Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Structured Settlements
Season 13, Episode 12 · Aired 2026-05-17
Synopsis
John Oliver examines structured settlements, the long-term payment arrangements often created for people who have received compensation after serious injury or wrongful death. The episode focuses on factoring companies that buy those future payments for lump sums, explaining how the industry can exploit vulnerable recipients, why court oversight does not always protect them, and how an arrangement intended to provide lasting financial security can be turned into a high-pressure business opportunity.
In the series
This episode is part of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014–present) on HBO.
Longform late-night investigations — net neutrality explainers as comedy events.
Key cast
- John Oliver as Host