Five Years of White Elephant Online: Celebrating the Games, Gifts & Global Moments That Brought Us Here
This holiday season marks a major milestone for us at White Elephant Online: our fifth anniversary. What began in 2020 as a simple way to help people stay connected during an unusual season has now grown into a global holiday tradition enjoyed by teams, offices, families, and communities around the world.
To celebrate, we've compiled our 5-Year Anniversary Gift Exchange Report, a look back at the trends, top gifts, most-stolen items, and record-breaking moments that defined over half a decade of online holiday fun.
Here’s a peek at what we discovered.
🎮 Five Years, Big Numbers
In just five seasons, players have turned White Elephant Online into a holiday staple, and the scale tells an incredible story:
27,000 games played
380,000 gifts exchanged
375,000 participants
588,000 minutes of gameplay
Used in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico
Celebrated in 107 countries
And while most games last around 30 minutes, one committed group took things to legendary heights: our longest game ever clocked in at almost three hours.
🎁 The Top Gifts Through the Years
From cozy comforts to quirky crowd-pleasers, our top gifts reveal what people were craving each season.
2020: Comfort & Convenience
YETI Ramblers, Echo Dots, tortilla blankets, and breakfast sandwich makers ruled the year, reflecting a world leaning hard into at-home comfort.
2021: Home Upgrades & Whimsy
Echo Dots and moon lamps paired with Throw Throw Burrito and the Snoop Dogg cookbook, combining ambiance with laugh-out-loud fun.
2022: Cozy Desk Essentials
Mug warmers, YETI Ramblers, tortilla blankets, and moon lamps showed how hybrid teams embraced warmth, comfort, and a little playful décor.
2023: Wellness & Everyday Luxuries
Massage guns, mug warmers, (more) YETIs, and bluetooth speakers highlighted the rise of small self-care splurges and portable entertainment.
2024: Playful + Practical Wins
Bluetooth speakers, cheese boards, AirTags, and massage guns: a perfect blend of fun-to-steal gifts and everyday essentials.
🏆 All-Time Heavyweights
Across all five years, a few gifts have consistently risen to the top. The ones that spark steals, laughs, and “Wait, I actually want that” moments.
Top Gifts of All Time
Smart speakers
Gift cards
YETI Rambler
From Crook to Cook by Snoop Dogg
Most Stolen Gifts of All Time
Apple AirTags
Gift cards
From Crook to Cook
Tortilla blanket
If you’ve played even once, you probably won’t be surprised to see those items make the list.
🌎 A Tradition That Travels
One of our favorite findings from this year’s report: White Elephant Online has now been used in all 50 U.S. states (plus D.C. and Puerto Rico) and in 107 countries. Check out the map on the full 5-year lookback.
From remote teams scattered across time zones to multinational companies uniting global offices, the White Elephant tradition continues to bring people together, no matter where they are.
💚 A Holiday Tradition We’re Proud To Shape
Five years later, our mission remains the same: to help people connect, laugh, and make memories, even when they’re miles apart.
Whether you’ve played once or return every December, thank you for being part of the community that made this milestone possible.
📊 Explore the Full 5-Year Anniversary Report
Want to dive deeper into the data, graphics, and year-by-year trends?
👉 View the full 5-Year Anniversary Trend Report
Here’s to the next five years of gifts, steals, surprises, and unforgettable “Wait… who stole my cheese board?” moments.