Alex Trebek Has Led a More Interesting Life Than All of Us

Alex Trebek been a household name since 1984. The iconic TV personality has hosted Jeopardy! for nearly four decades, but there's more to him than what meets the eye. From breeding horses to chasing burglars, Alex Trebek is one of a kind, and these are the facts to prove it.

He Almost Became a Priest

When Alex Trebek was in his youth, he very nearly embarked on a different career path. Trebek, intrigued by religion, considered entering the clergy. However, he soon abandoned his ideas of priesthood after spending the summer in a Trappist Monastery.

"I took a vow not only of poverty but of silence," he told The New York Times. "And I'm not one to keep my big mouth shut. I enjoy talking."

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The More You Know

  • Fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.
  • Parts of the Great Wall of China were made with sticky rice.
  • It costs the U.S. Mint almost twice as much to mint each penny and nickel as the coins are actually worth. Taxpayers lost over $100 million in 2013 just through the coins being made.
  • The first pieces of gold at Fort Knox arrived by mail.
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