'Jeopardy' champ's total: $1,246,660

LOS ANGELES, July 22 (UPI) -- Salt Lake City software engineer Ken Jennings made it 37 straight wins on "Jeopardy" Thursday, adding another $52,000 to bring his total to $1,246,660.

It was the third time Jennings had tied the one-day's winnings record.

Host Alex Trebek noted when Jennings and his wife moved into their first home, he bought a marker and began drawing on the walls. Jennings explained he had wanted to put murals on the walls of his baby's room and was copying illustrations from children's books.

"You've won enough money; you can hire a professional now," Trebek advised.

The latest contestants to be trounced by the 30-year-old Brigham Young University graduate, Michael Jaeger of Los Angeles and Danele Hamada of Honolulu, won $4,001 and $1,200, respectively.

Jennings went into the final round with $42,000 and wagered $10,000 on the final question: "The two U.S. presidents whose middle names are also the last names of two other presidents."

Only Jennings came up with the correct question: "Who are Reagan and Clinton?"