If you win on "Jeopardy!," you pocket a little coin, but you aren't necessarily newsworthy. If you win on "Jeopardy!" multiple times, that means a few more bills, but probably not renown. If you win on "Jeopardy!" on 16 consecutive shows and shatter the venerable program's monetary records, however, that becomes newsworthy.

Kay Jennings, a 30-year-old software engineer from Utah, claimed his 16th consecutive win in the "Jeopardy!" episode that aired on Wednesday (June 23). His total winnings have now reached $512,959. He has established a comfortable cushion over the previous recordholder Tom Walsh, who raked in $184,900 during a seven-night streak earlier this year.

Jennings, a former College Bowl player at Brigham Young University and a literature and mythology editor for the National Academic Quiz Tournament, will not, however, win forever. According to the AP, the currently airing episodes were shot back in February and Jennings has been home for some time.

Old school "Jeopardy!" purists will note that Jennings is playing under new rules aimed at helping "Jeopardy!" remain relevant in a game show universe where everybody wants to be a millionaire. In recent years, the show has doubled the value of correct answers and has eliminated old restrictions which put champions to pasture after only five wins.