New York bartender Austin Rogers is gaining a rabid online fan base after a week-long winning streak on Jeopardy! Rogers, who has won a total of $278,300 so far, is known for his confidence, hand gestures, big wagers, and general quirkiness. On Twitter, there’s a hashtag for him, #austinonjeopardy, which the contestant himself uses when talking about the show.
In the bio of his personal Twitter profile, Rogers jokingly takes credit for things he did not create: “MC. Writer of Black and Yellow. Owner/Executive Chef, Nobu. Architect of Falling Water and Burj Khalifa.”
This is the style of humor that has made the internet both love and hate him.
His popularity is fueled by GIFs and memes of his moments on Jeopardy!
Alex: Did you bet big?
— JeopardyBlindGuesser (@JeopardyGuesser) October 3, 2017
Austin waves hand back & forth
CROWD GASPS
$34,000 wager
Alex: I’ll say you did#jeopardy pic.twitter.com/zyS3l77XwY
https://twitter.com/OfficialMisterC/status/915365130342473729
Austin Rogers is not of this world. #Jeopardy pic.twitter.com/ApP8bIM83T
— Nato Jacobs (@dcmadness202) October 3, 2017
The best thing on TV today? Austin, the best contestant #Jeopardy has ever seen. Would love to see the unedited episode… pic.twitter.com/a35NGdRyPF
— Julie Bray (@the_julie_bray) September 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/AliveInPhilly/status/913184202732064768
His fans are enthusiastic.
I want Austin to be on #Jeopardy forever.
— Christina Cannon (@cannon_cm) October 3, 2017
There are two types of people in this world: people that like #austinonjeopardy and people that don’t matter.
— Jay Bennett (@JayBennay) September 29, 2017
This dude Austin on #Jeopardy is an absolute LEGEND. pic.twitter.com/Tfnreiq1x9
— db (@metallidan) October 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/12thPresidentzt/status/913556853870796800
But there are others who dislike Rogers.
I bet Austin on #jeopardy was an exhausting child to raise.
— Harmony Lloyd (@harmonymist) October 3, 2017
Some people called him racist and referenced a joke he made about the Dalai Lama.
https://twitter.com/jbxd/status/912824789215203328
https://twitter.com/twitersgoodgirl/status/912823991647207424
https://twitter.com/realdaveimboden/status/915021269703249920
Others called him a hipster, and Rogers responded to the accusation. Apparently, he is not a hipster.
I am most definitely not a hipster.
— Austin Tyler Rogers (@austintylerro) October 3, 2017
He also doesn’t make fancy cocktails. “I’m a bartender,” he told one fan. “Not a mixologist.”
I’m a bartender. Not a mixologist. I’ll get you a Guinness and a Tully and that’s about the extent of my skill set.
— Austin Tyler Rogers (@austintylerro) September 30, 2017
And he doesn’t care if you hate him.
Agreed. Schmuck.
— Austin Tyler Rogers (@austintylerro) October 5, 2017
I drink your tears.
— Austin Tyler Rogers (@austintylerro) October 5, 2017
Whether you think he’s brilliant or annoying, Rogers is still winning a good chunk of change from knowing a lot of random facts.
