Oprah’s Latest Guru Paid a $2.5 Million Fine in Goverment Fraud Case
I don’t know how she does it: it was only six years ago that Oprah Winfrey was touting new age nut Eckhart Tolle as the all time genius of the world. He was her spiritual mentor. Winfrey actually ran podcasts and internet classes with the guy who has since quietly vanished from the spotlight. Now, maybe because she’s in her own personal crisis with her OWN network, Oprah is pushing a new guru. (She still hawks Marianne Williamson.) This guy is named Michael Singer, author of a book called “The Untethered Soul.”
But Michael Singer is indeed better known in his hometown of Alachua, Florida as Mickey Singer. And in 2005 he was indicted in a massive government fraud case against his company Medical Manager Health Systems, which was an offshoot of WebMD. http://www.gainesville.com/article/20051216/LOCAL/212160339 Singer was accused with nine others of inflating Medical Manager Health Systems profits, and of conspiring to launder money.
Two years after the indictment, Singer donated $100,000 of new computer software to the Alachua Police Department. By the time the case was over in 2010, Singer settled with the government by paying a $2.5 million settlement. The government dropped all charges. Singer acknowledged that the accounting practices of his company were illegal but–according to the agreement hammered out between his powerful Washington DC lawyers from Baker Botts and local Florida prosecutors–didn’t know it was taking place at the time. http://tinyurl.com/c9u3y4m
Later, the people actually convicted by the government had their verdicts overturned based on a lapsed statute of limitations. http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100303/articles/3031013
Now Singer will appear on Oprah’s Sunday Soul show this weekend on OWN. After his long adventure with the government, Singer–who was an early software multi-millionaire in the medical systems field–became a guru. He started something called the Temple of the Universe outside of Gainesville, Florida. He has lots of followers, but I’m not sure you could call it an actual cult. Temple of the Universe is registered with the IRS as a religion and has non profit tax status. But they’ve filed no public papers about their finances. They don’t even come up on Charity Navigator. But Singer is selling books and CDs and conducting new age classes and lectures.
Odds are Oprah will not be asking him about all this other stuff on Sunday’s show.
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News. Friedman previously wrote the Intelligencer column at New York Magazine, He writes for Parade magazine and has written for Details, Vogue, the New York Times, Post, and Daily News and many other publications. He is the writer and co-producer of a film about R&B Music called “Only the Strong Survive,” which was released by Miramax in 2003 and was a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals.
Tina Baker
I just finished “the untethered soul” and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is truly a book that everyone would benefit from. Full of sound advice that resonates with my soul.
Karen McDiarmid
I have just finished mickey’s book, “the untethered soul” and found it to be profound. everyone should read it. as for eckhart tolle being a “nut” that has dropped out of sight, you’re definitely not up to date. why not read “a new earth” and see what you think before dissing this man? karen
Karen Kaye-Beall
I have known Mickey for over forty years. He has been a one-pointed lover of God, and everything he expresses in his books, he lives in his everyday life. He does not hide his business history, but I can predict, that he views it all as God’s will. Success, riches or in leaner times, he is exactly the same beautiful soul who inspires others. and always has.
The writer can make fun of Oprah, but she happens to be lucky to come across Mickey’s writings, because this can and will make an important difference to her internal happiness, and those of your readers. Oprah is a giving person and deserves the best. It matters little if you make fun of Oprah or Mickey Singer. What is meant to be, will be, and you are just playing your role in that fact. You might even want to pick up a copy of Untethered Soul and see what you think. I highly recommend you do that Roger, as I think you might be amazed. Sending all my best,
Karen
EA Madden
I know Mickey Singer and, well, you’d just have to know him to understand that the charges against him, were bogus. Can’t say this is true for the rest of those indicted for the fraud as I don’t know them. What Fitz says above is entirely true: very humble, honest, hardworking folks who – I would say, appreciate quality in life and spirit, but who care little for the trappings of wealth & fame. As far as I can tell, most of their personal fortune has gone into providing a very un-ostentatious, rustic spiritual retreat for family and friends without asking for support from attendees (a very tiny donation box that holds a few coins sits at the feet of one of the small meditation hall’s icons) Perhaps you should wait to criticize until after you have met and known them for awhile. This is not the same kind of situation as one often reads about regarding other billionaire American religious preachers & teachers who end-up in jail for years at a time for misusing collected funds.
TheFashionstachic
You know, it really annoys me when you people imply her motives are about rating or selfish gain. Her role in this world is to give, life gives to the giver and takes from the taker. She will never be without because she is such a giver. I am watching the Super Soul Sunday episode of The Untethered Soul, I found it to be very valuable. You should probably check it out
Fitz
Mickey is a great man who lives a life with very little value on the almighty dollar. He and is wife are generous people who live modestly, donate tremendously and place little to no value on logos, flashy clothes or other. They’re decent, hard-working honest people who just happen to be wildly financially successful. It makes me laugh that anyone would suggest Mickey was involved with cooking books, because he barely uses the money he has.
I’ve visited the temple and found it quite unique. It allows guests to pray to whatever “God” they choose, and Mickey shares wisdom on being a good person and living each day to the fullest. I am fairly hardcore on rules and righteousness. The Singer family is as good as it gets. Oprah was lucky he agreed to sit down with her. Mickey also places little value on fame or a presence in the media.
kristine
It truly just boils down to people with exorbitant amounts of money….having problems then finding another way to have the “lemmings” flock and follow. Isnt it blatantly obvious..given Singer’s history with business and oprah’s incessant exchange of loyalties….that they and others alike…may very well be the lost souls??? Huge ego’s prevail here and nothing more. They are multi billionares/millionares….who live in an entirely different universe than most of the masses. Yes…one hand washes another…doesnt it?? Its all so funny and yet sad.