What's life like after a Jeopardy run?

James Holzhauer is officially "Jeopardy!" royalty.

Not only has he come to dominate the list of highest single-game payouts, but Holzhauer has also become only the second contestant to earn more than $1 million in regular-season play. On Monday night, he continued his streak, winning his 18th game by just $18.

For some contestants, winning might usher in 15 minutes of fame and a small, unexpected windfall. But for players like Holzhauer, securing records, fame and big winnings can be transformative, creating opportunities and providing a level of financial security unthinkable to many Americans.

We caught up with a few "Jeopardy!" stars to ask them how their time on the show affected their lives.

Ken Jennings

Before he became a "Jeopardy!" legend, Ken Jennings was a 29-year-old computer programmer living in Salt Lake City, wondering if there was any way out of a career in coding. Jennings had double-majored in English and computer science and always wanted to write, but after graduating and getting engaged he took a job at a tech startup to pay the bills. Then he qualified for "Jeopardy!"

In 2004, Jennings won 74 games in a row, earning more than $2.5 million. No one has come close to beating his streak (the nearest challenger won 20 consecutive games), though Holzhauer is closing in.

This month, Holzhauer became the only contestant to join Jennings in earning more than $1 million in regular-season play. (Another contestant, Brad Rutter, has earned more than either of them, but he earned the vast majority of his winnings — more than $4.5 million — in arguably more difficult tournament games.)

After the show, Jennings decided to write a book about the history and appeal of trivia in America. In 2006, he published "Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive,...