As of last Sunday, September 13, it’s been 16 years since The Oprah Winfrey Show episode in which the host gave all 276 audience members brand-new
Pontiac G6 sedans
.
Did Oprah pay the taxes on the cars she gave away?
The car company also paid the state sales tax on each of the automobiles it donated
. However, that still left the new-car recipients with a large bill for their supposedly free vehicles: Federal and state income taxes added up to about $6,000 for most winners.
What has Oprah given away?
In addition to running her own charity foundation, Look to the Stars reports that Oprah Winfrey has made donations to
The Clinton Foundation, Project Cuddle, and Free the Children
.
What kind of car did Oprah give away in 2006?
Oprah Winfrey Gave Away Pontiacs But You Won’t Find a G6 in Her Car Collection. “You get a car! You get a car!” Everyone knows that famous tagline from 2004 when Oprah Winfrey kicked off the 19
th
season of her talk show by giving away a bunch of
Pontiac G6’s
to everyone in the audience.
Why did Oprah give out cars?
Back in 2004, Oprah thought that it would be an awesome thing to give a car to each and every single member of her studio audience. It was essentially a ploy for a
wicked boost for ratings
and was meant to also be an awesome promotional opportunity for Pontiac as well.
Did Oprah pay for the cars?
Most expenses were paid by the show, but not all. The Oprah Winfrey
Show paid the sales tax and registration for each car
, but not the gift tax, which could be up to $7,000 for some audience members.
Did Oprah give away houses?
Since that day, close to 300 families who were affected by the hurricanes have received new homes, thanks to Oprah’s Angel Network and Habitat for Humanity. Oprah announced her all-time favorite giveaway during a
2006
show on giving back.
How did Oprah get rich?
Born in rural poverty, and raised by a mother dependent on government welfare payments in a poor urban neighborhood, Winfrey became a millionaire at the age of 32
when her talk show received national syndication
. Winfrey negotiated ownership rights to the television program and started her own production company.
How many people got a free car from Oprah?
That Time Oprah Gave
276 People Free
Cars That Actually Cost Them $6,000 In Taxes.
What is the value of a 2005 Pontiac G6?
The value of a used 2005 Pontiac G6 ranges
from $538 to $2,984
, based on vehicle condition, mileage, and options.
Is a Pontiac G6?
| Pontiac G6 | Designer Jelani Aliyu | Body and chassis | Class Mid-size car | Body style 2-door convertible 2-door coupe 4-door sedan |
|---|
How many people are in Oprah’s audience?
It has been reported that the show averages an estimated
7, 14, and 15–20 million viewers a day
in the United States.
How much is a Pontiac G6?
The base G6 Sedan’s Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starts
around $18,500
, while the GT and GXP models have MSRPs closer to $23,000 and $27,000 respectively. That’s in line with the entry-level sedans from Hyundai and Kia, as well as the V6-powered models from Dodge, Honda and Nissan.
When Oprah gave away Pontiac G6 sedans to her TV audience was the value of the cars taxable?
When O “gave away” the new cars to her audience, tax consequences were probably the last thing on everyone’s mind. Unfortunately, and unbeknownst to many, the fair market value of the car was
approximately $28,500
and had to be included in gross income for Federal and State income tax purposes.
Who is a trillionaire?
A trillionaire is
an individual with a net worth equal to at least one trillion in U.S. dollars
or a similarly valued currency, such as the euro or the British pound. Currently, no one has yet claimed trillionaire status, although some of the world’s richest individuals may only be a few years away from this milestone.
