<P> The strategy for wagering in Final Jeopardy! has been studied . If the leader's score is more than twice the second place contestant's score, the leader can guarantee victory by making a sufficiently small wager . Otherwise, according to Jeopardy! College Champion Keith Williams, the leader will usually wager such that he or she will have a dollar more than twice the second place contestant's score, guaranteeing a win with a correct response . Writing about Jeopardy! wagering in the 1990s, Gilbert and Hatcher said that "most players wager aggressively". </P> <P> The top scorer (s) in each game retain the value of their winnings in cash, and return to play in the next match . Non-winners receive consolation prizes . Since May 16, 2002, consolation prizes have been $2,000 for the second - place contestant (s) and $1,000 for the third - place contestant . Since the show does not generally provide airfare or lodging for contestants, cash consolation prizes alleviate contestants' financial burden . An exception is provided for returning champions who must make several flights to Los Angeles . </P> <P> Before 1984, all three contestants received their winnings in cash (contestants who finished with $0 or a negative score received consolation prizes). This was changed in order to make the game more competitive, and avoid the problem of contestants who would stop participating in the game, or avoid wagering in Final Jeopardy!, rather than risk losing the money they had already won . From 1984 to 2002, non-winning contestants on the Trebek version received vacation packages and merchandise, which were donated by manufacturers as promotional consideration . The current cash consolation prize is provided by Geico . </P> <P> The winner of each episode returns to compete against two new contestants on the next episode . Originally, a contestant who won five consecutive days retired undefeated and was guaranteed a spot in the Tournament of Champions; the five - day limit was eliminated at the beginning of season 20 on September 8, 2003 . </P>

Where does the money for jeopardy come from
find me the text answering this question