Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones may see the end of his Infowars broadcasts next week, as he faces a court-ordered auction of his company’s assets to help cover the staggering more than $1 billion defamation judgment owed to the families affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

However, the situation remains uncertain. Both allies and opponents of Jones have expressed a desire to bid on the Infowars properties accumulated over two and a half decades. Among potential bidders is Roger Stone, a close associate of both Jones and former President Donald Trump, as well as various progressive media organizations opposed to Jones. Should Jones’ supporters emerge victorious in the bidding, it’s possible he could remain with Infowars.

The items up for auction include everything from Jones’ studio desk and the Infowars name to its video archives, social accounts, and product trademarks. Additionally, items such as an armored truck and various video cameras are also available. Currently, Jones’ personal social media accounts—most notably his X account with 3 million followers—are not included in the auction, though discussions about their sale are ongoing in the courts.

The auctions stem from Jones’ personal bankruptcy filed in late 2022, following a judgment of nearly $1.5 billion awarded to the Sandy Hook families from lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas. These judgments were based on his false claims that the 2012 shooting was a staged event. Along with company assets, many of Jones’ personal properties are being liquidated to contribute to the repayment of the judgment.

Friday afternoon serves as the deadline for bids and nondisclosure agreements on the Infowars assets. Once bids are reviewed, qualified bidders will be invited to engage in a live auction scheduled for next Wednesday, which may feature multiple rounds of bidding. Any remaining items that do not sell will be re-auctioned on December 10.

Jones is optimistic that loyal supporters—whom he has not specified—will purchase Infowars and its parent company, Free Speech Systems, thereby allowing him to continue to operate within the brand. Nonetheless, he seems also to be preparing for the eventuality of losing the brand by establishing new websites and social media accounts to redirect his followers.

In August, Jones expressed confidence on his show, stating, “There’s a lot of buyers, people that are patriots that want it and will come in. If not… we’ll work with somebody else, fire something up. And it’ll be a little bit of a hiccup for the crew, and things. But that will just make us bigger.”

The financial outcome of the auctions remains unclear. Free Speech Systems indicated in court documents that its total assets and holdings amount to around $18 million. Revenues collected from these sales are anticipated to contribute towards compensating creditors, including the Sandy Hook families, who have yet to receive any funds from Jones or his firm.

To optimize bid amounts while minimizing bidder collaboration, auctions typically utilize confidentiality agreements and sealed bids. The bankruptcy trustee managing Jones’ case has confirmed that auction procedures are structured to attract the highest bidder possible.

Christopher Mattei, a Connecticut attorney representing the Sandy Hook families, viewed the auctions as a significant step in their ongoing effort to hold Jones accountable. He also mentioned that the families would seek a proportion of Jones’ future earnings.

“From the beginning, the Connecticut families have sought to hold Jones fully accountable for his lies and to protect other families from him,” Mattei stated. “Stripping Jones of the corrupt business he used to attack the families while poisoning the minds of his listeners is an important measure of justice.”

The Sandy Hook families filed suits against Jones and his company for defamation and emotional distress, stemming from his persistent claims that the tragic shooting was a fabricated event designed to further gun control agendas.

Parents and families of several victims testified about the severe trauma they endured due to Jones’ conspiracy theories and subsequent threats from his followers. While Jones now acknowledges that the shooting occurred, he is actively appealing the rulings against him.

Jones has generated substantial income from his online and radio shows, with a significant portion derived from merchandise sales, including nutritional supplements and survival gear.

Stone, a conservative commentator and ally of Jones and Trump, expressed interest through his X account and during Jones’ broadcasts in forming a group of investors to buy Infowars. Although Stone did not answer inquiries sent via email or social media, he stated in September, “I understand the importance of Infowars as a beacon of the truth, as a beacon of truthful information. And therefore, I would like to do whatever I possibly can to ensure, if possible, that Infowars survives.”

Some on social media have even suggested that billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla and X, should acquire Infowars. Jones has expressed support for this idea, yet Musk has not publicly responded.

Conversely, Jones’ critics are looking to acquire Infowars, with plans to rebrand it into a platform that either debunks conspiracy theories or serves as a parody site. Notably, some members from the progressive media organizations, The Barbed Wire and Media Matters for America, are interested in purchasing the properties.

An opinion piece published in September by Jeff Rotkoff, the publisher of The Barbed Wire, stated a mission to reclaim the platform used by Jones to exploit viewers and undermine grieving families. He encouraged readers to contribute funds for potential bids but noted that The Barbed Wire is now less likely to make an offer.

Nevertheless, Rotkoff noted discussions with other bidders who share a similar ideology and conviction that they would be outbid. “We’re thrilled that there appear to be multiple well-resourced bidders who share our interest in undoing much of the damage to our country done by Alex Jones. We’ll be rooting for those folks to be successful,” he added.

Details regarding who has submitted bids remain undisclosed. Jeff Tanenbaum, president of ThreeSixty Asset Advisors, which is managing the auction alongside Tranzon Asset Advisors, confirmed that there have been numerous inquiries involving the auction process.

Should critics gain ownership of Infowars and Jones is removed, experts suggest he could quickly establish alternative platforms. Melissa Zimdars, an associate professor of communication and media, noted the persistent audience demand for his content. “As long as there is an audience hungry for his content — and there is — he’ll be able to utilize X and various fringe social media platforms,” she remarked.