From investigative business reporting to winning Celebrity Jeopardy, the versatile career of Mina Kimes
In short: Mina Kimes has navigated a unique path from uncovering corporate scandals at Fortune and Bloomberg to becoming a prominent voice in sports media. Beyond her analytical role at ESPN, she has proven her intellectual range by winning major game shows and hosting diverse podcasts, cementing her status as a cultural polymath.
Born in Omaha in 1985, Kimes built her early reputation as a formidable business journalist. After completing her undergraduate studies at Yale in 2007, she began her career at Fortune Small Business Magazine. Her investigative work quickly garnered industry recognition, including the Henry R. Luce Award for a 2012 exposé on the dangerous, unauthorized use of cement in medical procedures. Her tenure at Bloomberg News further established her analytical prowess, where she produced acclaimed profiles of high-profile executives like Caterpillar's Doug Oberhelman and Sears' Eddie Lampert.
A pivotal shift occurred in 2014 when an essay about her personal connection to the Seattle Seahawks caught the attention of ESPN editors. This transition into sports media saw her evolve into a multifaceted analyst and broadcaster. She has since covered a wide spectrum of sports figures, from NFL stars like Aaron Rodgers and Baker Mayfield to esports icons like Faker. Her reporting has also extended into investigative sports journalism, including a significant piece on sexual harassment allegations that led to the termination of a New York Mets general manager.
Kimes's influence now spans well beyond traditional sports commentary. She hosts a popular NFL-focused podcast, serves as an analyst on NFL Live, and has participated in various entertainment projects, including after-shows for television series. Her public profile reached new heights through her success on game shows; she notably assisted David Chang in securing a million-dollar prize on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2020 and won the fourth season of Celebrity Jeopardy! in 2026, earning $1 million for the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition. Most recently, she expanded her broadcast portfolio by joining the team for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
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