Ebay Settles for $50M Over Disturbing Harassment Case

WHO:

Fox Business - The Massachusetts couple involved are David and Ina Steiner, who are bloggers covering the e-commerce industry.

Fox Business - The lawsuit named former eBay CEO Devin Wenig, former Chief Communications Officer Steve Wymer, and former Senior Vice President Wendy Jones.

Fox Business - Six other former eBay employees and one contractor were charged by federal prosecutors in connection with the harassment campaign.

WHAT:

Fox Business - eBay agreed to pay roughly $50 million to the Steiners as part of a settlement.

Fox Business - The settlement includes $48.7 million in compensation, with $46.15 million from eBay, $2 million from former CEO Wenig, $500,000 from former executive Jones, and $50,000 from former executive Wymer.

Fox Business - eBay will also fund $6 million in charitable donations, and Wenig will contribute an additional $1 million to a charity dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights.

TMZ - The harassment campaign included sending packages containing live cockroaches, spiders, a preserved fetal pig, a funeral wreath, a bloody pig Halloween mask, and a book about surviving the death of a spouse.

WHERE:

Fox Business - The events took place in Massachusetts, where the Steiners reside.

WHEN:

Fox Business - The harassment campaign began in 2019.

Fox Business - The lawsuit was filed in 2021.

Fox Business - A tentative settlement was reached in February, which ultimately fell apart.

WHY:

Fox Business - The harassment was allegedly motivated by the Steiners' reporting on eBay, which angered the former employees.

HOW:

Fox Business - The harassment included sending threatening direct messages on social media, anonymous deliveries, and attempts to defame the couple within their community by sending pornographic magazines to a neighbor's home.

Fox Business - The employees attempted to plant a GPS tracking device on the couple's vehicle.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 01:35 UTC)

In a significant development, eBay has agreed to pay approximately $50 million to Massachusetts bloggers David and Ina Steiner as part of a settlement related to a harassment campaign that began in 2019. The settlement includes $48.7 million in compensation, with contributions from former eBay executives, and eBay will also fund $6 million in charitable donations, while former CEO Devin Wenig will add $1 million to a charity focused on First Amendment rights. The harassment, allegedly motivated by the Steiners' reporting on eBay, involved sending disturbing packages and threatening messages, as well as attempts to defame the couple within their community.