Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign paid nearly $2.5 million to Oprah Winfrey’s production company for the celebrity-filled town hall she hosted, a figure that exceeds the initial estimate by more than double.
Earlier reports suggested that Harpo Productions, Winfrey’s company, had received around $1 million for the September town hall with Harris, but new details from the New York Times reveal the actual payment was closer to $2.5 million—still a small fraction of the campaign’s estimated $1.5 billion spending.
Oprah has denied receiving any personal compensation from Harris’ team, and a former adviser to the campaign confirmed that no payments were made to individuals for their participation or support.
Winfrey clarified that she did not take any personal fees and that the funds were used to cover costs for her team. She explained on Instagram, “I was not paid a dime. My production company, Harpo, was asked to handle everything for the live-streaming event—set design, lighting, cameras, crew, producers, and all other production needs, including the furniture. I did not take any personal fee.”
She also emphasized that those who worked on the production were compensated.
Harris’ campaign set a record for rapid fundraising, raising a staggering $1.5 billion in just 15 weeks, making it one of the most expensive campaigns to date. The budget also contributed to a $20 million debt for the Democratic Party.
The majority of the funds were directed towards advertising, grassroots campaigning, social media outreach, and paying celebrities like Winfrey, Eminem, Cardi B, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga for their support.
Other expenses included nearly $9,000 on ice cream from upscale shops, $15,000 in food deliveries, and a massive $2.6 million spent on private jet travel during her two-week campaign tour in battleground states.
Despite the significant spending, Harris lost the election to President-elect Donald Trump, who secured 312 electoral votes. Trump’s campaign had an estimated budget of $720 million, according to the Wall Street Journal.
