Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi to Vernita Lee and Vernon Winfrey. Her mother was a housemaid and her father was a coal miner, barber, and city councilman. She had a difficult childhood dealing with poverty and sexual abuse.
Family and Living Conditions
Oprah lived with her grandmother Hattie Mae Lee on a Mississippi farm until age 6. They did not have indoor plumbing or electricity. She had a very troubled relationship with her mother.
Moving to Milwaukee
When Oprah was 6 years old she moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to live with her mother. The family struggled financially and she started working at age 13. She continued to have a difficult relationship with her mother.
Abuse and Pregnancy
At age 9, Oprah was sexually abused by her cousin, uncle, and a family friend. At age 14, she became pregnant but her son was born prematurely and died shortly after birth. This was a very traumatic experience for Oprah.
Education and Career Beginnings
Despite her difficult upbringing, Oprah was an exceptional student. She turned her life around through education and communication.
High School
Oprah became an honors student at Nicolet High School in a suburb of Milwaukee. She was chosen “Most Popular Girl” by her classmates. She also began public speaking at her local church.
College Scholarship
Oprah won a full scholarship to Tennessee State University where she studied communication. She was also invited to the White House Conference on Youth in 1968 after giving a powerful speech.
Radio and TV Broadcasting
At age 19, Oprah began her broadcasting career in radio and television news in Nashville, Tennessee. She was the first African-American female news anchor in the city.
| Year | Job |
|---|---|
| 1971 | Nashville WVOL radio news anchor |
| 1973 | Baltimore WJZ-TV co-anchor |
| 1978 | Baltimore WJZ-TV news anchor |
Move to Chicago
In 1983, Oprah moved to Chicago to host a local morning talk show called A.M. Chicago. The show became a huge success by tackling controversial topics.
The Oprah Winfrey Show
Thanks to her Chicago success, Oprah launched her own nationally syndicated talk show in 1986 called The Oprah Winfrey Show. It ran for 25 seasons over 25 years and revolutionized the TV talk show genre.
Unprecedented Success
The Oprah Winfrey show reached highest ratings in TV history, seen by over 49 million U.S. viewers per week at its peak. It received 47 Daytime Emmy Awards. Oprah became an American icon and household name.
Global Reach
The Oprah Winfrey Show reached an estimated 120 million viewers internationally in over 100 countries. It fundamentally changed daytime television and created the modern talk show format.
Iconic Interviews
Over 25 years, Oprah conducted over 37,000 interviews on nearly every aspect of the human experience. Some of her most iconic interviews included Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Ellen DeGeneres, Rihanna, Michelle Obama, and Nelson Mandela.
| Year | Iconic Interview |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Michael Jackson |
| 1997 | Ellen DeGeneres comes out |
| 2005 | Tom Cruise jumps on couch |
| 2013 | Lance Armstrong doping confession |
Oprah had an unprecedented connection with guests from all walks of life. Her empathy, insight, humor, and wisdom captivated audiences worldwide.
Media Empire and Wealth
With extraordinary business savvy and vision, Oprah built a global media empire. She became the first African-American billionaire and most influential woman in the world.
Harpo Productions
In 1986 Oprah founded Harpo Productions, which included her production company, movie studio, and satellite radio channel. Harpo is “Oprah” spelled backwards.
O Magazine
In 2000 Oprah launched O, The Oprah Magazine which features her picture on every cover. It has over 2.4 million monthly readers and is one of the most successful women’s magazines.
Rank Among Billionaires
In 2003 Oprah became the first African American billionaire. Her net worth peaked at $2.7 billion in 2015 per Forbes. She currently ranks #1113 among world billionaires.
| Year | Net Worth | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $1 billion | First African-American billionaire |
| 2006 | $1.5 billion | Only African-American billionaire |
| 2015 | $2.7 billion | #311 among world billionaires |
The vast majority of her wealth comes from her highly lucrative 25 years hosting The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Philanthropy and Influence
Oprah is legendary for her philanthropy, donating over $400 million to educational causes and empowering women internationally. Her influence spans the globe.
Oprah’s Angel Network
Oprah founded the Angel Network in 1998, which funded charitable projects and provided grants to nonprofit organizations worldwide until 2010. All proceeds were donated to charity.
Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy
In 2007 Oprah opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa which provides educational and leadership opportunities for underprivileged girls.
World’s Most Influential Woman
Oprah has topped many lists as the most influential and powerful woman in the world. Her endorsement essentially made Barack Obama president and she has championed hundreds of social causes.
| Year | Ranking |
|---|---|
| 2007-2011 | #1 Most Influential Celebrity |
| 2013 | #2 Most Powerful Celebrity |
| 1998-Present | #1 Most Influential Woman |
Later Projects and Endeavors
Even after ending her iconic talk show in 2011, Oprah has continued high profile projects across film, television, and business. Her empire keeps expanding.
Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN)
In 2011 Oprah launched her own cable TV network called OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in partnership with Discovery Inc. OWN replaced the Discovery Health Channel and has popular shows about self-improvement and lifestyle programming.
Weight Watchers Spokeswoman
In 2015 Oprah purchased a 10% stake in Weight Watchers for $43 million and joined the company’s board. The news sent company stock soaring. She has helped brand awareness with ads about her own struggles with weight.
Movies and Acting
Oprah made her acting debut in 1985 on Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple film. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Since then she has acted in about two dozen films and TV movies over the decades.
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Color Purple | Sofia |
| 1998 | Beloved | Sethe |
| 2014 | Selma | Annie Lee Cooper |
| 2018 | A Wrinkle in Time | Mrs. Which |
Personal Life and Relationships
Despite being arguably the most famous and powerful woman alive for decades, Oprah has maintained a rather private love life over the years. She has had few high profile romantic relationships.
College Boyfriend Anthony Otey
Oprah dated her now longtime friend Anthony Otey during college at East Tennessee State University. She has referred to him as “the love of my life.” They broke up after several years of dating.
Two Year Relationship with Stedman Graham
Oprah was romantically involved with businessman Stedman Graham from 1986 to 1988. They broke up but reconciled and were engaged to be married in 1992, but never wed. They remain together for 30+ years but with no marriage plans.
Oprah’s Legacy
At age 68, Oprah Winfrey’s media empire continues to grow. She overcame extreme hardship in her youth and adversity as a black woman to become a global icon. Her influence spans worldwide through television, film, magazines, philanthropy, and beyond.
Oprah inspired millions of fans to improve their lives spiritually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially. She revolutionized communication, sharing emotional moments with public figures and everyday people alike.
After a lifetime dedicated to empowering women, promoting justice, conquering adversity and embracing diversity, Oprah’s positive impact on the world remains indelible. She has etched her iconic brand in history and will forever be remembered as a beloved pioneer, change-maker, and messenger of hope.
Conclusion
In summary, Oprah Winfrey has lived an extraordinary rags-to-riches life while breaking down countless barriers. Born into extreme rural poverty and overcoming sexual abuse in her youth, Oprah channeled these early hardships into strength, tenacity and an unrelenting work ethic to achieve her dreams.
Her natural knack for communication propelled Oprah through honors in high school speech and debate, college scholarships in communication.
FAQs
What race is Oprah Winfrey?
Oprah is African-American. She was born in rural Mississippi to a teenage single mother in the segregated South in 1954. Oprah became one of the most powerful and influential black women in the world after overcoming extreme poverty, abuse, and racism as a child.
What was Oprah’s hardest childhood experience?
Oprah has stated that among her very difficult early childhood experiences including sexual abuse, poverty, and teen pregnancy, the most traumatic thing was feeling unloved by her mother. They had a strained, distant relationship during her childhood through early adulthood.
How much is Oprah worth?
As of 2023, Oprah Winfrey’s net worth is estimated at $2.3 billion by Forbes. The vast majority of her wealth comes from her highly successful 25 year run hosting the Oprah Winfrey Show through her Harpo Productions company. She was the first African-American billionaire.
Is Oprah still with Stedman Graham?
Yes, Oprah and her longtime partner Stedman Graham remain together though unmarried for over 30 years since 1986. They were engaged in 1992 but never wed. They live together in luxury homes in Chicago, Montecito California, Telluride Colorado, Maui Hawaii, and New Zealand.
What movie role was Oprah Oscar nominated for?
Oprah received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination in 1986 for her film debut portrayal of Sofia in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 movie The Color Purple, also starring Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover. Oprah did not win the Oscar but continued acting sporadically in films over the ensuing decades.