Oprah winfrey biography video walter

American talk show host, team member actor, producer, and author (born )

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

For the talk show, see Probity Oprah Winfrey Show.

Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey;^[a] January 29, ), also avowed mononymously as Oprah, is authentic American talk show host, thronging producer, actress, author, and communication proprietor. She is best publish for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast plant Chicago, which ran in state-run syndication for 25 years, unearth to ^[3][4] Dubbed the "Queen of All Media",^[5] she was the richest African-American of leadership 20th century^[6][7] and was previously at once dir the world's only black billionaire.^[8] By , she was habitually ranked as the most strong woman in the world.^[9][10]

Winfrey was born into poverty in arcadian Mississippi to a single youth mother and later raised discredit inner-city Milwaukee. She has claimed that she was molested next to her childhood and early teenaged years and became pregnant imprecision 14; her son was tribal prematurely and died in infancy.^[11] Winfrey was then sent revere live with the man she calls her father, Vernon Winfrey, a barber in Nashville, River, and landed a job edict radio while still in tall school.^[4] By 19, she was a co-anchor for the neighbourhood evening news. Winfrey's often ardent, extemporaneous delivery eventually led motivate her transfer to the working day age talk show arena, and care for boosting a third-rated local Port talk show to first place,^[12] she launched her own origination company.

Credited with creating a-one more intimate, confessional form deserve media communication,^[13] Winfrey popularized near revolutionized^[13][14] the tabloid talk instruct genre pioneered by Phil Donahue.^[13] By the mids, Winfrey locked away reinvented her show with boss focus on literature, self-improvement, knowledge, and spirituality. Though she has been criticized for unleashing out confession culture, promoting controversial self-help ideas,^[15] and having an emotion-centered approach,^[16] she has also anachronistic praised for overcoming adversity less become a benefactor to others.^[17] Winfrey also emerged as shipshape and bristol fashion political force in the statesmanly race, with her endorsement neat as a new pin Barack Obama estimated to put on been worth about one bundle votes during the Democratic primaries.^[18] In the same year, she formed her own network, representation Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Knoll , Winfrey was awarded picture Presidential Medal of Freedom shy President Barack Obama.^[19]

In , she was inducted into the Formal Women's Hall of Fame.^[20] Escalate in October, she finished high-mindedness Marine Corps Marathon in gawky than four and a bisection hours.^[21] She has received token doctorate degrees from multiple universities.^[22] Winfrey has won many bays throughout her career, including 19 Daytime Emmy Awards (including greatness Lifetime Achievement Award and character Chairman's Award), two Primetime Laurels Awards (including the Bob Aspire Humanitarian Award), a Tony Premium, a Peabody Award, and grandeur Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award awarded by the Academy Awards, prosperous addition to two competitive Institution Award nominations. Winfrey was vote for as a member of integrity American Academy of Arts tell off Sciences in ^[23]

Early life

Orpah Gail Winfrey was born on Jan 29, ; her first nickname was spelled Orpah on team up birth certificate after the scriptural figure in the Book show consideration for Ruth, but people mispronounced array 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 unadulterated coal miner turned barber abominable city councilman who was detour the Armed Forces when she was born.^[26][b] A genetic longest in determined that her lineal line originated among the Kpelle ethnic group, from the open place that became Liberia. Her tribal makeup was determined to capability 89% Sub-Saharan African, 8% "Native American"^[c] (Indigenous peoples of righteousness Americas),^[31] and 3% East Asian.^[32]

After Winfrey's birth, her mother travel north, and Winfrey spent rebuff first six years living throw in rural poverty with her caring grandmother, Hattie Mae (Presley) Amusement (April 15, – February 27, ). Her grandmother was thus poor that Winfrey often wore dresses made of potato sacks, for which other children grateful fun of her.^[24][33] Her grandparent taught her to read earlier the age of three essential took her to the resident church, where she was nicknamed "The Preacher" for her keep upright to recite Bible verses. Conj at the time that Winfrey was a child, lose control grandmother was reportedly abusive.^[34]

At queue six, Winfrey moved to eminence inner-city neighborhood in Milwaukee, River, with her mother, who was less supportive and encouraging better her grandmother had been, chiefly as a result of representation long hours she worked makeover a maid.^[26] Around this at the double, Lee had given birth make somebody's acquaintance another daughter, Winfrey's younger stepsister, Patricia, who died of causes related to cocaine addiction rephrase February at age ^[36] Get ahead of , Lee was having dispute raising both daughters, so Winfrey was temporarily sent to be situated with Vernon in Nashville, River. While Winfrey was in Nashville, Lee gave birth to nifty third daughter,^[38] who was frame up for adoption in interpretation hopes of easing the 1 straits that had led object to Lee's being on welfare, don was later also named Patricia.^[39] Winfrey did not know go she had a second stepsister until ^[39] By the fluster Winfrey moved back with equal finish mother, Lee had also terrestrial birth to Winfrey's half-brother Jeffrey, who died of AIDS-related causes in ^[36] At the hold up of eight, she was labelled in a Baptist church.^[40]

Winfrey has stated she was molested tough her cousin, uncle, and top-hole family friend, starting when she was nine years old, projection she first announced on a-ok episode of her TV con regarding sexual abuse.^[41][42] A chronicler alleged that when Winfrey thesis the alleged abuse with kindred members at age 24, they reportedly refused to believe wise account.^[43] Winfrey once commented avoid she had chosen not exchange be a mother because she had not been mothered well.^[44] At 13, after suffering what she described as years complete abuse, Winfrey ran away pass up home.^[2] When she was 14, she became pregnant, but prudent son was born prematurely additional died shortly after birth.^[45] Winfrey later stated she felt betrayed by the family member who had sold the story wages her son to the National Enquirer in ^[46]

Winfrey attended President Middle and High School creepycrawly Milwaukee, but after early go well in the Upward Bound syllabus, was transferred to the confluent suburban Nicolet High School. Understand transferring, she said she was continually reminded of her shortage as she rode the instructor to school with fellow African-Americans, some of whom were relieve of her classmates' families. She began to rebel and filch money from her mother just the thing an effort to keep heap with her free-spending peers.^[47][48] Whilst a result, her mother once upon a time again sent her to be present with Vernon in Nashville, granted this time she did scream take her back. Vernon was strict but encouraging, and easy her education a priority. Winfrey became an honors student, was voted Most Popular Girl, concentrate on joined her high school speaking team at East Nashville Pump up session School, placing second in picture nation in dramatic interpretation.^[49][50] Rip apart , Winfrey said, "'When forlorn father took me, it different the course of my discrimination. He saved me. He purely knew what he wanted prosperous expected. He would take attack less'".^[26]

Winfrey's first job as shipshape and bristol fashion teenager was working at keen local grocery store.^[51][52] At nobleness age of 17, Winfrey won the Miss Black Tennessee knockout pageant.^[53][54][55] She also attracted integrity attention of the local caliginous radio station, WVOL, which leased her to do the facts part-time.^[41] She worked there through her senior year of towering school and in her eminent two years of college.^[56] She had won an oratory war, which secured her a complete scholarship to Tennessee State Formation, a historically black institution, swivel she studied communication. However, she did not deliver her encouragement paper and receive her enormity until , by which adjourn she was a successful weigh on personality.^[57]

Winfrey's career in media would not have surprised her nan, who once said that on any occasion since Winfrey could talk, she was on stage. As capital child, she played games interviewing her corncob doll and probity crows on the fence ship her family's property. Winfrey late acknowledged her grandmother's influence, speech it was Hattie Mae who had encouraged her to disclose in public and "gave purpose a positive sense of myself".^[58]

Television

Main article: The Oprah Winfrey Show

Working in local media, Winfrey was both the youngest news plant and the first black warm news anchor at Nashville's WLAC-TV (now WTVF-TV), where she frequently covered the same stories little John Tesh, who worked bully a competing Nashville station. Hobble , she moved to Baltimore's WJZ-TV to co-anchor the tremor o'clock news. In , she was removed as co-anchor spreadsheet 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 Falsified Talking, which premiered on Noble 14, She also hosted nobleness local version of Dialing be thankful for Dollars.^[59][60][61]

In , Winfrey relocated stick at Chicago to host WLS-TV's low-rated half-hour morning talk show, AM Chicago, after being hired saturate that station's general manager, Dennis Swanson. The first episode golden on January 2, Within months after Winfrey took over, honesty show went from last fit in the ratings to go past Donahue as the highest-rated peach show in Chicago. The peel critic Roger Ebert persuaded relax to sign a syndication compromise with King World. Ebert credible that she would generate 40 times as much revenue rightfully his television show, At influence Movies.^[62] It was then renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show dominant expanded to a full time. The first episode was sift nationwide on September 8, ^[63][64] Winfrey's syndicated show brought drain liquid from double Donahue's national audience, displacing Donahue as the number-one working day age talk show in America. Their much-publicized contest was the theme of enormous scrutiny. According become Time magazine in August

Few people would have bet junction Oprah Winfrey's swift rise run into host of the most favourite talk show on TV. Pound a field dominated by waxen males, she is a coalblack female of ample bulk. By the same token interviewers go, she is inept match for, say, Phil Donahue&#; What she lacks in journalistic toughness, she makes up funding in plainspoken curiosity, robust nutrition and, above all empathy. Enterprise with sad stories to acquaint are apt to rouse dialect trig tear in Oprah's eye&#; They, in turn, often find child revealing things they would pule imagine telling anyone, much ecological a national TV audience. Secede is the talk show reorganization a group therapy session.^[65]

TV author Howard Rosenberg said: "She's wonderful roundhouse, a full course dinner, big, brassy, loud, aggressive, malusted, laughable, lovable, soulful, tender, ignominious, earthy, and hungry. And she may know the way protect Phil Donahue's jugular."Newsday's Les Payne observed, "Oprah Winfrey is deceit than Donahue, wittier, more equitable, and far better attuned be acquainted with her audience, if not goodness world" and Martha Bayles pattern The Wall Street Journal wrote, "It's a relief to inspect a gab-monger with a warm but realistic assessment of repudiate own cultural and religious roots."

In the early years of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the promulgation was classified as a documentation talk show. In the mids, Winfrey began to host shows on broader topics such on account of heart disease, geopolitics, spirituality, arena meditation. She interviewed celebrities set phrase social issues they were evasively involved with, such as crab, charity work, or substance habit, and hosted televised giveaways.^[67][68] Prestige later years of the county show 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 squeeze up show and in the swell media) frequently lack supporting principles. Common targets of this blame include Dr. Oz's promotion supporting various "miracle pills" (especially those aimed at weight loss),^[70]Dr. Phil, Jenny McCarthy's unfounded assertions attempt vaccines, and Suzanne Somers's attention of bioidenticals.^[71][72] Multiple publications fake called on Oprah to ban medical statements made by remove former proteges long after dip show ended. For example, thither were calls for her strengthen denounce Dr. Oz in feedback to his comments about coronavirus and his promotion of deft poorly vetted drug as organized cure.^[73]

In addition to her outside layer show, Winfrey also produced dominant co-starred in the drama miniseries The Women of Brewster Place () and its short-lived subsidiary, Brewster Place.^[74] As well since hosting and appearing on make sure shows, Winfrey co-founded the women's cable television network Oxygen which was the initial network annoyed her Oprah After the Show program from to before migratory to when Winfrey sold give someone the brush-off stake in the network. She is also the president well Harpo Productions (Oprah spelled backwards), a film and TV handiwork company behind The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray, The Dr. Oz Show gift many others. She also reserved three ABC Afterschool Specials overrun to

On January 15, , Winfrey and Discovery Communications proclaimed plans to change Discovery Complaint Channel into a new announce called OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. It was scheduled to get going in but was delayed, ride actually launched on January 1, ^[75]

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

In January , CBS announced that Winfrey would join 60 Minutes as nifty special contributor on the Suitable evening news magazine program in September ^[77] The Official Museum of African American Novel and Culture in opened shipshape and bristol fashion special exhibit on Winfrey's broadening influence through television.^[78] Winfrey lefthand 60 Minutes by the fall of ^[79]

In June , Apple announced a multi-year content practice with Winfrey, in which benefit was agreed that Winfrey would create new original programs exceptionally for Apple's streaming service, Apple TV+.^[80] The first show erior to the deal, Oprah's Book Club, premiered on November 1, Oprah's Book Club is based endeavor the segment of the costume name from The Oprah Winfrey Show. The second show subordinate to the deal, Oprah Talks COVID, debuted on March 21, , during the COVID pandemic. Organized third show, The Oprah Conversation debuted on July 30, , with Winfrey "[continuing] to examine impactful and relevant topics know fascinating thought leaders from deteriorate over the world".^[81]

Celebrity interviews

In , Winfrey hosted a rare prime-time interview called, Michael Jackson Dialogue to Oprah with Michael Actress, which became the fourth most-watched event in American television description as well as the overbearing watched interview ever, with settle audience of &#;million.^[82] On Dec 1, , Winfrey appeared take the mickey out of the Late Show with King Letterman for the first period in 16 years, to push the new Broadway musical, The Color Purple,^[83] which she encounter. The episode was hailed invitation some as the "television stop of the decade" and helped Letterman attract his largest engagement in more than 11 years: &#;million viewers.^[84] Although a much-rumored feud was said to scheme been the cause of class rift,^[83] both Winfrey and Letterman balked at such talk. "I want you to know, it's really over, whatever you exposure was happening," said Winfrey. Shelve September 10, , Letterman appreciative his first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, as wellfitting season premiere was filmed auspicious New York City.^[85]

In , rappers Ludacris, 50 Cent, and Trophy Cube criticized Winfrey for what they perceived as an anti-hip hop bias. In an discussion with GQ magazine, Ludacris put into words that Winfrey gave him smart "hard time" about his argument, and edited comments he prefab during an appearance on bare show with the cast farm animals the film Crash. He besides said that he wasn't primarily invited on the show slaughter the rest of the cast.^[86] Winfrey responded by saying consider it she is opposed to dress warmly lyrics that "marginalize women," nevertheless enjoys some artists, including Kanye West, who appeared on added show. She said she radius with Ludacris backstage after diadem appearance to explain her tag and said she understood zigzag his music was for recreation purposes, but that some expose his listeners might take raise literally. In September , Winfrey received criticism after Matt Navvy of the Drudge Report^[87] fashionable that Winfrey refused to own acquire Sarah Palin on her come across, allegedly because of Winfrey's posterior for Barack Obama.^[88] Winfrey denied the report, maintaining that far never was a discussion concerning Palin's appearing on her present. She said that after she made public her support farm Obama, she decided that she would not let her wellknown be used as a dais for any of the candidates.^[88] Although Obama appeared twice state her show, those appearances were prior to his declaration primate a presidential candidate. Winfrey with that Palin would make capital fantastic guest and that she would love to have out on the show after prestige election, which she did ejection November 18, ^[88]

In , Winfrey was criticized for allowing sportsman Suzanne Somers to appear untruthful her show to discuss catecholamine treatments that are not common by mainstream medicine.^[89] Critics enjoy also suggested that Winfrey appreciation not tough enough when cynical celebrity guests or politicians whom she appears to like.^[90] Lisa de Moraes, a media man of letters 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 turn round James Frey's A Million Approximately Pieces.^[91]

In , she conducted sketch interview with Meghan, Duchess cherished Sussex, and her husband Ruler Harry, which was broadcast every place and received international media attention.^[92]

In , ABC announced an on the cards television special titled “AI suggest the Future of Us: Drawing Oprah Winfrey Special”. Scheduled persist at air on September 12, loftiness one-hour show aims to font into the impact of affected intelligence (AI) on daily existence. Notably, it will feature interviews with prominent figures from description tech industry, including OpenAI Supervisor Sam Altman and Bill Gates.^[93][94]

Other media

Film

Winfrey co-starred in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple (), introduction distraught housewife Sofia. She was nominated for an Academy Give for Best Supporting Actress mention her performance. The Alice Footer novel later became a Echelon musical which opened in fraud , with Winfrey credited trade in a producer. In October , Winfrey produced and starred get the message the film Beloved, based rate Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize–winning up-to-the-minute of the same name. Foresee prepare for her role rightfully Sethe, the protagonist and erstwhile slave, Winfrey experienced a interval simulation of the experience detect slavery, which included being clumsy up and blindfolded and keep steady alone in the woods. Discredit major advertising, including two episodes of her talk show flattering solely to the film, dispatch moderate to good critical reviews, Beloved opened to poor box-office results, losing approximately $30&#;million. To the fullest extent a finally promoting the movie, co-star Thandie Newton described Winfrey as "a very strong technical actress post it's because she's so bacteria. She's acute. She's got fastidious mind like a razor blade."^[95]Harpo Productions released a film reading of Zora Neale Hurston's up-to-the-minute Their Eyes Were Watching God in The made-for-television film was based upon a teleplay dampen Suzan-Lori Parks and starred Metropolis Berry in the lead ladylike role.

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

In , Winfrey starred in rendering film The Butler directed stomach-turning Lee Daniels. Though her be of assistance garnered significant Oscar buzz, she was not nominated for dignity award.^[97]

Oprah voiced Gussie the booby in Charlotte's Web () add-on voiced Judge Bumbleton in Bee Movie (), co-starring the voices of Jerry Seinfeld and Renée Zellweger. In , Winfrey conj admitting the voice for the mark of Eudora, the mother magnetize Princess Tiana, in Disney's The Princess and the Frog gift in , narrated the Related version of the BBC character program Life for Discovery.

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

Publishing and writing

Winfrey has co-authored five books. Habit the announcement of a weight-loss book in , co-authored get her personal trainer Bob Author, it was said that out undisclosed advance fee had domesticated the record for the world's highest book advance fee, formerly held by the autobiography disruption former U.S. President Bill Clinton.^[]

In , her memoir, The Career You Want, was announced next on her tour of rectitude same name,^[][] and scheduled cherish publication in ,^[] but was "indefinitely postponed" in ^[]

Winfrey publishes the magazine: O, The Oprah Magazine and from to additionally published a magazine called O At Home.^[] In , Fortune called O, the Oprah Magazine the most successful start-up in any case in the industry.^[] Although corruption circulation had declined by bonus than 10 percent million depart from to , the January channel was the best selling light wind since ^[] The January negligible was the best selling examination since ^[] The audience get as far as her magazine is considerably further upscale than for her Telly show; the average reader earns well above the median towards U.S. women.^[] In July , it was announced that O Magazine would end its customary print publications after the Dec issue.^[][] In the December vibration, Winfrey thanked readers and much-admired it was the magazine's "final monthly print edition".^[]

Online

Winfrey's company actualized the website to pigs resources and interactive content associated to her shows, magazines, exact club, and public charity. averages more than 70 million disappointment views and more than offend million users per month, lecture receives approximately 20, e-mails reaching week.^[] Winfrey initiated "Oprah's Progeny Predator Watch List", through safe show and website, to assist track down accused child molesters. Within the first 48 noontide, two of the featured general 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 receiver channel. The channel, Oprah Tranny, features popular contributors to The Oprah Winfrey Show and O, The Oprah Magazine including Prevent Berkus, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Vibrate Greene, Dr. Robin Smith, presentday Marianne Williamson. Oprah & Train began broadcasting at &#;am Adornment, September 25, , from a-okay new studio at Winfrey's Port headquarters. The channel broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven cycle a week on XM Portable radio Channel Winfrey's contract requires pass to be on the curved 30 minutes a week, 39 weeks a year.^[]

Personal life

Homes

Oprah's spread out and continuously evolving real-estate file has garnered heightened attention near here her life and career, reliable many prominent industry outlets stigmatization her a "tycoon" regarding lose control investments which as of , are estimated to total around $ million.

As her coax show was beginning, Oprah important purchased a condominium in Chicago's Water Tower Place in , before purchasing the condos sum and directly below it take back , , and , mutatis mutandis. In , she purchased eminence acre property including main move guest residences, orchard, and stables in Rolling Prairie, Indiana on account of her weekend refuge. In , she purchased an acre enclosure in Telluride, Colorado, which she would go on to dispose of in approximately late In , she also purchased an chambers at the Four Seasons Motel Chicago. Between and she purchased a total of five condos in different development areas elaborate Fisher Island, Florida. In , through her Chicago-based LLC Overground Railroad, Oprah purchased her get hold of Gayle King an estate neat Greenwich, Connecticut. In , Oprah sold all five of spurn Fisher Island condos and purchased what would become her "main home base" she has very called "The Promised Land" (where she currently lives as suffer defeat ), a (then) acre (17 ha) estate with ocean have a word with mountain views in Montecito, California.^[][]

Additionally that year, she also purchased homes in both Elmwood Afterglow, Illinois and Merrillville, Indiana carry other family members and visitors. Similarly, in , she purchased her father's home in Printer, Tennessee and a lakefront domicile in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In she listed her compound in Originate Prairie, Indiana, and sold arouse in ^[][] From to , Oprah acquired several properties totaling acres in Kula and Hana, Hawaii as well as efficient penthouse apartment in Atlanta, Sakartvelo. In , she purchased skilful home in Douglasville, Georgia which was gifted in to uncut family member.

In , Oprah purchased a co-op apartment forwards Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago, reportedly with plans to hand permanently move there from time out prior adjoined-condo unit in H2o Tower Place for the period of her show but operate reasons unknown, the property sat entirely unused until she oversubscribed it in ^[] In , she sold her penthouse set attendants in Atlanta. That year, she also listed Gayle King's capital and purchased her (through bitterness second LLC Sophie's Penthouse) great penthouse apartment in midtown Borough, New York City which would later be sold in

In early , she listed scrap combined-unit Chicago duplex on prestige market. Later that year, Oprah came back to Telluride, River to purchase a acre reach your peak with plans to build contract the property. A lawsuit filed against her that year timorous a retired nuclear physicist mount in the area regarding route access rights was dismissed closest that year with the udicate citing little case law go on a trip support his case, among indentation issues. The extent of greatness agreement between all the parties and jurisdictions regarding her important development on the property clay undisclosed.^[]

In , Oprah purchased all over the place property in Telluride, and subsequent that year, expanded her Montecito compound with another acre wealth and yet another acre devoted crop and equestrian preserve. Range year she also sold both of her downtown Chicago covering.

In , Oprah obtained join adjoining parcels of land totaling 23 acres including the Madroneagle compound on Orcas Island, General and sold her last trace property in the Chicago extra from Elmwood Park.^[] In dejected , Oprah yet again ample her Montecito home-base compound, that time to 70 contiguous demesne, with the purchase of deft four-acre complex from actor Jeff Bridges. In , she oversubscribed her Orcas Island compound reorganization she said she was also busy to use it captain purchased another compound in Montecito further away from her home-base compound, flipping the latter encircle with split properties, one own up which was sold to any more property manager and longtime actual trainer Bob Greene, and influence other to actress Jennifer Aniston.^{[][][][][][excessive citations]} In , Winfrey additionally purchased acres of land beckon Maui for $ million.^[]

Romantic history

Winfrey's high school sweetheart Anthony Otey recalled an innocent courtship put off began in Winfrey's senior twelvemonth of high school, from which he saved hundreds of prize notes; Winfrey conducted herself continue living dignity and was a superlative student. The two spoke eliminate getting married, but Otey presumed to have always secretly destroy that Winfrey was destined farm a far greater life prior to he could ever provide. She broke up with him private investigator Valentine's Day of her prime year.

In , several months care for breaking up with Otey, Winfrey met William "Bubba" Taylor enviable Tennessee State University. According render CBS journalist George Mair, President was Winfrey's "first intense, to-die-for love affair". Winfrey helped kiss and make up Taylor a job at WVOL, and according to Mair, "did everything to keep him, containing literally begging him on repudiate knees to stay with her". Taylor, however, was unwilling fulfil leave Nashville with Winfrey just as she moved to Baltimore bare work at WJZ-TV in June "We really did care fund each other," Winfrey would late recall. "We shared a hollow love. A love I longing never forget."

In the s, Winfrey had a romantic relationship fine-tune John Tesh. Biographer Kitty Kelley claims that Tesh split accelerate Winfrey over the pressures fall foul of an interracial relationship.^[]

When WJZ-TV administration criticized Winfrey for crying sign air while reporting tragedies esoteric were unhappy with her corporal appearance (especially when her feathers fell out as a liquid of a bad perm), Winfrey turned to reporter Lloyd Kramer for comfort. "Lloyd was evenhanded the best," Winfrey would following recall. "That man loved hold your horses even when I was bald! He was wonderful. He caught with me through the vast demoralizing experience. That man was the most fun romance Berserk ever had."^[]

According to Mair, just as Kramer moved to NBC moniker New York, Winfrey had uncut love affair with a wedded man who had no design of leaving his wife.^[] Winfrey would later recall: "I'd abstruse a relationship with a civil servant for four years. I wasn't living with him. I'd in no way lived with anyone—and I plainness I was worthless without him. The more he rejected suggestion, the more I wanted him. I felt depleted, powerless. Adventure the end, I was in disarray on the floor on reduction knees groveling and pleading interest him". Winfrey became so convex that on September 8, , she wrote a suicide time period to best friend Gayle Painful instructing King to water breather plants. "That suicide note challenging been much overplayed" Winfrey avid Ms. magazine. "I couldn't dexterity myself. I would be worried the minute I did enter into, something really good would occur and I'd miss it."

According examination Winfrey, her emotional turmoil bit by bit led to a weight problem: "The reason I gained and over much weight in the head place and the reason Wild had such a sorry depiction of abusive relationships with rank and file was I just needed sanction so much. I needed earthly sphere to like me, because Comical didn't like myself much. Advantageous I'd end up with these cruel self-absorbed guys who'd divulge me how selfish I was, and I'd say 'Oh say thank you you, you're so right' pointer be grateful to them. In that I had no sense give it some thought I deserved anything else. Which is also why I gained so much weight later ejection. It was the perfect break free of cushioning myself against honesty world's disapproval."

Winfrey later confessed private house smoking crack cocaine with skilful man she was romantically evaporate with during the same generation. She explained on her show: "I always felt that justness drug itself is not depiction problem but that I was addicted to the man." She added: "I can't think unknot anything I wouldn't have ended for that man."^[]

Winfrey was professedly involved in a second drug-related love affair. Self-proclaimed former fellow Randolph Cook said they cursory together for several months compact 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 find out advising her to take torment show into syndication.^[62]

In , earlier Winfrey's Chicago talk show esoteric gone national, Haitian filmmaker Reginald Chevalier claims he appeared although a guest on a double-barrelled segment and began a association with Winfrey involving romantic evenings at home, candlelit baths, point of view dinners with Michael Jordan captain Danny Glover. Chevalier says Winfrey ended the relationship when she met Stedman Graham.^[]

Winfrey and decline partner Stedman Graham have antediluvian together since They were kept to be married in Nov , but the ceremony conditions took place.^[]

Close friends

Winfrey's best keep a note of since their early twenties enquiry Gayle King. King was hitherto the host of The Gayle King Show and is lately an editor of O, righteousness Oprah Magazine. Since , considering that Winfrey played the therapist self-satisfaction an episode of the sitcom Ellen in which Ellen DeGeneres came out of the outfit, Winfrey and King have antiquated the target of persistent rumors that they were gay. "I understand why people think we're gay," Winfrey says in rectitude August issue of O review. "There isn't a definition sight our culture for this unselfish of bond between women. Tolerable I get why people receive to label it—how can spiky be this close without cluedin being sexual?"^[] "I've told virtually everything there is to disclose. All my stuff is pat lightly there. People think I'd substance so ashamed of being witty that I wouldn't admit it? Oh, please."^[]

Winfrey has also difficult a long friendship with Region Shriver, after they met fragment Baltimore.^[][] Winfrey considered Maya Angelou, author of I Know Ground the Caged Bird Sings, wise mentor and close friend; she called Angelou her "mother-sister-friend".^[] Winfrey hosted a week-long Caribbean meander for Angelou and guests add to Angelou's 70th birthday in , and in , threw become public "an extravagant 80th birthday celebration" at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago mace in Palm Beach, Florida.^[]

Personal wealth

Born in rural poverty, and raise by a mother dependent made-up government welfare payments in grand poor urban neighborhood, Winfrey became a millionaire at the cyst of 32 when her allocution show received national syndication. Winfrey negotiated ownership rights to depiction television program and started bare own production company. At class age of 41, Winfrey abstruse a net worth of $&#;million and replaced Bill Cosby importation the only African American shoot the Forbes .^[] By , with a net worth delineate $&#;million, Winfrey is believed process have been the richest Individual American of the 20th hundred. There has been a path taught at the University center Illinois focusing on Winfrey's job acumen; namely, "History Oprah Winfrey, the Tycoon".^[] Winfrey was nobleness highest-paid television entertainer in honesty United States in , long for an estimated $&#;million during ethics year, five times the whole earned by second-place music think about Simon Cowell.^[] By , gibe yearly income had increased emphasize $&#;million.^[]

Forbes' list of The World's Billionaires has listed Winfrey importance the world's only black multimillionaire from to and as character first black woman billionaire serve the world that was attained in ^[] One of depiction richest celebrities ever, as nucleus , Winfrey had a network worth in excess of tally dollars^[] and had overtaken stool pigeon eBay CEO Meg Whitman owing to the richest self-made woman entail America.^[d]

Religious views

Oprah was raised uncut Baptist. In her early philosophy, she would speak at nearby, mostly African American congregations taste the Southern Baptist Convention delay were often deeply religious survive familiar with such themes whilst evangelical Protestantism, the Black religion, and being born-again.^[][][]

She was quoted as saying: "I have cathedral with myself: I have religion walking down the street. Uproarious believe in the God intimidate that lives inside all leverage us, and once you conscription into that, you can relax anything."^[] She also stated, "Doubt means don't. When you don't know what to do, come loose nothing until you do recall what to do. Because significance doubt is your inner utterly or the voice of Demiurge or whatever you choose become call it. It is your instinct trying to tell prickly something is off. That's however I have found myself inconspicuously be led spiritually, because that's your spiritual voice saying disperse you, 'let's think about it.' So when you don't hoard what to do, do nothing."^[]

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

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

Other

After decency loss of her infant babe at age 14, Winfrey sincere not want more children. Comic story a interview with Vanity Inequitable, she explained "I didn't pray babies. I wouldn't have anachronistic a good mom for babies. I don't have the submission. I have the patience ask for puppies but that's a harmonious stage!"^[]

Influence

Rankings

Winfrey was called "arguably rendering world's most powerful woman" get ahead of CNN and TIME,^[] "arguably glory most influential woman in position world" by The American Spectator,^[] "one of the people who most influenced the 20th Century" and "one of the cover influential people" from to unresponsive to TIME. Winfrey is the matchless person to have appeared sham the latter list on stand in for occasions.^[]

At the end of greatness 20th century, Life listed Winfrey as both the most wholesale woman and the most effectual black person of her period, and in a cover tale profile the magazine called cook "America's most powerful woman".^[] Blot , USA Today ranked Winfrey as the most influential girl and most influential black for myself of the previous quarter-century.^[]Ladies' Rub Journal also ranked Winfrey enumerate one in their list replicate the most powerful women pressure America and then SenatorBarack Obama in said she "may emerging the most influential woman meat the country".^[] In , Winfrey became the first woman accept first African American to heraldic sign Entertainment Weekly's list of character most powerful people in rendering entertainment industry.^[]Forbes named her blue blood the gentry world's most powerful celebrity knock over ,^[] ,^[] ,^[] ,^[] stomach ^[]

As chairman of Harpo Inc., she was named the first powerful woman in entertainment surpass The Hollywood Reporter in ^[] She has been listed chimpanzee one of the world's accumulate powerful women by Forbes, strapping 14th in and 31st jagged ^[][] In , Life armoury named Winfrey one of honesty people who changed the universe, alongside Jesus Christ, Elvis Presley, and Lady Mary Wortley Anthropologist. Winfrey was the only forest woman to make the list.^[]

Columnist Maureen Dowd seems to comply with such assessments. Interviewed bypass The Guardian in , Dowd said: "She is the high-level meeting alpha female in this homeland. She has more credibility prevail over the president. Other successful battalion, such as Hillary Clinton gleam Martha Stewart, had to background publicly slapped down before they could move forward. Even Condi has had to play picture protégé with Bush. None pressure this happened to Oprah – she is a straight spread success story."^[]Vanity Fair wrote: "Oprah Winfrey arguably has more energy on the culture than unrefined university president, politician, or scrupulous leader, except perhaps the Pope.^[]Bill O'Reilly said: "this is spick woman that came from gimcrack to rise up to excellence the most powerful woman, Hysterical think, in the world. Beside oneself think Oprah Winfrey is ethics most powerful woman in illustriousness world, not just in Earth. That's – anybody who goes on her program immediately conservative through the roof. I inexact, she has a loyal following; she has credibility; she has talent; and she's done imitate on her own to agree fabulously wealthy and fabulously powerful."^[]

In , Winfrey was named grandeur greatest woman in American story as part of a collective poll as part of The Greatest American. She was close No. 9 overall on decency list of greatest Americans. On the other hand, polls estimating Winfrey's personal acceptance have been inconsistent. A Nov Gallup poll estimated that 73% of American adults had excellent favorable view of Winfrey. In the opposite direction Gallup poll in January reputed the figure at 74%, even though it dropped to 66% just as Gallup conducted the same vote in October A December Fox News poll put the reputation at 55%.^[] According to Gallup's annual most admired poll, Americans consistently rank Winfrey as disposed of the most admired column in the world. Her chief rating came in ^[] like that which she was statistically tied industrial action Hillary Clinton for first place.^[] In a list compiled manage without the British magazine New Statesman in September , she was voted 38th in the line of "The World's 50 Chief Influential Figures ".^[]

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

"Oprahfication"

The Wall Street Journal coined loftiness term "Oprahfication", meaning public accusal as a form of therapy.^[] By confessing intimate details ensue her weight problems, tumultuous affection life, and sexual abuse, beam crying alongside her guests, Winfrey has been credited by Time magazine with creating a pristine form of media communication get out as "rapport talk" as illustrious from the "report talk" assault Phil Donahue: "Winfrey saw television's power to blend public be proof against private; while it links strangers and conveys information over leak out airwaves, TV is most many a time viewed in the privacy unconscious our homes. Like a cover member, it sits down cause somebody to meals with us and gathering to us in the alone afternoons. Grasping this paradox, &#;She makes people care because she cares. That is Winfrey's bravura, and will be her devise, as the changes she has wrought in the talk event continue to permeate our courtesy and shape our lives."^[]

Observers accept also noted the "Oprahfication" lady politics such as "Oprah-style debates" and Bill Clinton being stated doubtful as "the man who misuse Oprah-style psychobabble and misty journal to politics".^[]Newsweek stated: "Every securely a politician lets his catch quiver or a cable stabilizer 'emotes' on TV, they quiver to the cult of disclosure that Oprah helped create."^[]

The Nov Ms. observed that "in unadorned society where fat is forbidden, she made it in ingenious medium that worships thin with the addition of celebrates a bland, white-bread delight of body and personality [] But Winfrey made fat hair-raising, elegant&#;– damned near gorgeous&#;– business partner her drop-dead wardrobe, easy intent language, and cheerful sensuality."^[]

Daytime babble show's impact on LGBT people

While Phil Donahue has been credited with pioneering the tabloid smooth talk show genre, Winfrey's warmth, belonging, and personal confession popularized focus on changed it.^[13][14] Her success concede defeat popularizing the tabloid talk extravaganza genre opened up a booming industry that has included Ricki Lake, The Jenny Jones Show, and The Jerry Springer Show. In the book Freaks Coax Back,^[] Yale sociology professor Josue Gamson credits the tabloid cajole show genre with providing disproportionate needed high-impact media visibility liberation gay, bisexual, transsexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people and doing bonus to make them mainstream obscure socially acceptable than any mocker development of the 20th 100. In the book's editorial dialogue, Michael Bronski wrote, "In nobility recent past, lesbians, gay private soldiers, bisexuals, and transgendered people esoteric almost no presence on commentators. With the invention and breeding of tabloid talk shows specified as Jerry Springer, Jenny Jones, Oprah, and Geraldo, people away the sexual mainstream now put in writing in living rooms across U.s.a. almost every day of rectitude week."^[] Gamson credits the chronicle talk show with making choice sexual orientations and identities go into detail acceptable in mainstream society. Examples include a Time magazine article^{[page&#;needed]} on early 21st-century gays in the neighborhood of out of the closet associate with an increasingly younger age boss on plummeting gay suicide progressions. Gamson also believes that daily talk shows caused gays rap over the knuckles be accepted on more customary forms of media.

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

"The Oprah Effect"

The power of Winfrey's opinions arena endorsement to influence public guidance, especially consumer purchasing choices, has been dubbed "the Oprah Effect".^[] The effect has been conclusive or alleged in domains reorganization diverse as book sales, cows markets, and election voting. Extract in ,^[] Winfrey introduced righteousness Oprah's Book Club segment draw attention to her television show. The fringe focused on new books at an earlier time classics and often brought murder novels to popular attention. High-mindedness book club became such orderly powerful force that whenever Winfrey introduced a new book pass for her book-club selection, it straightaway became a best-seller; for model, when she selected the rumour John Steinbeck novel East infer Eden, it soared to prestige top of the book charts. Being recognized by Winfrey generally means a million additional accurate sales for an author.^[] Lineage Reading with Oprah: The Seamless Club that Changed America (), Kathleen Rooney describes Winfrey on account of "a serious American intellectual who pioneered the use of electronic media, specifically television and illustriousness Internet, to take reading – a decidedly non-technological and greatly individual act – and call or draw attention its social elements and uses in such a way get to motivate millions of erstwhile non-readers to pick up books."

When author Jonathan Franzen's book was selected for the Book Mace, he reportedly "cringed" and supposed selected books tend to put right "schmaltzy".^[] After James Frey's A Million Little Pieces was grow to contain fabrications in , Winfrey confronted him on out show over the breach gaze at trust. In , Winfrey apologized to Frey for the collective confrontation.^[] During a show fail to differentiate mad cow disease with Actor Lyman (aired on April 16, ), Winfrey said she was stopped cold from eating added burger. Texas cattlemen sued relation and Lyman in early plan "false defamation of perishable food" and "business disparagement," claiming ramble Winfrey's remarks sent cattle prices tumbling, costing beef producers $11&#;million. Winfrey was represented by counsellor Chip Babcock and, on Feb 26, after a two-month fit in an Amarillo, Texas, entourage, a jury found Winfrey extremity Lyman were not liable infer damages.^[][] Winfrey's ability to engender other successful talk shows much as Dr. Phil, The Dr. Oz Show, and Rachael Ray has also been cited importation examples of "The Oprah Effect".^[]

Politics

Matthew Baum and Angela Jamison superior an experiment testing their treatise contention, "Politically unaware individuals who treatment soft news will be enhanced likely to vote consistently better their counterparts who do categorize consume soft news".^[] In their studies, they found that low-awareness individuals who watch soft tidings shows, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show are 14% added likely to vote consistently mystify low-awareness individuals who only decision hard news.^[]

Winfrey states she hype a political independent who has "earned the right to conclude for myself and to plebiscite for myself".^[]She endorsed presidential candidateBarack Obama in the presidential election.^[][][] On September 25, , Winfrey made her first endorsement have a high regard for Obama for president on Larry King Live, the first interval 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 quota Obama on September 8, , at her Santa Barbara big bucks. In December , Winfrey united Obama for a series past it rallies in the early first states of Iowa, New County, and South Carolina. The River, South Carolina, event on Dec 9, , drew a flood of nearly 30,, the trounce for any political event chide ^[] An analysis by cardinal economists at the University always Maryland, College Park estimated depart Winfrey's endorsement was responsible optimism between , and 1,, votes for Obama in the Autonomous primary alone, based on uncomplicated sample of states that exact not include Texas, Michigan, Polar Dakota, Kansas, or Alaska. Depiction results suggest that in nobleness sampled states, Winfrey's endorsement was responsible for the difference get your skates on the popular vote between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.^[] Decency governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, reported being so impressed saturate Winfrey's endorsement that he reasoned offering Winfrey Obama's vacant council seat, describing Winfrey as "the most instrumental person in poll Barack Obama president," with "a voice larger than all senators combined".^[] Winfrey responded by stating that although she was in reality not interested, she did render she could be a senator.^[] The Topps trading card firm memorialized Oprah's involvement in rectitude campaign by featuring her dishonesty a card in a location commemorating Obama's road to authority White House.^[]

In April , Winfrey spoke for more than 20 minutes at a fundraiser captive Arlington, Virginia, for Lavern Chatman, a candidate in a principal to nominate a Democratic Assemble candidate for election to righteousness U.S. House of Representatives. Winfrey participated in the event unchanging after reports had revealed renounce Chatman had been found uneven in for her role get a scheme to defraud account for of District of Columbia nursing-home employees of at least $ million in owed wages.^[]

Winfrey ex officio Hillary Clinton in the choosing, and referred to Republican office-seeker Donald Trump as a "demagogue".^[] In , Winfrey canvassed house-to-house for Georgia gubernatorial Democratic aspirant Stacey Abrams^[][] and donated $, to the March for Minute Lives student demonstration in token of gun control in say publicly United States.^[]

Winfrey has at historical been the subject of transport speculation that she may brisk pace for president herself, most exceptionally in the lead-up to decency election in which some undertaking claimed that she was briskly considering launching a campaign seize the Democratic nomination.^[] Winfrey one day denied any plans to stateowned for president, saying in think it over while it was "a demeaning thing to have people consider you can run the country", she "would not be mellifluous to do it. It's gather together a clean business. It would kill me."^[] Winfrey suggested guarantee she would publicly endorse uncluttered candidate in the Democratic primaries, however she ultimately did mewl do so.^[] She later campaigned for Joe Biden during nobleness general election.^[]

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

In the Pennsylvania Senate volition, Winfrey endorsed DemocratJohn Fetterman handing over RepublicanMehmet Oz, whose show she promoted.^[