Media tycoon Oprah Winfrey is encountering growing criticism following allegations that she accepted a $1 million appearance fee from Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign—claims that she has strongly refuted. On Wednesday, the television icon took to Instagram to address the rumors and the ensuing controversy, firmly stating that she did not receive any payment from Harris’s team and asserting that she “was not paid a dime.”
“I typically hesitate to respond to rumors, but I’ve come to understand that if you don’t counter a lie, it simply escalates,” Winfrey explained. “I was not paid a dime. My time and energy were my contributions to the campaign.”
While Winfrey, 70, did not take a “personal fee” for moderating a town hall event with Vice President Harris in September, she clarified that her production company, Harpo Productions, was compensated by the campaign to cover the event’s logistical expenses.
“For the live-streaming event in September, my production company Harpo was tasked with providing set design, lighting, cameras, microphones, crew, producers, and all other necessary items (including the benches and chairs we used) to produce a live event,” she elaborated. “I did not receive any personal fee. However, those who worked on the production needed to be compensated. And they were. End of story.”
Critics of Winfrey pointed to her estimated net worth of $3 billion, arguing that she did not “need” the money and therefore should not have accepted any payment—personal or otherwise—from the Harris campaign. Indeed, the former television host possesses a remarkable fortune, which includes an impressive real estate portfolio valued at a minimum of $50 million, with properties scattered across the United States. Winfrey even highlighted her extensive real estate assets during a speech at the Democratic National Convention in August. “I’ve lived in Mississippi, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Maryland, Indiana, Florida, Hawaii, Colorado, California, and sweet home Chicago, Illinois,” she told the enthusiastic audience. “I have truly traveled this country from the redwood forests—how I love those redwoods—to the Gulf Stream waters.”
Currently, the media mogul, originally from Chicago, boasts a stunning collection of homes stretching from California to Hawaii. Her overall real estate holdings are estimated to be worth around $158 million—158 times the amount her company received from Harris’s campaign.
MONTECITO, CA, MEGAMANSION
Winfrey’s primary residence in the U.S. is located in the coastal community of Montecito, CA, where her neighbors include Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. In 2001, Winfrey relocated to Central California, purchasing a $50 million estate she dubbed “The Promised Land.”
This expansive neo-Georgian mansion spans 23,000 square feet and features six bedrooms and 14 bathrooms, set on 40 acres with breathtaking mountain and ocean views. The beautifully landscaped grounds include a pool, stables, gardens, and a pond. This property was just the beginning of what has developed into an unmatched compound, which includes a nearby 23.26-acre equestrian estate she acquired for $28.85 million in 2015.
Additionally, she purchased Jeff Bridges’ longtime retreat for $6.85 million in late 2019, bringing her total landholdings in the area to nearly 70 acres. In 2021, the astute investor reportedly acquired a 2-acre estate for $10.8 million, which she subsequently divided. She sold the main farmhouse, offering mountain and ocean views on one acre, to “Friends” star Jennifer Aniston in 2023 for $14.8 million, while two smaller cottages were sold to her friend and personal trainer Bob Greene for $2.3 million.
MAUI, HI, ESTATE
Winfrey also has significant connections to Maui, where she owns approximately 1,000 acres. Her affection for the Valley Isle began in 2003 when she purchased two properties in the Kula community and later added 23 more acres and several buildings to her estate for $5.3 million. She has since been a part-time resident.
Reports indicate that her property in Hawaii includes a boutique bed-and-breakfast, which is believed to serve as accommodation for guests visiting her during her stays. Over the years, she has acquired additional properties in the area, reportedly spending over $40 million on around 163 acres of prime Hawaiian land.
Moreover, in March 2023, local news outlet KITV reported that Winfrey had purchased 870 “agriculturally zoned” acres in Kula for approximately $6.6 million. It is said that she constructed a private road to her property, facilitating easier access to the more populated areas of Maui. When the island suffered devastating fires in July 2019, local residents sought access to…
