What's under your seat, Oprah staffer? A free lavish cruise!
Filed under: Wealth, Travel, Celebs & Money
Oprah may be going frugal to stay down with the majority of people in this country, but that's not stopping her from enjoying her riches and sharing them with her staff. The talk show host just embarked with 1,700 of her employees on a Mediterranean cruise after having a big party in Barcelona. According to Oprah's home-town paper, the Chicago Sun-Times, Oprah is picking up the tab for the whole excursion, which could add up to about $5,400 per person. While it might seem like any boss who doles out such a great perk to employees is a hero, the government and the press have been cracking down hard on companies that spend lavishly on their execs at corporate retreats and conferences -- to the detriment of the company finances as a whole. Oprah is doing well and so is not in line for any TARP handouts, but still, is this the best use of company money?
And what does it say about her dedication to the frugality of the average Joe, as displayed on the current newsstand issue, which picture Oprah's holding a "book" that touts "Affordable Pleasures." Let's see how you stack up against Oprah's vacation plans...



Reader Comments (Page 1 of 21)
6-23-2009 @ 10:09PM
Veronica RaRa said...
ARE ALL THE EMPLOYEES GOING OR JUST THOSE WHO VOTED FOR king obama ?
Reply
6-23-2009 @ 9:23AM
Marshall said...
What's the catch??
Reply
6-24-2009 @ 8:07AM
pat said...
When you work for someone else you have to follow their rules and regulations exactly and hope that they stay in business. A few years ago I decided that kind of life wasn't for me. A home business had a lot of appeal to me but I had no idea which one to choose. I know a lot of them are scams or schemes to mostly enrich others. I finally found something that was the real deal http://cli.gs/HomeBizSuccessSystem I couldn't be happier. I'm making a very nice income, I get to enjoy my family more often. and nobody is ever going to tell me what I can wear or do again. :)
6-24-2009 @ 8:10AM
skibum said...
Social media is so important yet many people my age don't know much about it and are unable to make it work for them. 5 months ago I didn't even know what Twitter was but when I lost my job, I explored every possibility and today I am almost making as much money using this http://tr.im/TwitterSuccessSystem as I did with my old job. The difference is that I will soon be making more, I'm not spending 90 minutes a day in my car, and I'm working about 30 hours a week less. I can't thank the buddy of mine, who told me how I could profit from Twitter by using that system, enough.
6-24-2009 @ 8:31AM
Katzeye said...
I think the catch is tax write off.
6-26-2009 @ 12:21PM
Frank said...
like madonna, she plays the media like a violin, anyone who thinks this is anything more than a publicity stunt must be one of her lemmings who'll buy any crap, btw I have a bridge to sell in nyc. just like when she 'gave' those cars away. huge publicity for cars that pontiac probably gave to her for advertising, and she still probably wrote it off. suckers.
6-24-2009 @ 12:51PM
Jean said...
Whenever she does things like these she usually doesn't pay the gift tax on what she gives. Once she the audience new cars but no one could afford the taxes so she got to keep the cars. If she really wanted to give a gift, she should just give them a check for $5000 and let them spend it as they want.
6-24-2009 @ 1:35PM
lorrie said...
I think Oprah has good intentions whenever she does something for others, but as I always say :NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED ....I promise is she ever does something for me to be nice.
6-24-2009 @ 2:14PM
abe theophilus said...
oprah should have paid the employees the cash value of the cruise prize.
6-23-2009 @ 9:35AM
BellaTerra66 said...
And we are surprised?? I have never been able to figure out why so many people follow her like a god. I have never, ever liked this woman. She is way too full of herself. And a phony besides.
Reply
6-23-2009 @ 11:47AM
J.R said...
I AGREE SO MUCH
6-23-2009 @ 12:04PM
Jonathan said...
Touche'
6-23-2009 @ 1:38PM
mary collins finn said...
Well Said!
6-26-2009 @ 8:45AM
sieben13 said...
stop hating,but then you are a american and you have the right to do whatever you want as long as it's not done to you
6-24-2009 @ 7:50AM
ELAINE said...
You Get IT, Thank you!!!!
6-24-2009 @ 8:00AM
teddyo said...
Do not be so Jealousy. She works hard for her money. Give her credit, she was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
6-24-2009 @ 9:34AM
Katy said...
How does one dislike a person one has never met? Watching an hour show, or reading an article about a person, is the LAST source you should base your opinion on. Giving an all expense paid cruise to ALL of your employee's is GENEROUS and I don't care who the boss is.... stop being petty....and jealous green does not become you... this woman has given more in her lifetime than most of us sitting at our computers reading articles and leaving comments can even dream of.
6-24-2009 @ 9:45AM
Denise said...
Hum, I think shes great. She doesn't just do this for people that work for her. She has been doing some great things for the world around her and she even has do things for complete strangers. These people that don't think its just her being nice. Just wish it was them instead so have to put a damper on something someone does nice. Shame on you all! Hate breeds hate and love breeds love. I think she should get Cudos.
6-24-2009 @ 10:50AM
isabel said...
The word phony is always used incorrectly to describe behaviors we feel are above a persons "stature" rather than insincere.
The minute you judge others you are "phony" what makes you think your practice of behaviors is the "SINCEREST WAY"? A you say people see her as a god when gods are phony who can you trust?
6-24-2009 @ 11:06AM
Carol M said...
She's full of herself? What a crock. She's generous with what she's worked hard to attain. Obviously you know you wouldn't share the wealth if you had it - probably wouldn't want to work for it either, right? I don't understand your petty, jealous comments. She's a GIVER....try it sometime - it's rewarding in itself.