Elizabeth Holmes Monetizing X Account from Prison, Report Says
The disgraced Theranos founder's social media activity, reportedly managed by her partner, generates income through subscriber-only posts.
Convicted fraudster Elizabeth Holmes is reportedly generating income from her X (formerly Twitter) account while serving her federal prison sentence. Since late last year, Holmes' verified X page has offered nearly two dozen posts available exclusively to subscribers for a monthly fee.
According to a report, the account, which charges $1 per month, has fewer than 90 subscribers. X retains a portion of the earnings, with the creator receiving the remainder. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) confirmed that inmates are not permitted to access social media while incarcerated. A BOP representative stated, "There are no policies authorizing the incarcerated population to access, view or post on social media while in custody; therefore, the opportunity [to earn money via social media] doesn't exist."
The bio on Holmes' X account includes the statement, "Mostly my words, posted by others," indicating that she is not directly posting content herself.
The BOP allows inmates to communicate with the outside world through monitored phone calls, emails, written mail, and in-person visits, which could facilitate the management of an external social media presence. Holmes' longtime partner, Billy Evans, is reported to be involved in managing the account, though he has not publicly commented on the matter.
Content and Legal Context
The subscription posts on Holmes' X page reportedly cover themes such as maintaining her innocence, her pursuit of freedom, and her belief that the public narrative surrounding her defunct blood-testing startup, Theranos, will change.
Holmes was indicted in June 2018 on multiple counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In January 2022, she was convicted of three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. In November 2022, she was sentenced to 135 months, or 11 years and three months, in federal prison and ordered to pay over $450 million in restitution.
Holmes began her sentence in May 2023 at the Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Bryan, Texas. In March, a judge reduced her sentence by one year under a retroactive sentencing-guideline amendment. Following this reduction, an X post attributed to Holmes announced the news, stating, "It brings us one step closer to home, but our fight to prove my innocence has never been more intense than it is now."
The post also conveyed a message of resilience, thanking supporters for their strength and reiterating her claim that "the truth will be revealed, and justice will prevail."
Prior to starting her prison sentence, Holmes was the subject of the documentary "You Can See Everything," which allowed a camera crew into her home. The film is scheduled for release next week.