Twenty years ago, Oprah Winfrey made history with one of the largest giveaways in television history.
In 2004, the TV talk show host gave everyone in her studio audience a brand-new Pontiac G-6 sedan.
What kind of car did Oprah Winfrey give her audience in 2004?
In 2004, Oprah Winfrey conducted a $7 million giveaway on her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show.
On the season 19 opener, she gave away 276 brand-new Pontiac G-6 sedans.
Twenty years later, the famous giveaway is still talked about.
The moment is remembered for Oprah emphatically shouting “You get a car!” as her audience cried tears of joy.
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The iconic television moment was parodied multiple times, including on late-night shows like Saturday Night Live and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Why did Oprah give away cars to her guests?
Many fans of the talk show were shocked to learn that the former talk show host did not pay for the Pontiac sedans.
The American-made G-6 sedans weren’t actually from Oprah but instead were gifted in the name of advertising.
Pontiac had donated the cars from its advertising budget in hopes that Oprah’s platform would drive sales to the new G-6 line.
Even though Pontiac covered the state sales tax on the cars and they were given the new rides as gifts, audience members reported they were still left with a bill.
The new-car recipients had a bill totaling $6,000 that included federal and state income taxes.
Some resorted to car loans to pay for their free car, according to History.
It’s reported that some people traded in their new Pontiacs for a cheaper car.
Some audience members allegedly owed the Internal Revenue Service thousands of dollars.
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What is the G-6 sedan worth?
All 276 of Oprah’s guests went home with a G-6 worth about $28,000.
According to History, Oprah instructed her producers to fill the audience with people who needed the cars.
During the show, Oprah waved a large key at audience members and announced, “Everybody gets a car!”
This surprise and unexpected gift sent the audience into shock and excitement.
The giveaway is considered to be one of the largest giveaways in television history.