John Oliver buys $22 million in debt, forgives it all

  • 07/06/2016
John Oliver targets debt buyers (HBO)
John Oliver targets debt buyers (HBO)

John Oliver has out-Oprahed Oprah by pulling off what is said to be the biggest television talk show giveaway of all time, with a whopping value of US$15 million (NZ$22 million).

In an episode of his television show Last Week Tonight focused on the US debt industry, Oliver describes how he set up his own debt-collecting company, purchased US$14,922,261.76 in debt, and then forgave it all.

The debt was bought for a total of US$60,000.

"Debt buying is a grimy business that badly needs more oversights. As it stands, any idiot can get into it," Oliver told his viewers.

"I can prove that to you because I'm an idiot and we started a debt-buying company. It was disturbingly easy."

Oliver claimed it was television's biggest giveaway since Oprah Winfrey's US$8 million car giveaway episode.

Newshub.