whitaker, the researcher from Terre Haute, Indiana, dominated the entire broadcast. He maintained a commanding lead going into Final Jeopardy! His starting score was $16,400.

Kara Brown, a payroll manager from Seattle, Washington, entered with $11,200. She had fought hard during the game. Blythe Roberson, a writer from Brooklyn, New York, started with just $3,000.

The Final Jeopardy category was Women Authors. The clue read: “In her 2016 New York Times obituary, this author was said to have ‘gained a reputation as a literary Garbo.'” The answer was Harper Lee, the famous author of To Kill a Mockingbird.

What happened next shocked viewers everywhere. Harrison wrote “Who is Well, it’s been fun?” clearly knowing he’d missed it. Blythe guessed “Who is Alice Monroe?” Kara answered “Wolfe.” Nobody got it right.

Why This Moment Matters So Much

A triple stumper occurs rarely on Jeopardy! When all three contestants miss Final Jeopardy, it proves the clue was genuinely difficult. Harper Lee was notoriously private after her novel’s massive success.

She famously withdrew from public life, much like actress Greta Garbo did. This clue required knowledge of both her writing AND her biography. Most contestants know her novel. Few know her reclusive personal life.

For viewers at home, this moment proved something important. Even Jeopardy champions face genuine uncertainty. Knowledge, strategy, and wagering are all critical to winning. Sometimes, the categories and clues combine in unexpected ways.

The Numbers Behind the Victory Table

Let’s examine how the final scores played out. Kara made an aggressive betting choice. She wagered $5,201 despite starting with $11,200. She lost money and ended with $5,999.

Contestant	Starting Score	Wager	Final Score
Harrison Whitaker	$16,400	-$6,001	$10,399 (Winner)
Kara Brown	$11,200	-$5,201	$5,999
Blythe Roberson	$3,000	-$3,000	$0

Blythe started with the weakest position and bet everything. She lost all her money. Had Kara wagered conservatively, she might have survived even with a wrong response.

What Comes Next for Harrison?

Harrison returned on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 for his ninth consecutive game. He faces two fresh challengers. His remarkable consistency continues to impress viewers and producers alike.

He already qualifies for the 2027 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions. His dominance across diverse categories proves his preparation is exceptional. He averages nearly 43 correct responses per game with a two-thirds success rate.

The all-time record belongs to Ken Jennings with 74 consecutive wins. Harrison is still far behind that legendary achievement. But his current trajectory shows genuine championship potential.

Can The Winning Streak Survive Much Longer?

Every champion eventually loses. Harrison’s remarkable run proves his knowledge spans many subjects. The question isn’t whether he’ll face a tough opponent. It’s whether that opponent exists within current Jeopardy! contestant pools.

The triple stumper moment raised an interesting question among fans. Are Jeopardy! clues becoming more obscure this season? Writers might emphasize hidden details in biographies instead of straightforward facts.

Either way, Nov. 20, 2025 will be remembered for drama and surprise. Harper Lee defeated all three contestants that evening. Sometimes, knowledge alone doesn’t guarantee victory on Jeopardy!

Sources

• USA Today – Official Jeopardy recap and game statistics
• Red94 News – Detailed game breakdown and winning analysis
• The Mirror US – Contestant performance details and clue information