The acquisition of Alex Jones’ Infowars by the satirical news outlet The Onion at a bankruptcy auction represents a significant development in a long-standing conflict between the controversial figure and the families of victims from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
The sale followed successful defamation lawsuits filed by the relatives of the 20 children and six educators who lost their lives in the tragic 2012 event. Alex Jones has consistently propagated falsehoods on his platform, asserting that the tragic incident was entirely fabricated, claiming it was staged by crisis actors to promote stricter gun regulations.

Here’s a snapshot of how the downfall of Jones’ misinformation enterprise led to its auctioning.

Infowars saw its beginnings when Jones, a robust and assertive Texan, began broadcasting on a public access channel in the early 1990s. He quickly gained attention for his promotion of conspiracy theories concerning the U.S. government, including a so-called secret group known as the New World Order.
By 2004, he had expanded his operation to include two employees and a small office space in Austin. In 2007, he founded Free Speech Systems to manage his burgeoning media venture, which reportedly garnered over 60 employees by 2010.
As the fantastical nature of his claims evolved, so did the scale of Infowars, reaching annual revenues of approximately $80 million and amassing a large audience across more than 100 radio stations in the U.S. and on his digital platforms.

Regarding the Sandy Hook shooting, Jones has admitted in court to endorsing the conspiracy theory that the massacre was a fabrication orchestrated by the government in a bid to tighten gun control measures. On his shows, he labeled grieving parents as “crisis actors” and described the event as “phony as a three-dollar bill.”
Following numerous defamation suits filed in both Texas and Connecticut by the victims’ families, Jones conceded in 2022 that the massacre was “100% real” and stated that it was “absolutely irresponsible” to promote it as a hoax.

Families that sued Jones have relayed their distress over years of harassment, threats, and abuse at the hands of those misled by Jones’ claims. Courts in Texas and Connecticut deemed Jones liable for defamation regarding his portrayal of the Sandy Hook shooting as a hoax, ultimately awarding the plaintiffs nearly $1.5 billion in damages. Default judgments were issued against Jones in both states, ruling him liable without trials due to his failure to comply with legal proceedings. Juries evaluated the evidence and determined the damages incurred, with additional financial penalties imposed by judges.

The bankruptcy auction stemmed from Jones’ personal bankruptcy filing in late 2022, leading to the liquidation of many of his assets to satisfy the judgment. The auction featured a range of items, from his studio desk to the Infowars brand itself, alongside social media accounts and various trademarks. Buyers had opportunities to acquire even an armored truck and video equipment.

The Onion successfully obtained Infowars’ website, social media profiles, studio based in Austin, trademarks, and extensive video archive, although the exact sale price remains undisclosed. Following the announcement of the sale, Infowars’ website experienced downtime, and Jones indicated he was broadcasting from an alleged new studio location.
Jones has expressed his intent to legally contest the sale and the auction process.