'Jeopardy!' run ends for Pittsburgh woman: 'I got to live my dream'

After four consecutive wins on the “Jeopardy!” television game show, Pittsburgh resident Margaret Shelton was defeated on Monday, ending her nearly weeklong run.

Shelton risked all of her $12,300 in Final Jeopardy! and was defeated by Maureen O’Neil of New Hampshire.

Shelton amassed $79,700 in earnings over her four-game win streak, and is currently ranked 10th in total earnings this season among this year’s regular season “Jeopardy!” competitors.

Going into Final Jeopardy! on Monday, Shelton held a lead of about $2,000 over O’Neil. The third competitor didn’t make Final Jeopardy! due to having a negative cash total. The final category was “Central America” and the answer read “a small river connects these 2 lakes that combined form close to 10% of their country’s area.”

The correct response was Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua.

Shelton answered Lake Nicaragua, but didn’t include a second lake. O’Neil did not answer correctly, but wagered less than Shelton and finished with $2,200, while Shelton finished the game with $0.

Regardless, Shelton said the whole experience was fun and an amazing time.

“It was really fun. I really got to live my dream and that is pretty rad,” Shelton told the Tribune-Review. “In this world, there aren’t many things that are totally positive experiences, but this was.”

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• Pittsburgh woman's Jeopardy! win streak continues; tops $79,000

Shelton has lived in Pittsburgh’s East End for about five years. She said she really enjoys how walkable her neighborhood is and the city’s dedication to greenspaces.

“It is just a friendly city, and it is really walkable. I appreciate that,” said Shelton. “There are parks everywhere. It has unexpected beauty, which makes me so happy.”

She also really enjoys the Pittsburgh food scene, noting that it is “hard to have a bad French fry” in Pittsburgh, and the “wings are amazing.”

Shelton is originally from the Mississippi Delta and said she is the niece of Archie Manning, the former NFL quarterback and father of retired NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning. She said being a part of the Manning family taught her grace in competition and to deal with any fame with humility, even if it is just for a short time.

“They really are good examples of how to stay humble with some fame,” said Shelton.

Shelton was drawn to Pittsburgh because friends of her and her husband moved here and liked it. Her husband then got a job at PPG, and they made Pittsburgh their new home. Before Pittsburgh, they lived in Juneau, Alaska.

She said that her time growing up in Mississippi, her time in Alaska, and all other life experiences helped her compete on “Jeopardy!”

“Every life experience helps you, like every transaction helps you,” said Shelton. “Every book you read and every article you read, it lets your brain know ‘I need to file that away.’”

Shelton said it is never easy to lose, but added that she is very proud of O’Neil.

And this might not be the last time Pittsburghers see Shelton on the show.

Host Ken Jennings indicated at the end of Monday’s show that Shelton is well-positioned to possibly play in the upcoming Tournament of Champions.