Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King recently revisited the surprising chain of events behind one of television’s most iconic moments, walking through how a simple encounter snowballed into the legendary “You get a car” giveaway in 2004.
The Magic and Chaos
Their retelling on the “Oprah Daily” showed that the televised eruption of joy remembered today began with an interaction so ordinary that both women almost brushed it aside.
“And then there were cars given out there,” King said as they looked back on how the idea took shape.
King recalled a stranger approaching her at an airport and asking, “Would Oprah like to give out cars?”
Winfrey remembered telling her producers, “We can’t just give out cars. We have to give out cars to people who actually need the cars.”
King said she initially kept moving until the man pushed the pitch again.
“I said, ‘What? What’s your name? What did you have in mind?’”
“You get a car!” 😭🚗 The most iconic giveaway ever.
— 📌 Black Cosmopolitan | Blkcosmo.com (@blkcosmo) July 23, 2025
In 2004, Oprah Winfrey gave away new Pontiac G6 cars to her entire audience. The giveaway, part of her “Oprah’s Favorite Things” segment, involved 276 audience members receiving a car each. pic.twitter.com/eQKTKEnHCc
The two friends even laughed about wardrobe disagreements that day, including the red dress that returned to Winfrey’s closet after King questioned her look, and joked about earlier debates over travel habits and small indulgences.
Their playful exchange on the Nov. 5 airing of Winfrey’s “Oprah’s Favorite Things” special only skimmed the more detailed version King shared before, including a 2022 conversation for People’s Pop Cultured. Back then, she shared, the man who stopped Gayle was a Pontiac executive who first proposed giving away 25 cars.
The conversation escalated when he revealed they were willing to give every audience member a vehicle.
Although she and Winfrey typically avoided mixing work and friendship, King admitted she immediately passed his card along. Producers then began identifying potential audience members by surveying how they traveled to work and what challenges they faced.
It was later confirmed, according to The Hollywood Reporter, on the “Making Oprah” podcast, negotiations expanded the plan to nearly 300 Pontiac G6 sedans valued at roughly $8 million, setting the stage for the unforgettable moment when each person in the studio opened a box containing a key.
The Me You Can See: Me giving away cars. For over 17 years, that famous episode of me shouting “You get a car!” to deserving people in my studio audience has followed me. Videos, gifs, memes—you name it, I’ve seen it. pic.twitter.com/nMA79JYnQY
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) May 22, 2021
Pontiac benefited enormously. The brand reached Winfrey’s massive viewership, gaining instant visibility for the G6. The segment became a cultural phenomenon replayed across news outlets nationwide. It revitalized Pontiac at a moment when the company was seeking renewed attention, positioning the brand as energetic and consumer focused. The G6, still unfamiliar to many Americans, became instantly recognizable. The emotional impact of the moment amplified the model’s visibility, tying the launch to one of the most feel-good events in talk show history.
The partnership also linked Pontiac to Winfrey’s trusted influence, creating a halo that implied reliability and aspiration. Analysts later noted that Pontiac received publicity valued far beyond the investment, making the campaign one of the most successful automotive promotions of its time. Though the brand was later discontinued by General Motors 13 years later, the giveaway remains one of its most memorable public moments.
Fast Company later placed the moment into the broader context of Winfrey’s “Favorite Things” tradition.
By 2004, the segment had become known for dramatically boosting the profile of each featured product.
Producers were searching for a way to surpass previous years when King’s encounter provided the breakthrough. They continued pressing Pontiac until the company agreed to supply enough cars for the entire audience, allowing the show to open the season with unprecedented scale. The decision also reflected Winfrey’s intention to make the moment meaningful, which is why producers screened audience members to ensure the vehicles would have practical, lasting impact.
For the recipients, the experience blended excitement with unexpected complexity.
Forbes reported that while General Motors covered certain fees, audience members were responsible for federal and state income taxes tied to promotional prizes. Each recipient had to determine whether to keep the car, sell it, or decline it, creating decisions that contrasted with the jubilant studio scene.
That tension underscored the reality that even life-changing gifts can come with logistical challenges, particularly for people selected because they needed reliable transportation.
In the end, what started as a quick airport hello turned into a pop-culture moment still echoed decades later.
