The billionaire, Oprah Winfrey is a professional talk show host and actress from Kosciusko. Oprah Winfrey, who is popularly known as Queen media is well known for her TV talk show “The Oprah Winfrey Show” which is the highest rated television program ever in history.
Oprah Winfrey made the list of richest black women in the world in 2003 when she was valued at $1 billion. Ever since, she had maintained her status amongst the richest women around the world.
Oprah Winfrey was named one of the richest black Americans of the 20th century, the first multi-billionaire black woman in North America, and the greatest black philanthropist in the American history.
In 2007, Oprah was ranked as the most influential woman in the world. With all these, it is worth knowing to dig into Oprah Winfrey’s net worth. Therefore, this article will show you the biography and net worth of Oprah Winfrey, the Queen of Media.
Oprah Winfrey Profile
| Net Worth | $3.5B |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Oprah Gail Winfrey |
| Date of Birth (Age) | 66 (Born 1954) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Television host, Actress, Media executive, Author and Producer |
| Gender | Female |
| Education | Tennessee State University |
| Years Active | 1973 – present |
Early Life
Oprah was born into a poor home in rural Kosciusko, Mississippi, to a teenage single mum and later grew up in Milwaukee. At an early age of six, Oprah moved with her mother, who was less encouraging and supportive than her grandmother, to an inner-city neighborhood in Milwaukee.
Oprah’s grandmother died in February 2003 at the early age of 43 from causes related to cocaine addiction.
Oprah claimed that she was sexually molested by her family friends, uncle and cousin, which started when she was only nine years old. She made this announcement on a 1986 episode of her TV show related to sexual abuse.
She stated that she was sexually molested in her childhood and early teens and became pregnant at 14 after being sexually abused by a number of men who were friends with her mother, Vernita. Her first child was born prematurely and died in childhood.
Winfrey was then sent to see the man she called her father, Vernon Winfrey, a barber that lived in Tennessee. Winfrey attended Tenessee State University in 1971, where she began broadcasting and radio in Nashville.
Oprah Winfrey was crowned as the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant at the age of 17. She also caught the eyes of local black radio station WVOL, who hired her on a part time. She was able to work there during her senior year of high school and her first two years of college education.
After Oprah was rated third choice on local Chicago talk show, she decided to set up a personal production company and was broadcasted internationally. In 2008 she founded her own network, Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
Personal life
Oprah Winfrey was allegedly involved in a relationship with Randolph Cook, who they did drugs with. Randolph Cook had claimed that the pair lived together for months in the year 1985.
Randolph Cook also claimed that Oprah Winfrey ended the relationship when she met Stedman Graham in 1986. Oprah Winfrey and her boyfriend Stedman Graham have been dating ever since then.
In November 1992, the pair got engaged to be married, but the ceremony never took place.
Career
Oprah’s big breakthrough came in 1986 when she began her own television show ‘The Oprah Winfrey show’.
The show has proved to be one of the most successful and highly watched TV shows of all time. Oprah has also, during her career, remained a powerful role model for women and black American women in particular.
The Oprah Winfrey Show has focused on spirituality, issues of self-improvement, and self-help. Diet was once a big issue with Oprah, and she has successfully lost a lot of weight. Oprah’s diet book has sold millions of copies worldwide.
Her books have focused a lot on spiritual topics, and the aspect of taking responsibility for your own life. Oprah means that it’s not good enough to just change your circumstances but you also need to change the way you look at your life.
In 2008 Oprah declared her support for Barack Obama, which helped him gain millions of votes in the 2008 election. Oprah has also opened a book club which has become the most influential book club in the world. She has also been nominated for an Oscar in the film ‘A Color Purple’.
Since then, Oprah Winfrey has become known for being one of the most successful hostesses in the world. She has influenced many by her work throughout her career.
Achievements and awards
Here are some of the achievements and awards of Oprah Winfrey’s career:
People Are Talking (TV-Show, 1976), the Color Purple (Movie, 1985), the Oprah Winfrey Show (TV-Show, 1986- 2011), The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (1992), Oxygen Media (1999), The Oprah Magazine (2000), Spingarn Medal (2000), Oprah Winfrey: The Real Story (Autobiography, 2001), Kennedy Centers Honors (2010), Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama (2013), Selma (Produced, 2014), Daytime Emmy Award (Outstanding Special Class Series, 2014), Love is (Executive Producer, 2018).
Throughout an illustrious career, Oprah Winfrey has won numerous awards and accolades which includes the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Chairman’s Award, 18 Daytime Emmy Awards, 2 Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, a Peabody Award, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, awarded by the Academy Awards, the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, and two additional Academy Award nominations.
Oprah Winfrey is without a doubt the world’s most successful television presenter. Oprah has worked with so many stars and celebrities, including renowned television host; Ellen Degeneres, who is also one of the best TV host in the world.
Winfrey has proven to us that no matter what you experience, you can still become successful. Winfrey experienced a tough childhood filled with molestation and reject. She kept on striving hard to be on top and today, she is very successful.
Net worth
Currently, Oprah Winfrey net worth is estimated at $3.5 billion, making her the wealthiest female television presenter of all time.
