How Alex Jones’ Infowars ended up in the hands of The Onion

Purchased by Alex Jones ‘ Infowars at a bankruptcy auction by the satirical news publication The Onion is the latest twist in a years-long saga between the far-right conspiracy theorist and families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims.

The sale was ordered by relatives of many of the 20 children and six educators who were killed in the 2012 shooting successfully sued Jones and his company for slander and emotional distress. Jones repeatedly made false claims on his show that Newtown, Connecticut, shooting was a hoax staged by crisis actors to spur more gun control.

Here are some things to know about how Jones’ misinformation empire ended up on the auction block.

Fresh out of high school in the early 1990s, Jones, a barrel-chested, gravel-voiced Texas native, began broadcasting on a public television channel in the state capital. From the start, Jones promoted conspiracies about the US government and false claims of a secret New World Order.

By 2004, Jones had two employees and a small office in South Austin. In 2007, he formed Free Speech Systems to run his growing media business, according to court documents in his bankruptcy filings. In 2010, Jones had over 60 employees.

As the outlandish nature of his false claims grew, so did his media empire, with annual revenues of up to $80 million and a fan base that, at its height, listened to him on more than 100 radio stations across the United States, as well as through his Infowars website and social media.

Jones has recognized in court that he promoted the conspiracy theory that the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax perpetrated in part by the US government as part of an effort to expand gun control. He called the parents of slain children “crisis actors” on his show and said the shooting was “fake as a three-dollar bill.”

After separate defamation lawsuits were filed in Connecticut and Texas by family members of victims, Jones acknowledged in 2022 that the recording was “100% real” and said it was “absolutely irresponsible” to call it a hoax.

Victims’ families who sued Jones said they were victimized years of torment, threats and abuse from people who believed the lies told on his show.

Courts in Texas and Connecticut found Jones liable for defamation for his portrayal of the Sandy Hook massacre as a hoax and awarded the families nearly $1.5 billion in damages. In both states, judges issued default judgments finding Jones liable without trial because he failed to respond to court orders and turn over many documents. Juries then heard evidence and decided the amount of damages, with judges imposing additional penalties.

The auctions were the result of Jones’ personal bankruptcy casewhich he filed in late 2022. Many of Jones’ personal assets are also being liquidated to help pay the judgment. For sale was everything from Jones’ study desk to Infowars’ name, video archive, social media accounts and product trademarks. Buyers could even buy an armored truck and video cameras.

The Onion acquired Infowars’ website; social media accounts; study in Austin, Texas; trademarks; and video archive. The sale price was not disclosed.

After the sale was announced, Infowars’ website was down and Jones was broadcasting from what he said was a new studio location.

Jones vowed to challenge the sale and auction process in court.