‘Oh my gosh’: Mysterious Secret Santa returns to gift million dollars to families going through tough times

Someone out there in Idaho most definitely isn’t going to be visited by three ghosts this Christmas Eve. Meet the Idaho Secret Santa, a mysterious individual who has taken it upon themselves to help out folks in need each Christmas with a one-million-dollar assistance fund.

Their identity is a closely guarded secret, but they’ve been at it for at least ten years and were handing out $500k annually by 2020, now upping it to a cool million. They work in partnership with the East Idaho News, which will only confirm:

The Secret Santa is a native Idahoan who lives in eastern Idaho. The money comes directly from him – not a program, organization, charity or trust fund.

They also confirm a small backstory, saying this began when the mystery individual was alone in a foreign country at Christmas. He was lonely and not expecting any gifts:

“But on Christmas morning, there was a present on his table when he sat down for breakfast. It was not an expensive gift and it was anonymously given to him. It was the only Christmas gift he received that year. He did not know who it was from, but he knew someone loved and cared about him. That lifted him up beyond what anyone could imagine.”

A Secret Santa surprise changes everything for Lili, a young woman raising her siblings after unimaginable loss. What happens next brings tears, hope, and a moment she’ll never forget.https://t.co/Sbs8PDQ5im#EastIdahoNews #SecretSanta pic.twitter.com/p0AQ389a0r

— East Idaho News (@EastIDNews) December 16, 2025

Spreading joy

Now he wants to spread that feeling: “He believes that giving anonymously with no expectation of receiving anything in return is the ultimate expression of love and caring.”

A beloved teacher needing critical surgery is surprised with life-changing help.https://t.co/Gh14SVbSxb#EastIdahoNews #SecretSanta #IdahoTeachers #CommunityLove #HolidayGiving pic.twitter.com/zq1jcSYx5b

— East Idaho News (@EastIDNews) November 20, 2025

So far this year, he’s surprised a woman who runs a local school food program “often at her own expense” as well as caring for a husband who has suffered a traumatic brain injury, a family caring for their conjoined twins, a foster family who help children in need, a single mom whose home suffered flood damage, and local man who lost a leg and can’t afford a prosthetic – and many, many others.

Blaine and Kim put retirement aside to raise their grandsons, including Titan, who has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Their devotion caught Secret Santa’s eye, and we brought a Christmas surprise.#EastIdahoNews #SecretSanta #Family #Inspiration #Giving #HolidayMagic pic.twitter.com/uWeqVbAjLZ

— East Idaho News (@EastIDNews) December 2, 2025

Now excuse me, air’s getting kinda dusty in here. I think *sniffle* I might have something in my eye… Merry Christmas!