Oprah's Generosity
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
November 21, 2007 3:55am CST
Yesterday's show "My Favorite Things" came from Macon, Georgia and as I live in Georgia it was a very big deal. Oprah gave many thousands of dollars worth of Christmas gifts to each of the audience members. One gift alone, an unbelievable, state of the arc, refrigerator worth over $3,000.00. I figured each lucky person received close to 7 or 8 thousand dollars worth of gifts. The lucky ones were crying, jumping up and down, generally having hysterics.. I too would have been ecstatic if I had been lucky enough to have received such gifts. My question is how much of the costs for these gifts would Oprah have to personally pay? I can imagine each of the companies furnishing the gifts got zillions of dollars worth of publicity. Even UPS got well praised for their part in the extravaganza. The reason Macon had been chosen for this fantastic deal was that since the conception of the "Oprah Show" way back when Macon has had the highest amount of daily viewers in the USA ... 42%. Does anyone have any idea how much cash this would actually cost Oprah?
4 people like this
10 responses
@raydene (9871)
• United States
21 Nov 07
Hi Sweets,
The company I work with was featured as the # 20 thing Oprah loves.
I can not tell you of the other companies but I am sure that Shaklee donated the Get Clean Packs which are worth $150 but if anyone buys it now they get it for $89.60 and they will get a free membership which is worth $19.95.That special price is in honor of Oprah's work with environmental issues which Shaklee is big time involved with.
xoxoxoxo
3 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
22 Nov 07
That is interesting info. All these products were top of the line as you being in the know can confirm.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112786)
• El Paso, Texas
29 May 20
I want to know more about Shaklee, I do everything I can for my environment .... I never use chemical pesticides or herbicides and I recycle everything I can.
@xleslieanne (692)
• United States
21 Nov 07
it's always crazy to see how much stuff she gives out each year and how much it costs. although i'm sure that most of it does not come out of her wallet. i'm betting that the companies supply most of it free for the publicity. everyone knows that oprah's "my favorite things" show has high ratings so a lot of people will see and hear about the company's products.
3 people like this
@rebelann (112786)
• El Paso, Texas
29 May 20
I have to wonder if the audiences that receive these gifts have to pay the taxes on them, I know that on game shows the winners do have to pay taxes on the items they win.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
21 Nov 07
I know she has the reputation of being very generous but there is no way I would believe she footed the bill yesterday.
1 person likes this
@aprilanderson17 (43)
• United States
21 Nov 07
I am likely to agree with most of the postings here! I know that she does give a considerable amount of her own money away and that even our own government has borrowed money from Oprah. But I am sure that just like gameshows all of the stuff was donated by the makers. They not only get the publicity of being generous but it is also a huge tax break when you give so much away to charity and charitable causes!
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
22 Nov 07
I occasionally watch Oprah on TV & even more often read about her here.
I really can't answer your question for certain. I realise that Oprah is very generous, but I question giving away refrigerators worth $3000.00. Why didn't Oprah give away 300 fridges, worth $1000.00 each? A lot more people would have benefited.
Which leads me to suspect that this give away was mixed up with some sort of promotion to sell very expensive white goods.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
22 Nov 07
Why didn't Oprah give away 300 fridges, worth $1000.00 each...WOW that would have cost $300,000.00. I am sure sure with all her general donations she gives away plenty.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
22 Nov 07
That was a typo mistake. I meant 300 fridges worth $100.00 each. Although come to think of it, I doubt whether one can get a decent size fridge for $100 nowadays.
What about 6 fridges worth $500 each? Six people who can't afford a fridge, is better than one person who most likely can afford a fridge, let alone getting a $3000 fridge. Unless I am out of touch with the cost of fridges. If I am, when ours breaks down we are going to be getting 2nd hand.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Nov 07
Beats me, but I have always assumed that she paid NOTHING.
It is all part of the sponsors' publicity budget.
In fact, because you brought it up, I had always been wondering how much Oprah GETS from her show. I am almost willing to bet that instead of forking out cents, she gets paid LOTS of money.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
21 Nov 07
I think you are correct. There were even grown men in the audience almost in tears. The first gift was a video/digital camera which did everything but say cheese and it cost $800.00
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Nov 07
I drool a bit too when I happen to channel-surf to this show. Those are not-cheap freebies that you get just by attending those shows.
I have seen guys in the audience too but they look quite out of place since the majority are ladies. :P
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
21 Nov 07
It would have cost Oprah a few bucks I'm sure, not anywhere near retail but still plenty. But the thing the people don't get told is they have to pay the resultant taxes. Not knowing the tax rate in Georgia I don't know how expensive it would be. But still not as expensive as buying it yourself. U am pretty sure that most of the expense can be written off for her as well under publicity or charity.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
22 Nov 07
Georgia taxes are 6% and I would gladly have paid 3 or 4 hundred dollars for all these terrific goods.
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
27 Nov 07
I am sure that alot of it is donated for publicity. It is so nice to see people so happy. She may have had to use a little of her money, but I bet it wasn't a whole lot. I definitely may be wrong and have to eat my words.
@raydene (9871)
• United States
21 Nov 07
Hi Sweets,
The company I work with was featured as the # 20 thing Oprah loves.
I can not tell you of the other companies but I am sure that Shaklee donated the Get Clean Packs which are worth $150 but if anyone buys it now they get it for $89.60 and they will get a free membership which is worth $19.95.That special price is in honor of Oprah's work with environmental issues which Shaklee is big time involved with.
xoxoxoxo
1 person likes this
@ayou82 (3450)
• Philippines
22 Nov 07
Good on her...(CLAP CLAP CLAP).. and i think hollywoods stars too should share what they have for years.. i mean im not saying this mandatorily they should but the initiative on one person who have a lot of blessings in this hard life .. they share what they have and im so glad for what she did..
I dont know how much it cost her but, she is doing so well...
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
29 May 20
Oprah does a lot of stuff like that. She even builds schools for underprivileged children.
