Could a conspiracy theory ever turn out to be true?

Yes—sometimes a conspiracy theory can turn out to be true.

A conspiracy theory is a claim that a secret plan or cover-up is happening. Many such claims are false, but some real conspiracies have later been confirmed through investigations, leaked documents, journalism, or court proceedings.

Examples that are often cited include MKUltra, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, Project Sunshine, and the Watergate cover-up. Those cases show that a claim that once sounded implausible can later be substantiated.

That said, the fact that some conspiracy theories have been true does not make any particular unproven theory likely to be true. Most still end up being unsupported or debunked.