Shatner says auctioned kidney stone helped fund Habitat for Humanity home
William Shatner, 95, told a podcast his 2006 kidney stone was bought by a Canadian gambling company and auctioned for $75,000, with the money going to a Habitat for Humanity house in Louisiana. Accounts differ on the cast's contribution and an earlier reported sale price.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2William Shatner, 95, recounted on the podcast Dropping Names with Brent and Jonny how a kidney stone he passed in 2006 was later auctioned for $75,000. Daily MailR “they auctioned it off for $75,000.'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The Times of IndiaN “The stone was eventually auctioned for $75,000.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Mixed · 2The podcast is hosted by fellow Star Trek actors Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes; the Times of India says the episode was released on 7 October 2026. The Times of IndiaN “The episode was released on October 7, 2026.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Daily MailR “he told hosts Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes, both of whom appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1Shatner said a Canadian gambling company that cannot advertise by law phoned a week after the stone was removed and asked to buy it. Daily MailR “A week later, I get a phone call from a Canadian gambling company who, by law, can’t advertise.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Centre · 1The Times of India names the company as GoldenPalace.com, an online casino known for buying odd objects as publicity stunts, and says the stone was auctioned through Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles. The Times of IndiaN “The company behind the unusual proposal was GoldenPalace.com, an online casino known for acquiring bizarre objects as publicity stunts.”“The stone was later auctioned through Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Mixed · 2Shatner was then starring in Boston Legal, and the auction proceeds were combined with money raised by the cast to pay for a Habitat for Humanity house. Daily MailR “the funds from the auction were combined with money raised by the cast to purchase a Habitat for Humanity house.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The Times of IndiaN “the proceeds helped provide a home in Louisiana for a family of five.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Right · 1Shatner said the house is in Louisiana and that a family of five was living there the last time he checked; he put the total given to Habitat for Humanity at $100,000, including $25,000 from the cast. Daily MailR “My kidney stone plus $25,000 for raised from the cast. We gave Habitat for Humanity $100,000 to make a home for a family.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Centre · 1Figures differ across accounts: the Times of India says that in 2006 Shatner put the cast's contribution at $20,000, making the total $95,000 rather than $100,000, and says the casino's offer rose from $15,000 to $25,000 before Shatner asked for $75,000. The Times of IndiaN “Shatner recalled their contribution as $25,000 during his recent podcast appearance, although his account in 2006 put the figure at $20,000.”“the casino initially offered $15,000, which Shatner declined. The offer subsequently rose to $25,000.” Read at The Times of India ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail notes that CBS News previously reported Shatner sold the stone to the gambling business for $25,000, which conflicts with the $75,000 figure. Daily MailR “It was previously reported by CBS News that Shatner had sold it to the gambling business for $25,000.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Centre · 1The Times of India adds that the company reportedly planned to display the stone on tour as a promotional attraction. The Times of IndiaN “The company reportedly planned to display the stone on tour, turning the medical curiosity into a promotional attraction.” Read at The Times of India ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A light human-interest explainer that adds background on the buyer, the auction house and the price negotiation, and ends on the housing outcome.
- Emphasis
- Charity outcome, the casino's publicity motive and reconciling figures between 2006 and the podcast.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Shatner's new memoir or recent public appearances.
- Charged language
- “unusual fundraising item”“unlikely publicity stunt”
- For example
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“Most people who pass a kidney stone would happily never see it again, but William Shatner’s experience took an unexpected turn.” — The Times of India
“Depending on which account is used, the combined total was either $100,000 or $95,000.” — The Times of India
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- A celebrity-news piece built on Shatner's own podcast quotes, padded with his memoir, Comic Con appearance and marriages.
- Emphasis
- Shatner's direct quotes, his age, and personal and career background.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not name the casino or auction house or explore the differing figures beyond the CBS $25,000 note.
- Charged language
- “bizarre story”“Star Trek icon”“seen driving erratically last month”
- For example
-
“William Shatner has opened up about the bizarre story of how a kidney stone that he passed went on the auction block in 2006.” — Daily Mail
“The actor, who was seen driving erratically last month, was starring on the television drama Boston Legal at the time” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Shatner said his 2006 kidney stone was bought by a Canadian gambling company and auctioned for $75,000.
- The money, combined with a contribution from Boston Legal cast members, went to Habitat for Humanity for a house in Louisiana for a family of five.
- Shatner told the story on the Dropping Names podcast hosted by Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes.
Where accounts differ
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Sale price and cast contribution
- Centre
- The Times of India says the casino's offer rose from $15,000 to $25,000 before Shatner asked for $75,000, and that the cast contribution was $20,000 in 2006 versus $25,000 now, so the total is $95,000 or $100,000.
- Right
- The Daily Mail reports Shatner's $75,000 auction figure and $100,000 total, and notes CBS News earlier reported a $25,000 sale to the gambling company.
William Shatner person
Shatner presents the episode as a humorous anecdote with a charitable result, saying the stone plus the cast's money gave Habitat for Humanity $100,000 for a family home.
“We gave Habitat for Humanity $100,000 to make a home for a family.” — Daily Mail
“Shatner found humour in the unusual transaction, joking about the stone's size and the idea of turning it into jewellery.” — The Times of India
UK and Ireland1 outlet
Daily Mail treats it as showbiz news with biographical filler and an unflattering aside.
“The actor, who was seen driving erratically last month” — Daily Mail
Daily Mail
South Asia1 outlet
Times of India treats it as an uplifting curiosity with background on the casino and the sale.
“His account brought the story back to its central purpose: using an unusual fundraising opportunity to help people secure a place to live.” — The Times of India
The Times of India
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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William Shatner’s kidney stone sold for $75,000, helping a Louisiana family get a home
Sympathetic Feel-good explainer stressing the charity outcome and adding context on the buyer and figures.
Right1 article
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Mixed Celebrity gossip report relaying Shatner's podcast account, with unrelated personal details and a pointed note about erratic driving.
- 13 Oct 05:45 First Daily MailR William Shatner says his 2006 kidney stone was auctioned off and money went toward Habitat for Humanity
- 14 Oct 08:26 +26h 40m The Times of IndiaN William Shatner’s kidney stone sold for $75,000, helping a Louisiana family get a home
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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