Alex Jones ’ Infowars Could Soon Belong to The Onion
The Onion announced Monday that it has reached a new agreement to take control of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars. The deal would turn the misinformation platform into a satirical network and help repay more than $1 billion in defamation damages owed to the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims. A hearing on the proposed agreement is scheduled for April 30 in Texas.
The proposed agreement requires approval from a Texas state court. This comes after the latest development in a legal battle that began after Jones was found liable for repeatedly claiming on-air that the 2012 massacre, in which 20 children and six adults were killed, was a hoax.
Under the arrangement, The Onion’s parent company, Global Tetrahedron, will initially pay a monthly licensing fee of $81,000. The payment will go to the court-appointed receiver overseeing Infowars’ assets, who is responsible for managing and selling the company as part of the legal proceedings. The agreement runs for six months and includes an option to renew for another six months. It also outlines a path toward full purchase once the current judicial stay expires.
The Onion CEO Ben Collins said the structure would allow the Sandy Hook families to begin receiving payments immediately. The families have not yet collected any of the more than $1 billion in damages Jones owes them.
If approved, the revamped Infowars would operate as a digital comedy network led by Tim Heidecker, the comedian known for the series “Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” He will serve as creative director. He has said he plans to parody the outrage-driven style that made Jones a polarizing figure.
The new platform will feature emerging independent comedians alongside The Onion’s signature satirical news coverage. Early content is expected to poke fun at social media influencers and media personalities who peddle conspiracy theories and questionable products.
Jones, who has continued broadcasting throughout the legal proceedings, vowed Monday to challenge the deal. He accused The Onion of attempting to “steal and misrepresent” his identity and warned of further lawsuits. He has said he will continue his show on a new website. That signals he is unlikely to disappear even if he loses control of Infowars.
This is the second attempt by The Onion to acquire Infowars. A federal bankruptcy judge blocked a previous auction in 2024, citing concerns about the bidding process.
For more articles like this, check out our Tech News page.