Fact Check: Did Oprah Winfrey make $160M from land bought in Maui after natural disasters?

WASHINGTON, DC: Social media users are spreading a sensational claim that Oprah Winfrey profited from natural disasters by buying waterfront properties in fire-ravaged areas of Los Angeles and Maui at bargain prices and later turning them into developments worth more than $160 million.

The posts also allege that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is calling for an investigation into the media mogul's alleged land deals. As the claim gains traction online, we examined the evidence behind it.

Claim: Oprah Winfrey profited $160M from natural disasters

The rumor originated from a Facebook post that shared an unverified claim about a supposed Department of Justice investigation involving Oprah Winfrey. The post began by stating, "Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche believes it's about time for Oprah Winfrey to answer some tough questions about her land grabs after natural disasters."

The post also attributed a statement to an alleged DOJ spokesperson named Joseph Barron, claiming, "We have reports of families being bullied into selling waterfront property in Los Angeles and Maui that were devastated by fires. She had trams of lawyers convince them their parcels were worth pennies on the dollar."

It further alleged that Winfrey profited significantly from the properties, stating, "Winfrey turned those pennies into more than $160 million in developments." The post concluded with another purported quote from the spokesperson: "There needs to be an investigation."

The claim was accompanied by a collage featuring Todd Blanche and Oprah Winfrey. At the time of writing, the post had garnered more than 7,900 likes and over 1,300 comments. Many users appeared to accept the claim as true. One commenter wrote, "Oh, let's bring out the truth about Oprah!!! Can't wait!" Another user questioned, "Didn't she and The Rock fundraise for Maui fire victims? What happened to those 'donations'... redirected to their purchase fund?!"

Fact Check: False, Oprah Winfrey did not make $160M from land purchase

Although the claim about Oprah Winfrey gained significant traction online and fueled speculation among social media users, it is entirely false. There is no evidence that Winfrey made $160 million by purchasing land in areas affected by natural disasters.

Several factors debunk the rumor. First, the claim originated from a satirical Facebook page. The page's description explicitly states: "The flagship of the ALLOD network of certified AI-free trollery and propaganda for cash. Nothing on this page is real."

The post was also accompanied by a Community Note that further clarified its satirical nature. The note stated: "Nothing on this page is real. America's Last Line of Defense (ALLOD) is a satire site, along with its sister site America Loves Liberty. It was created by well-known internet troll Christopher Blair, also known as Busta Troll. The image itself contains a watermark stating, 'Nothing on this page is Real.'"

This is not the first time Winfrey has been targeted by false rumors related to Maui. Following the devastating August 2023 wildfires, social media users circulated similar claims accusing her of exploiting the disaster through predatory land purchases. However, no credible evidence has ever emerged to support those allegations.

In reality, Winfrey helped launch the People's Fund of Maui with actor Dwayne Johnson and personally contributed $10 million to support residents who lost their homes in the wildfires. The available evidence shows that the viral claim is based on satire, not fact.