Jeopardy Champion Admits He Was Supposed to Go On Titanic Submarine Tour

Sam Buttrey is an Associate professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and a fan favorite Jeopardy! champion. 

He's also never been to see the Titanic wreckage in a submersible. But if it weren't for his son's wedding, he probably would have.

During the short interview segment of an episode on May's Tournament of Champions, Buttery recounted to host Ken Jennings that he missed out on a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to tour the Titanic wreckage. Instead, he attended his son's wedding. 

"I have a friend who operates a company that will take you out to the wreck of the Titanic," he said. "Through a miracle of bad timing, my son John and daughter-in-law Caitlyn were getting married that weekend. I was very happy to go there."

In light of this week's OceanGate disaster, the clip has resurfaced online, and generated horror from Jeopardy! fans, and general viewers alike. 

"Definitely once in a lifetime," Johnny Darko said.

"What is dodged a bullet there for $500?" travelswithllama joked. 

Buttrey's tour was almost certainly with OceanGate, as there are no publicized alternative Titanic tours available. However, judging by the timing, he was most likely talking about their 2022 tour, which returned safely. 

Still, in light of all we know now, he's probably pretty glad his son decided to get married when he did.