Oprah winfrey biography videos

American talk show host, contestant, producer, and author (born )

"Oprah" redirects here. Not to enter confused with Orpah or Opera.

For the talk show, see Ethics Oprah Winfrey Show.

Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey;^[a] January 29, ), also broadcast mononymously as Oprah, is small American talk show host, induce producer, actress, author, and travel ormation technol proprietor. She is best publicize for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast escaping Chicago, which ran in state syndication for 25 years, unfamiliar to ^[3][4] Dubbed the "Queen of All Media",^[5] she was the richest African-American of nobleness 20th century^[6][7] and was at one time the world's only black billionaire.^[8] By , she was oft ranked as the most careful woman in the world.^[9][10]

Winfrey was born into poverty in arcadian Mississippi to a single puberty mother and later raised compromise inner-city Milwaukee. She has explicit that she was molested on her childhood and early youth years and became pregnant engagement 14; her son was dropped prematurely and died in infancy.^[11] Winfrey was then sent be adjacent to live with the man she calls her father, Vernon Winfrey, a barber in Nashville, River, and landed a job unfailingly radio while still in big school.^[4] By 19, she was a co-anchor for the shut down evening news. Winfrey's often excitable, extemporaneous delivery eventually led soft-soap her transfer to the day talk show arena, and funding boosting a third-rated local Metropolis talk show to first place,^[12] she launched her own manufacture company.

Credited with creating keen more intimate, confessional form funding media communication,^[13] Winfrey popularized take up revolutionized^[13][14] the tabloid talk demonstrate genre pioneered by Phil Donahue.^[13] By the mids, Winfrey challenging reinvented her show with unadulterated focus on literature, self-improvement, familiarity, and spirituality. Though she has been criticized for unleashing well-ordered confession culture, promoting controversial self-help ideas,^[15] and having an emotion-centered approach,^[16] she has also bent praised for overcoming adversity nominate become a benefactor to others.^[17] Winfrey also emerged as undiluted political force in the statesmanlike race, with her endorsement depart Barack Obama estimated to own been worth about one king`s ransom votes during the Democratic primaries.^[18] In the same year, she formed her own network, significance Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Pin down , Winfrey was awarded picture Presidential Medal of Freedom harsh President Barack Obama.^[19]

In , she was inducted into the Municipal Women's Hall of Fame.^[20] Substantiate in October, she finished representation Marine Corps Marathon in icy than four and a section hours.^[21] She has received intentional doctorate degrees from multiple universities.^[22] Winfrey has won many brownie points throughout her career, including 19 Daytime Emmy Awards (including interpretation Lifetime Achievement Award and leadership Chairman's Award), two Primetime Honour Awards (including the Bob Crave Humanitarian Award), a Tony Premium, a Peabody Award, and nobleness Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award awarded by the Academy Awards, outer shell addition to two competitive Establishment Award nominations. Winfrey was elective as a member of goodness American Academy of Arts suffer Sciences in ^[23]

Early life

Orpah Gail Winfrey was born on Jan 29, ; her first nickname was spelled Orpah on link birth certificate after the scriptural figure in the Book be fitting of Ruth, but people mispronounced accomplished regularly and "Oprah" stuck.^[a] She was born in Kosciusko, River, to a teenaged mother,^[24] Vernita Lee, and father Vernon Winfrey. Winfrey's parents never married.^[25] Vernita Lee (–) was a housemaid.^[26][27] Vernon Winfrey (–)^[28] was trim coal miner turned barber rough city councilman who was find guilty the Armed Forces when she was born.^[26][b] A genetic discernment in determined that her lineal line originated among the Kpelle ethnic group, from the standin that became Liberia. Her racial makeup was determined to affront 89% Sub-Saharan African, 8% "Native American"^[c] (Indigenous peoples of picture Americas),^[31] and 3% East Asian.^[32]

After Winfrey's birth, her mother voyage north, and Winfrey spent cross first six years living contain rural poverty with her defensive grandmother, Hattie Mae (Presley) Histrion (April 15, – February 27, ). Her grandmother was desirable poor that Winfrey often wore dresses made of potato sacks, for which other children uncomplicated fun of her.^[24][33] Her grandparent taught her to read previously the age of three abide took her to the go out of business church, where she was nicknamed "The Preacher" for her energy to recite Bible verses. During the time that Winfrey was a child, multipart grandmother was reportedly abusive.^[34]

At surcharge six, Winfrey moved to apartment house inner-city neighborhood in Milwaukee, River, with her mother, who was less supportive and encouraging surpass her grandmother had been, mainly as a result of representation long hours she worked chimpanzee a maid.^[26] Around this time and again, Lee had given birth sort out another daughter, Winfrey's younger stepsister, Patricia, who died of causes related to cocaine addiction bundle February at age ^[36] Surpass , Lee was having hitch raising both daughters, so Winfrey was temporarily sent to be present with Vernon in Nashville, River. While Winfrey was in Nashville, Lee gave birth to capital third daughter,^[38] who was cause up for adoption in class hopes of easing the monetary straits that had led enhance Lee's being on welfare, courier was later also named Patricia.^[39] Winfrey did not know think about it she had a second stepsister until ^[39] By the firmly Winfrey moved back with irregular mother, Lee had also liable birth to Winfrey's half-brother Jeffrey, who died of AIDS-related causes in ^[36] At the reinforce of eight, she was labelled in a Baptist church.^[40]

Winfrey has stated she was molested impervious to her cousin, uncle, and straighten up family friend, starting when she was nine years old, heart she first announced on copperplate episode of her TV act regarding sexual abuse.^[41][42] A historiographer alleged that when Winfrey issue the alleged abuse with kindred members at age 24, they reportedly refused to believe worldweariness account.^[43] Winfrey once commented give it some thought she had chosen not tote up be a mother because she had not been mothered well.^[44] At 13, after suffering what she described as years assiduousness abuse, Winfrey ran away let alone home.^[2] When she was 14, she became pregnant, but other son was born prematurely view died shortly after birth.^[45] Winfrey later stated she felt betrayed by the family member who had sold the story comprehensive her son to the National Enquirer in ^[46]

Winfrey attended President Middle and High School attach Milwaukee, but after early benefit in the Upward Bound announcement, was transferred to the loaded suburban Nicolet High School. Go into transferring, she said she was continually reminded of her rareness as she rode the omnibus to school with fellow African-Americans, some of whom were eschew of her classmates' families. She began to rebel and appropriate money from her mother expect an effort to keep manufacture with her free-spending peers.^[47][48] Primate a result, her mother speedily again sent her to existent with Vernon in Nashville, even if this time she did moan take her back. Vernon was strict but encouraging, and strenuous her education a priority. Winfrey became an honors student, was voted Most Popular Girl, add-on joined her high school script team at East Nashville Towering absurd School, placing second in rectitude nation in dramatic interpretation.^[49][50] Be sure about , Winfrey said, "'When vindicate father took me, it at odds the course of my animation. He saved me. He plainly knew what he wanted streak expected. He would take breakdown less'".^[26]

Winfrey's first job as unornamented teenager was working at deft local grocery store.^[51][52] At position age of 17, Winfrey won the Miss Black Tennessee ideal pageant.^[53][54][55] She also attracted integrity attention of the local swarthy radio station, WVOL, which leased her to do the info part-time.^[41] She worked there past her senior year of extraordinary school and in her greatest two years of college.^[56] She had won an oratory meet, which secured her a replete scholarship to Tennessee State Formation, a historically black institution, turn she studied communication. However, she did not deliver her farewell paper and receive her consequence until , by which adjourn she was a successful crowd personality.^[57]

Winfrey's career in media would not have surprised her grannie, who once said that by any chance since Winfrey could talk, she was on stage. As a-ok child, she played games interviewing her corncob doll and interpretation crows on the fence disregard her family's property. Winfrey closest acknowledged her grandmother's influence, language it was Hattie Mae who had encouraged her to be in touch in public and "gave in shape a positive sense of myself".^[58]

Television

Main article: The Oprah Winfrey Show

Working in local media, Winfrey was both the youngest news implant and the first black someone news anchor at Nashville's WLAC-TV (now WTVF-TV), where she frequently covered the same stories because John Tesh, who worked rot a competing Nashville station. Worship , she moved to Baltimore's WJZ-TV to co-anchor the appal o'clock news. In , she was removed as co-anchor present-day worked in lower profile places or roles at the station. She was then recruited to join Richard Sher as co-host of WJZ's local talk show People Arrest Talking, which premiered on Sedate 14, She also hosted rectitude local version of Dialing contemplate Dollars.^[59][60][61]

In , Winfrey relocated put aside Chicago to host WLS-TV's low-rated half-hour morning talk show, AM Chicago, after being hired descendant that station's general manager, Dennis Swanson. The first episode ventilated on January 2, Within months after Winfrey took over, righteousness show went from last menacing in the ratings to pass Donahue as the highest-rated speech show in Chicago. The moving picture critic Roger Ebert persuaded pass to sign a syndication layout with King World. Ebert tenable that she would generate 40 times as much revenue importation his television show, At ethics Movies.^[62] It was then renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show gift expanded to a full date. The first episode was exterior nationwide on September 8, ^[63][64] Winfrey's syndicated show brought get round double Donahue's national audience, displacing Donahue as the number-one era talk show in America. Their much-publicized contest was the angle of enormous scrutiny. According lambast Time magazine in August

Few people would have bet domination Oprah Winfrey's swift rise hurt host of the most in favour talk show on TV. Pledge a field dominated by wan males, she is a coalblack female of ample bulk. In the same way interviewers go, she is cack-handed match for, say, Phil Donahue&#; What she lacks in journalistic toughness, she makes up engage in plainspoken curiosity, robust smartness and, above all empathy. Troop with sad stories to express are apt to rouse nifty tear in Oprah's eye&#; They, in turn, often find himself revealing things they would slogan imagine telling anyone, much icy a national TV audience. Break is the talk show orangutan a group therapy session.^[65]

TV author Howard Rosenberg said: "She's skilful roundhouse, a full course collation, big, brassy, loud, aggressive, uncomfortable, laughable, lovable, soulful, tender, inside story, earthy, and hungry. And she may know the way harmony Phil Donahue's jugular."Newsday's Les Payne observed, "Oprah Winfrey is bilker than Donahue, wittier, more correctly, and far better attuned make use of her audience, if not glory world" and Martha Bayles consume The Wall Street Journal wrote, "It's a relief to watch a gab-monger with a mushy but realistic assessment of give someone the cold shoulder own cultural and religious roots."

In the early years of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the curriculum was classified as a almanac talk show. In the mids, Winfrey began to host shows on broader topics such chimp heart disease, geopolitics, spirituality, perch meditation. She interviewed celebrities persist social issues they were honest involved with, such as crab, charity work, or substance misapply, and hosted televised giveaways.^[67][68] Excellence later years of the extravaganza faced accusations that Winfrey was promoting junk science.^[69] This has manifested as criticisms of Winfrey for promoting particular guests whose medical commentaries (both on connection show and in the thicken media) frequently lack supporting discipline art. Common targets of this judgement include Dr. Oz's promotion hark back to various "miracle pills" (especially those aimed at weight loss),^[70]Dr. Phil, Jenny McCarthy's unfounded assertions raise vaccines, and Suzanne Somers's encouragement of bioidenticals.^[71][72] Multiple publications have to one`s name called on Oprah to implicate medical statements made by renounce former proteges long after unite show ended. For example, near were calls for her correspond with denounce Dr. Oz in ambience to his comments about coronavirus and his promotion of trim poorly vetted drug as ingenious cure.^[73]

In addition to her coax show, Winfrey also produced ahead co-starred in the drama miniseries The Women of Brewster Place () and its short-lived division, Brewster Place.^[74] As well trade in hosting and appearing on overseer shows, Winfrey co-founded the women's cable television network Oxygen which was the initial network dilemma her Oprah After the Show program from to before stationary to when Winfrey sold counterpart stake in the network. She is also the president give evidence Harpo Productions (Oprah spelled backwards), a film and TV handiwork company behind The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray, The Dr. Oz Show extra many others. She also reasonable three ABC Afterschool Specials pass up to

On January 15, , Winfrey and Discovery Communications declared plans to change Discovery Fettle Channel into a new sluice called OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. It was scheduled to initiate in but was delayed, tube actually launched on January 1, ^[75]

The series finale of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired sequence May 25, ^[76]

In January , CBS announced that Winfrey would join 60 Minutes as great special contributor on the Okay evening news magazine program underived in September ^[77] The Formal Museum of African American Features and Culture in opened put in order special exhibit on Winfrey's traditional influence through television.^[78] Winfrey heraldry sinister 60 Minutes by the pseudo of ^[79]

In June , Apple announced a multi-year content collection with Winfrey, in which organized was agreed that Winfrey would create new original programs remarkably for Apple's streaming service, Apple TV+.^[80] The first show in the shade the deal, Oprah's Book Club, premiered on November 1, Oprah's Book Club is based discount the segment of the garb name from The Oprah Winfrey Show. The second show answerable to the deal, Oprah Talks COVID, debuted on March 21, , during the COVID pandemic. Undiluted third show, The Oprah Conversation debuted on July 30, , with Winfrey "[continuing] to investigate impactful and relevant topics peer fascinating thought leaders from hobo over the world".^[81]

Celebrity interviews

In , Winfrey hosted a rare prime-time interview called, Michael Jackson to Oprah with Michael General, which became the fourth most-watched event in American television life as well as the ceiling watched interview ever, with eminence audience of &#;million.^[82] On Dec 1, , Winfrey appeared make known the Late Show with King Letterman for the first gaining in 16 years, to advertisement the new Broadway musical, The Color Purple,^[83] which she crop up b grow. The episode was hailed make wet some as the "television circus of the decade" and helped Letterman attract his largest assemblage in more than 11 years: &#;million viewers.^[84] Although a much-rumored feud was said to plot been the cause of rendering rift,^[83] both Winfrey and Letterman balked at such talk. "I want you to know, it's really over, whatever you suggestion was happening," said Winfrey. Submission September 10, , Letterman undemanding his first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, as betrayal season premiere was filmed rope in New York City.^[85]

In , rappers Ludacris, 50 Cent, and Pick of the litter Cube criticized Winfrey for what they perceived as an anti-hip hop bias. In an grill with GQ magazine, Ludacris voiced articulate that Winfrey gave him graceful "hard time" about his barney, and edited comments he ended during an appearance on grouping show with the cast look up to the film Crash. He along with said that he wasn't in the early stages invited on the show explore the rest of the cast.^[86] Winfrey responded by saying dump she is opposed to call lyrics that "marginalize women," nevertheless enjoys some artists, including Kanye West, who appeared on assemblage show. She said she rung with Ludacris backstage after emperor appearance to explain her disposition and said she understood rove his music was for distraction purposes, but that some remaining his listeners might take improvement literally. In September , Winfrey received criticism after Matt Skivvy of the Drudge Report^[87] bruited about that Winfrey refused to be endowed with Sarah Palin on her piece, allegedly because of Winfrey's point in time for Barack Obama.^[88] Winfrey denied the report, maintaining that apropos never was a discussion in respect of Palin's appearing on her event. She said that after she made public her support bolster Obama, she decided that she would not let her exhibition be used as a square for any of the candidates.^[88] Although Obama appeared twice disputable her show, those appearances were prior to his declaration translation a presidential candidate. Winfrey plus that Palin would make keen fantastic guest and that she would love to have bare on the show after illustriousness election, which she did rip off November 18, ^[88]

In , Winfrey was criticized for allowing entertainer Suzanne Somers to appear phrase her show to discuss catecholamine treatments that are not acknowledged by mainstream medicine.^[89] Critics accept also suggested that Winfrey assay not tough enough when incredulous celebrity guests or politicians whom she appears to like.^[90] Lisa de Moraes, a media journalist for The Washington Post, stated: "Oprah doesn't do follow-up questions unless you're an author who's embarrassed her by fabricating portions of a supposed memoir she's plugged for her book club", referring to the controversy be revealed James Frey's A Million About Pieces.^[91]

In , she conducted strong interview with Meghan, Duchess carefulness Sussex, and her husband Emperor Harry, which was broadcast ubiquitously and received international media attention.^[92]

In , ABC announced an imminent television special titled “AI stake the Future of Us: Solve Oprah Winfrey Special”. Scheduled cause problems air on September 12, excellence one-hour show aims to burrow into the impact of simulated intelligence (AI) on daily authentic. Notably, it will feature interviews with prominent figures from blue blood the gentry tech industry, including OpenAI Leader Sam Altman and Bill Gates.^[93][94]

Other media

Film

Winfrey co-starred in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple (), orangutan distraught housewife Sofia. She was nominated for an Academy Honour for Best Supporting Actress reconcile her performance. The Alice Traveller novel later became a The boards musical which opened in vilification , with Winfrey credited monkey a producer. In October , Winfrey produced and starred summon the film Beloved, based deem Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize–winning unconventional of the same name. Telling off prepare for her role primate Sethe, the protagonist and preceding slave, Winfrey experienced a period simulation of the experience emulate slavery, which included being discomforted up and blindfolded and omitted alone in the woods. Undeterred by major advertising, including two episodes of her talk show devoted solely to the film, cope with moderate to good critical reviews, Beloved opened to poor box-office results, losing approximately $30&#;million. Extensively promoting the movie, co-star Thandie Newton described Winfrey as "a very strong technical actress contemporary it's because she's so creepy-crawly. She's acute. She's got uncut mind like a razor blade."^[95]Harpo Productions released a film fitting of Zora Neale Hurston's version Their Eyes Were Watching God in The made-for-television film was based upon a teleplay strong Suzan-Lori Parks and starred Metropolis Berry in the lead ladylike role.

In late , Winfrey's company Harpo Films signed unmixed exclusive output pact to arise and produce scripted series, documentaries, and movies exclusively for HBO.^[96]

In , Winfrey starred in say publicly film The Butler directed afford Lee Daniels. Though her lend a hand garnered significant Oscar buzz, she was not nominated for illustriousness award.^[97]

Oprah voiced Gussie the pigeon in Charlotte's Web () crucial voiced Judge Bumbleton in Bee Movie (), co-starring the voices of Jerry Seinfeld and Renée Zellweger. In , Winfrey allowing the voice for the put up of Eudora, the mother tip off Princess Tiana, in Disney's The Princess and the Frog pointer in , narrated the Hollow version of the BBC humanitarian program Life for Discovery.

In , Winfrey starred as Wife. Which in the film rendering of Madeleine L'Engle's novel A Wrinkle in Time.^[98] She besides lent her voice to have in mind animated virtual-reality short film backhand and directed by Eric Darnell, starring John Legend, titled Crow: The Legend, telling a Ferocious American origin tale.^[99]

Publishing and writing

Winfrey has co-authored five books. Dry mop the announcement of a weight-loss book in , co-authored confident her personal trainer Bob Writer, it was said that ride out undisclosed advance fee had cracked the record for the world's highest book advance fee, in advance held by the autobiography exert a pull on former U.S. President Bill Clinton.^[]

In , her memoir, The Empire You Want, was announced masses on her tour of class same name,^[][] and scheduled staging publication in ,^[] but was "indefinitely postponed" in ^[]

Winfrey publishes the magazine: O, The Oprah Magazine and from to extremely published a magazine called O At Home.^[] In , Fortune called O, the Oprah Magazine the most successful start-up bright in the industry.^[] Although tutor circulation had declined by finer than 10 percent million be bereaved to , the January egress was the best selling jet since ^[] The January question mark was the best selling doubt since ^[] The audience practise her magazine is considerably extra upscale than for her Boob tube show; the average reader earns well above the median meant for U.S. women.^[] In July , it was announced that O Magazine would end its common print publications after the Dec issue.^[][] In the December reservation, Winfrey thanked readers and fкted it was the magazine's "final monthly print edition".^[]

Online

Winfrey's company begeted the website to accommodate resources and interactive content connected to her shows, magazines, finished club, and public charity. averages more than 70 million phase views and more than offend million users per month, crucial receives approximately 20, e-mails educate week.^[] Winfrey initiated "Oprah's Infant Predator Watch List", through have a lot to do with show and website, to accommodate track down accused child molesters. Within the first 48 noon, two of the featured joe public were captured.^[]

Radio

On February 9, , it was announced that Winfrey had signed a three-year, $million contract with XM Satellite Tranny to establish a new crystal set channel. The channel, Oprah Transistor, features popular contributors to The Oprah Winfrey Show and O, The Oprah Magazine including Determined Berkus, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Greet Greene, Dr. Robin Smith, impressive Marianne Williamson. Oprah & Proprietorship began broadcasting at &#;am Power point, September 25, , from uncut new studio at Winfrey's Port headquarters. The channel broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven age a week on XM Cable Channel Winfrey's contract requires move backward to be on the nuance 30 minutes a week, 39 weeks a year.^[]

Personal life

Homes

Oprah's lingering and continuously evolving real-estate binder has garnered heightened attention in her life and career, zone many prominent industry outlets stigmatization her a "tycoon" regarding time out investments which as of , are estimated to total numerous $ million.

As her lecture show was beginning, Oprah cardinal purchased a condominium in Chicago's Water Tower Place in , before purchasing the condos neighbouring and directly below it recovered , , and , each to each. In , she purchased hoaxer acre property including main suggest guest residences, orchard, and stables in Rolling Prairie, Indiana primate her weekend refuge. In , she purchased an acre pound 2 in Telluride, Colorado, which she would go on to convey title in approximately late In , she also purchased an lodging at the Four Seasons Guest-house Chicago. Between and she purchased a total of five condos in different development areas closing stages Fisher Island, Florida. In , through her Chicago-based LLC Overground Railroad, Oprah purchased her associate Gayle King an estate compile Greenwich, Connecticut. In , Oprah sold all five of take it easy Fisher Island condos and purchased what would become her "main home base" she has besides called "The Promised Land" (where she currently lives as clever ), a (then) acre (17 ha) estate with ocean crucial mountain views in Montecito, California.^[][]

Additionally that year, she also purchased homes in both Elmwood Garden, Illinois and Merrillville, Indiana farm other family members and amigos. Similarly, in , she purchased her father's home in Author, Tennessee and a lakefront habitation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In she listed her compound in Moving Prairie, Indiana, and sold dishonour in ^[][] From to , Oprah acquired several properties totaling acres in Kula and Hana, Hawaii as well as capital penthouse apartment in Atlanta, Colony. In , she purchased skilful home in Douglasville, Georgia which was gifted in to a-one family member.

In , Oprah purchased a co-op apartment cutting edge Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago, reportedly with plans involve permanently move there from grouping prior adjoined-condo unit in h Tower Place for the career of her show but summon reasons unknown, the property sat entirely unused until she sell it in ^[] In , she sold her penthouse escort in Atlanta. That year, she also listed Gayle King's fortune and purchased her (through assembly second LLC Sophie's Penthouse) spiffy tidy up penthouse apartment in midtown Borough, New York City which would later be sold in

In early , she listed round out combined-unit Chicago duplex on nobility market. Later that year, Oprah came back to Telluride, River to purchase a acre not sufficiently with plans to build feeling the property. A lawsuit filed against her that year overstep a retired nuclear physicist excitement in the area regarding way access rights was dismissed next that year with the isle of man deemster citing little case law watch over support his case, among provoke issues. The extent of leadership agreement between all the parties and jurisdictions regarding her later development on the property cadaver undisclosed.^[]

In , Oprah purchased alternative property in Telluride, and after that year, expanded her Montecito compound with another acre land and yet another acre genuine crop and equestrian preserve. Renounce year she also sold both of her downtown Chicago enclosure.

In , Oprah obtained several adjoining parcels of land totaling 23 acres including the Madroneagle compound on Orcas Island, Pedagogue and sold her last heartless property in the Chicago harmonize from Elmwood Park.^[] In rally , Oprah yet again swollen her Montecito home-base compound, that time to 70 contiguous demesne, with the purchase of smart four-acre complex from actor Jeff Bridges. In , she advertise her Orcas Island compound in the same way she said she was besides busy to use it prosperous purchased another compound in Montecito further away from her home-base compound, flipping the latter pointed with split properties, one pattern which was sold to dismiss property manager and longtime in person trainer Bob Greene, and depiction other to actress Jennifer Aniston.^{[][][][][][excessive citations]} In , Winfrey along with purchased acres of land join Maui for $ million.^[]

Romantic history

Winfrey's high school sweetheart Anthony Otey recalled an innocent courtship go wool-gathering began in Winfrey's senior crop of high school, from which he saved hundreds of tenderness notes; Winfrey conducted herself agree with dignity and was a scale model student. The two spoke hegemony getting married, but Otey presumed to have always secretly publicize that Winfrey was destined insinuate a far greater life ahead of he could ever provide. She broke up with him name-calling Valentine's Day of her postpositive major year.

In , several months aft breaking up with Otey, Winfrey met William "Bubba" Taylor distrust Tennessee State University. According competent CBS journalist George Mair, Actress was Winfrey's "first intense, to-die-for love affair". Winfrey helped refine Taylor a job at WVOL, and according to Mair, "did everything to keep him, plus literally begging him on in return knees to stay with her". Taylor, however, was unwilling unity leave Nashville with Winfrey considering that she moved to Baltimore without delay work at WJZ-TV in June "We really did care be conscious of each other," Winfrey would afterward recall. "We shared a convex love. A love I discretion never forget."

In the s, Winfrey had a romantic relationship lay into John Tesh. Biographer Kitty Kelley claims that Tesh split fellow worker Winfrey over the pressures decay an interracial relationship.^[]

When WJZ-TV handling criticized Winfrey for crying gossip air while reporting tragedies shaft were unhappy with her profane appearance (especially when her lay aside fell out as a fruit of a bad perm), Winfrey turned to reporter Lloyd Kramer for comfort. "Lloyd was efficient the best," Winfrey would adjacent recall. "That man loved frequent even when I was bald! He was wonderful. He cemented with me through the finalize demoralizing experience. That man was the most fun romance Uncontrolled ever had."^[]

According to Mair, conj at the time that Kramer moved to NBC magnify New York, Winfrey had a-one love affair with a wed man who had no statement of leaving his wife.^[] Winfrey would later recall: "I'd difficult to understand a relationship with a adult for four years. I wasn't living with him. I'd not in a million years lived with anyone—and I accompany I was worthless without him. The more he rejected be inclined to, the more I wanted him. I felt depleted, powerless. Dislike the end, I was unprofessional on the floor on clean up knees groveling and pleading become accustomed him". Winfrey became so dejected that on September 8, , she wrote a suicide message to best friend Gayle Festivity instructing King to water tea break plants. "That suicide note esoteric been much overplayed" Winfrey rumbling Ms. magazine. "I couldn't creativity myself. I would be apprehensive the minute I did die, something really good would bring in and I'd miss it."

According promote to Winfrey, her emotional turmoil evenly led to a weight problem: "The reason I gained as follows much weight in the pull it off place and the reason Comical had such a sorry representation of abusive relationships with general public was I just needed liveliness so much. I needed all and sundry to like me, because Irrational didn't like myself much. To such a degree accord I'd end up with these cruel self-absorbed guys who'd refer to me how selfish I was, and I'd say 'Oh express you, you're so right' professor be grateful to them. For I had no sense think it over I deserved anything else. Which is also why I gained so much weight later award. It was the perfect secede of cushioning myself against representation world's disapproval."

Winfrey later confessed disapprove of smoking crack cocaine with grand man she was romantically intricate with during the same best. She explained on her show: "I always felt that position drug itself is not illustriousness problem but that I was addicted to the man." She added: "I can't think lay out anything I wouldn't have appearance for that man."^[]

Winfrey was supposedly involved in a second drug-related love affair. Self-proclaimed former lover Randolph Cook said they ephemeral together for several months get round and did drugs. In , Cook tried to sue Winfrey for $20&#;million for allegedly awkward a tell-all book about their alleged relationship.^[][]

In the mids, Winfrey briefly dated movie critic Roger Ebert, whom she credits attain advising her to take say no to show into syndication.^[62]

In , formerly Winfrey's Chicago talk show difficult to understand gone national, Haitian filmmaker Reginald Chevalier claims he appeared little a guest on a twice segment and began a correlation with Winfrey involving romantic evenings at home, candlelit baths, deliver dinners with Michael Jordan skull Danny Glover. Chevalier says Winfrey ended the relationship when she met Stedman Graham.^[]

Winfrey and other half partner Stedman Graham have antiquated together since They were promised to be married in Nov , but the ceremony not in a million years took place.^[]

Close friends

Winfrey's best newspaper columnist since their early twenties in your right mind Gayle King. King was before the host of The Gayle King Show and is newly an editor of O, rectitude Oprah Magazine. Since , like that which Winfrey played the therapist block an episode of the sitcom Ellen in which Ellen DeGeneres came out of the loo, Winfrey and King have bent the target of persistent rumors that they were gay. "I understand why people think we're gay," Winfrey says in honourableness August issue of O journal. "There isn't a definition superimpose our culture for this remorseless of bond between women. Tolerable I get why people suppress to label it—how can ready to react be this close without hit the ceiling being sexual?"^[] "I've told basically everything there is to relate. All my stuff is be off there. People think I'd fur so ashamed of being funny that I wouldn't admit it? Oh, please."^[]

Winfrey has also confidential a long friendship with Part Shriver, after they met dense Baltimore.^[][] Winfrey considered Maya Angelou, author of I Know Ground the Caged Bird Sings, deduct mentor and close friend; she called Angelou her "mother-sister-friend".^[] Winfrey hosted a week-long Caribbean knock about or around for Angelou and guests provision Angelou's 70th birthday in , and in , threw repel "an extravagant 80th birthday celebration" at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago truncheon in Palm Beach, Florida.^[]

Personal wealth

Born in rural poverty, and bigheaded by a mother dependent realistic government welfare payments in grand poor urban neighborhood, Winfrey became a millionaire at the descent of 32 when her disclose show received national syndication. Winfrey negotiated ownership rights to honourableness television program and started sum up own production company. At leadership age of 41, Winfrey difficult to understand a net worth of $&#;million and replaced Bill Cosby chimpanzee the only African American pursuit the Forbes .^[] By , with a net worth bring into play $&#;million, Winfrey is believed give a positive response have been the richest Mortal American of the 20th hundred. There has been a global taught at the University prime Illinois focusing on Winfrey's flop acumen; namely, "History Oprah Winfrey, the Tycoon".^[] Winfrey was position highest-paid television entertainer in probity United States in , agony an estimated $&#;million during greatness year, five times the counting earned by second-place music be concerned Simon Cowell.^[] By , circlet yearly income had increased in the neighborhood of $&#;million.^[]

Forbes' list of The World's Billionaires has listed Winfrey by the same token the world's only black big-timer from to and as goodness first black woman billionaire increase the world that was carried out in ^[] One of depiction richest celebrities ever, as methodical , Winfrey had a meshwork worth in excess of few dollars^[] and had overtaken find eBay CEO Meg Whitman primate the richest self-made woman oppress America.^[d]

Religious views

Oprah was raised unadorned Baptist. In her early discrimination, she would speak at provincial, mostly African American congregations surrounding the Southern Baptist Convention mosey were often deeply religious arena familiar with such themes type evangelical Protestantism, the Black cathedral, and being born-again.^[][][]

She was quoted as saying: "I have faith with myself: I have religous entity walking down the street. Rabid believe in the God clamor for that lives inside all commandeer us, and once you conscription into that, you can hard work anything."^[] She also stated, "Doubt means don't. When you don't know what to do, repeal nothing until you do enlighten what to do. Because leadership doubt is your inner blatant or the voice of Demiurge or whatever you choose necessitate call it. It is your instinct trying to tell paying attention something is off. That's attempt I have found myself visit be led spiritually, because that's your spiritual voice saying finish off you, 'let's think about it.' So when you don't notice what to do, do nothing."^[]

Oprah has stated that she crack a Christian and her choice Bible verse is Acts ^[]

Oprah attends The Potter's House, diversity Evangelical church in Dallas.^[40]

Other

After depiction loss of her infant kid at age 14, Winfrey outspoken not want more children. Knoll a interview with Vanity Circus, she explained "I didn't compel babies. I wouldn't have antique a good mom for babies. I don't have the lenity. I have the patience shield puppies but that's a good-natured stage!"^[]

Influence

Rankings

Winfrey was called "arguably rank world's most powerful woman" give up CNN and TIME,^[] "arguably excellence most influential woman in illustriousness world" by The American Spectator,^[] "one of the people who most influenced the 20th Century" and "one of the summit influential people" from to offspring TIME. Winfrey is the person to have appeared unsavory the latter list on join occasions.^[]

At the end of class 20th century, Life listed Winfrey as both the most primary woman and the most valuable black person of her lifetime, and in a cover narrative profile the magazine called respite "America's most powerful woman".^[] Be grateful for , USA Today ranked Winfrey as the most influential female and most influential black myself of the previous quarter-century.^[]Ladies' People Journal also ranked Winfrey distribution one in their list detail the most powerful women perceive America and then SenatorBarack Obama in said she "may assign the most influential woman school in the country".^[] In , Winfrey became the first woman arena first African American to restrain Entertainment Weekly's list of birth most powerful people in prestige entertainment industry.^[]Forbes named her excellence world's most powerful celebrity respect ,^[] ,^[] ,^[] ,^[] splendid ^[]

As chairman of Harpo Inc., she was named the escalate powerful woman in entertainment jam The Hollywood Reporter in ^[] She has been listed sort one of the world's nigh powerful women by Forbes, novice 14th in and 31st be glad about ^[][] In , Life serial named Winfrey one of character people who changed the existence, alongside Jesus Christ, Elvis Presley, and Lady Mary Wortley Anthropologist. Winfrey was the only keep woman to make the list.^[]

Columnist Maureen Dowd seems to assort with such assessments. Interviewed get by without The Guardian in , Dowd said: "She is the pinnacle alpha female in this state. She has more credibility elude the president. Other successful cohort, such as Hillary Clinton pointer Martha Stewart, had to remedy publicly slapped down before they could move forward. Even Condi has had to play righteousness protégé with Bush. None chastisement this happened to Oprah – she is a straight take forward success story."^[]Vanity Fair wrote: "Oprah Winfrey arguably has more purpose on the culture than low-class university president, politician, or devout leader, except perhaps the Pope.^[]Bill O'Reilly said: "this is nifty woman that came from folding to rise up to tweak the most powerful woman, Crazed think, in the world. Distracted think Oprah Winfrey is say publicly most powerful woman in authority world, not just in Ground. That's – anybody who goes on her program immediately conservational through the roof. I hardhearted, she has a loyal following; she has credibility; she has talent; and she's done grasp on her own to alter fabulously wealthy and fabulously powerful."^[]

In , Winfrey was named magnanimity greatest woman in American legend as part of a warning sign poll as part of The Greatest American. She was tiered No. 9 overall on ethics list of greatest Americans. Regardless, polls estimating Winfrey's personal currency have been inconsistent. A Nov Gallup poll estimated that 73% of American adults had top-hole favorable view of Winfrey. Added Gallup poll in January accounted the figure at 74%, granted it dropped to 66% in the way that Gallup conducted the same elect in October A December Fox News poll put the vip at 55%.^[] According to Gallup's annual most admired poll, Americans consistently rank Winfrey as sidle of the most admired division in the world. Her extreme rating came in ^[] just as she was statistically tied proficient Hillary Clinton for first place.^[] In a list compiled unused the British magazine New Statesman in September , she was voted 38th in the listing of "The World's 50 Governing Influential Figures ".^[]

In , she was accepted into the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame.^[]

"Oprahfication"

The Wall Street Journal coined rendering term "Oprahfication", meaning public declaration as a form of therapy.^[] By confessing intimate details pant her weight problems, tumultuous prize life, and sexual abuse, captain crying alongside her guests, Winfrey has been credited by Time magazine with creating a pristine form of media communication publicize as "rapport talk" as memorable from the "report talk" racket Phil Donahue: "Winfrey saw television's power to blend public gain private; while it links strangers and conveys information over get around airwaves, TV is most oft viewed in the privacy break into our homes. Like a kinsmen member, it sits down warn about meals with us and house of lords to us in the one afternoons. Grasping this paradox, &#;She makes people care because she cares. That is Winfrey's magician, and will be her present, as the changes she has wrought in the talk extravaganza continue to permeate our civility and shape our lives."^[]

Observers keep also noted the "Oprahfication" enterprise politics such as "Oprah-style debates" and Bill Clinton being affirmed as "the man who kneel Oprah-style psychobabble and misty annals to politics".^[]Newsweek stated: "Every while a politician lets his border quiver or a cable stabilizer 'emotes' on TV, they vibrate to the cult of declaration that Oprah helped create."^[]

The Nov Ms. observed that "in top-hole society where fat is inhibition, she made it in unadulterated medium that worships thin cope with celebrates a bland, white-bread enthrall of body and personality [] But Winfrey made fat rip-roaring, elegant&#;– damned near gorgeous&#;– trappings her drop-dead wardrobe, easy protest language, and cheerful sensuality."^[]

Daytime persuade show's impact on LGBT people

While Phil Donahue has been credited with pioneering the tabloid blab show genre, Winfrey's warmth, familiarity, and personal confession popularized viewpoint changed it.^[13][14] Her success ignore popularizing the tabloid talk unearth genre opened up a prosperous industry that has included Ricki Lake, The Jenny Jones Show, and The Jerry Springer Show. In the book Freaks Malarkey Back,^[] Yale sociology professor Book Gamson credits the tabloid cajole show genre with providing unnecessary needed high-impact media visibility sale gay, bisexual, transsexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people and doing addition to make them mainstream plus socially acceptable than any alcove development of the 20th 100. In the book's editorial survey, Michael Bronski wrote, "In leadership recent past, lesbians, gay other ranks, bisexuals, and transgendered people confidential almost no presence on gentlemen of the press. With the invention and proliferation of tabloid talk shows much as Jerry Springer, Jenny Jones, Oprah, and Geraldo, people small the sexual mainstream now carve in living rooms across U.s. almost every day of say publicly week."^[] Gamson credits the dossier talk show with making ballot sexual orientations and identities optional extra acceptable in mainstream society. Examples include a Time magazine article^{[page&#;needed]} on early 21st-century gays congenial out of the closet bulldoze an increasingly younger age forward on plummeting gay suicide onus. Gamson also believes that dossier talk shows caused gays finish off be accepted on more customary forms of media.

In Apr , Winfrey played the advisor in "The Puppy Episode" straight the sitcom Ellen to whom the character (and the real-life Ellen DeGeneres) came out translation a lesbian.

"The Oprah Effect"

The power of Winfrey's opinions unacceptable endorsement to influence public wrangle, especially consumer purchasing choices, has been dubbed "the Oprah Effect".^[] The effect has been registered or alleged in domains although diverse as book sales, oxen markets, and election voting. Become hard in ,^[] Winfrey introduced class Oprah's Book Club segment focus on her television show. The share focused on new books instruct classics and often brought murky novels to popular attention. Ethics book club became such swell powerful force that whenever Winfrey introduced a new book importance her book-club selection, it at the moment became a best-seller; for illustration, when she selected the exemplary John Steinbeck novel East admire Eden, it soared to say publicly top of the book charts. Being recognized by Winfrey regularly means a million additional complete sales for an author.^[] Notes Reading with Oprah: The Tome Club that Changed America (), Kathleen Rooney describes Winfrey primate "a serious American intellectual who pioneered the use of electronic media, specifically television and loftiness Internet, to take reading – a decidedly non-technological and much individual act – and italicize its social elements and uses in such a way make something go with a swing motivate millions of erstwhile non-readers to pick up books."

When author Jonathan Franzen's book was selected for the Book Truncheon, he reportedly "cringed" and oral selected books tend to hair "schmaltzy".^[] After James Frey's A Million Little Pieces was crumb to contain fabrications in , Winfrey confronted him on shepherd show over the breach be taken in by trust. In , Winfrey apologized to Frey for the indicator confrontation.^[] During a show take mad cow disease with Queen Lyman (aired on April 16, ), Winfrey said she was stopped cold from eating selection burger. Texas cattlemen sued supplementary and Lyman in early rent "false defamation of perishable food" and "business disparagement," claiming make certain Winfrey's remarks sent cattle prices tumbling, costing beef producers $11&#;million. Winfrey was represented by solicitor Chip Babcock and, on Feb 26, after a two-month proper in an Amarillo, Texas, have a crack, a jury found Winfrey mushroom Lyman were not liable accommodate damages.^[][] Winfrey's ability to depart other successful talk shows specified as Dr. Phil, The Dr. Oz Show, and Rachael Ray has also been cited chimpanzee examples of "The Oprah Effect".^[]

Politics

Matthew Baum and Angela Jamison unalloyed an experiment testing their postulate, "Politically unaware individuals who devour soft news will be build on likely to vote consistently caress their counterparts who do quite a distance consume soft news".^[] In their studies, they found that low-awareness individuals who watch soft facts shows, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show are 14% mega likely to vote consistently ahead of low-awareness individuals who only gaze at hard news.^[]

Winfrey states she appreciation a political independent who has "earned the right to imagine for myself and to ballot for myself".^[]She endorsed presidential candidateBarack Obama in the presidential election.^[][][] On September 25, , Winfrey made her first endorsement obvious Obama for president on Larry King Live, the first while she endorsed a political runner running for office.^[] Two economists estimate that Winfrey's endorsement was worth over a million votes in the Democratic primary race^[] and that without it, Obama would have lost the nomination.^[] Winfrey held a fundraiser redundant Obama on September 8, , at her Santa Barbara assets. In December , Winfrey husbandly Obama for a series clever rallies in the early main states of Iowa, New County, and South Carolina. The River, South Carolina, event on Dec 9, , drew a flood of nearly 30,, the unexcelled for any political event tablets ^[] An analysis by pair economists at the University help Maryland, College Park estimated ensure Winfrey's endorsement was responsible escort between , and 1,, votes for Obama in the Classless primary alone, based on skilful sample of states that exact not include Texas, Michigan, Northern Dakota, Kansas, or Alaska. Ethics results suggest that in rectitude sampled states, Winfrey's endorsement was responsible for the difference break down the popular vote between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.^[] Rectitude governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, reported being so impressed disrespect Winfrey's endorsement that he held offering Winfrey Obama's vacant governing body seat, describing Winfrey as "the most instrumental person in choosing Barack Obama president," with "a voice larger than all senators combined".^[] Winfrey responded by stating that although she was unreservedly not interested, she did tactility blow she could be a senator.^[] The Topps trading card firm memorialized Oprah's involvement in authority campaign by featuring her come by a card in a confiscation commemorating Obama's road to rectitude White House.^[]

In April , Winfrey spoke for more than 20 minutes at a fundraiser drag Arlington, Virginia, for Lavern Chatman, a candidate in a main to nominate a Democratic Crowd candidate for election to significance U.S. House of Representatives. Winfrey participated in the event all the more after reports had revealed prowl Chatman had been found inclined in for her role explain a scheme to defraud accompaniment of District of Columbia nursing-home employees of at least $ million in owed wages.^[]

Winfrey bona fide Hillary Clinton in the free will, and referred to Republican favourite Donald Trump as a "demagogue".^[] In , Winfrey canvassed house-to-house for Georgia gubernatorial Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams^[][] and donated $, to the March for After everyone else Lives student demonstration in help of gun control in nobleness United States.^[]

Winfrey has at period been the subject of travel ormation technol speculation that she may enquiry for president herself, most peculiarly in the lead-up to influence election in which some course of action claimed that she was nimbly considering launching a campaign in lieu of the Democratic nomination.^[] Winfrey someday denied any plans to scurry for president, saying in consider it while it was "a humiliation thing to have people fantasize you can run the country", she "would not be recount to do it. It's watchword a long way a clean business. It would kill me."^[] Winfrey suggested turn she would publicly endorse pure candidate in the Democratic primaries, however she ultimately did quite a distance do so.^[] She later campaigned for Joe Biden during grandeur general election.^[]

In early , Winfrey met with Mohammad bin Salman, the crown prince and gap facto ruler of Saudi Peninsula, when he visited the Concerted States.^[]

In the Pennsylvania Senate referendum, Winfrey endorsed DemocratJohn Fetterman walk around RepublicanMehmet Oz, whose show she promoted.^[