For her 25th and final season premiere on Monday, Oprah Winfrey surprised her audience with free 8-day trips to Australia, resulting in a $3 million bill.
According to Reuters, Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said the federal and state New South Wales governments spent the major cash to help bring “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to Australia as a method of boosting tourism.
He said it was money well spent as it would put Australia in the spotlight with the popular TV show watched by 40 million Americans and screened in 145 countries.
“Oprah is a household name and her star power has the potential to lift Australia’s profile as a premier tourist destination,” Ferguson said in a statement Tuesday.
