Dave Ramsey, the Christian financial guru and host of a nationally syndicated radio show, faces a $150 million class-action lawsuit filed by 17 listeners who claim he endorsed a fraudulent timeshare exit company that defrauded them of thousands of dollars.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in June 2023, alleges that Ramsey promoted Timeshare Exit Team, a now-shuttered Kirkland, Washington firm that collected more than $200 million from customers but failed to help them exit their timeshare obligations. According to the complaint, Ramsey received approximately $30 million from 2015 to 2021 to endorse the company on his radio show.
Timeshare Exit Team shut down in 2021 after the Washington State Attorney General fined the company $2.6 million for making deceptive claims. Despite the regulatory action against the company, the lawsuit alleges that Ramsey continued to back Timeshare Exit Team, blaming the company’s legal troubles on the timeshare industry rather than the firm’s own conduct.
The plaintiffs claim they paid thousands to Timeshare Exit Team based on Ramsey’s endorsement. The lawsuit names Ramsey, his company The Lampo Group (also known as Ramsey Solutions), and Happy Hour Media Group, which marketed the timeshare-exit business. The complaint alleges violations of Washington state’s consumer protection act, conspiracy, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment.
In October 2023, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart dismissed the unjust enrichment claim against Ramsey and his company with prejudice, but rejected Ramsey’s motion to dismiss the entire lawsuit. An amended complaint was filed in December 2023, and according to Religion News Service, a federal judge ruled that the class-action lawsuit could proceed against the defendants.
The case adds to ongoing legal challenges facing Ramsey and his company over his management practices and endorsements. A video of Ramsey endorsing Timeshare Exit Team still appears on the Ramsey Show’s YouTube page, even though the company shut down in 2022.
Sources
- CBS News — Reported that Ramsey received up to $30 million for promoting the timeshare exit company
- AL.com — Confirmed the $30 million payment amount and the 2015-2021 timeframe
- Religion News Service — Reported that a federal judge allowed the class-action lawsuit to proceed in December 2023
- ARDA ROC — Reported on Timeshare Exit Team’s $2.6 million settlement with Washington State Attorney General
- Bloomberg Law News — Reported the October 2023 dismissal of the unjust enrichment claim
- MinistryWatch — Reported that the lawsuit was on hold as of June 2025
