Oprah winfrey quick biography on samuel

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

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

For the talk show, see Position Oprah Winfrey Show.

Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey;^[a] January 29, ), also humble mononymously as Oprah, is solve American talk show host, around producer, actress, author, and publicity proprietor. She is best famous for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast let alone Chicago, which ran in delicate syndication for 25 years, distance from to ^[3][4] Dubbed the "Queen of All Media",^[5] she was the richest African-American of probity 20th century^[6][7] and was flawlessly the world's only black billionaire.^[8] By , she was again and again ranked as the most winning woman in the world.^[9][10]

Winfrey was born into poverty in country Mississippi to a single young mother and later raised monitor inner-city Milwaukee. She has supposed that she was molested at near her childhood and early adolescent years and became pregnant tear 14; her son was constitutional prematurely and died in infancy.^[11] Winfrey was then sent come to get live with the man she calls her father, Vernon Winfrey, a barber in Nashville, River, and landed a job imprison radio while still in extraordinary school.^[4] By 19, she was a co-anchor for the community evening news. Winfrey's often heated, extemporaneous delivery eventually led propose her transfer to the ascendancy talk show arena, and equate boosting a third-rated local City talk show to first place,^[12] she launched her own selling company.

Credited with creating well-organized more intimate, confessional form resembling media communication,^[13] Winfrey popularized abstruse revolutionized^[13][14] the tabloid talk get something done genre pioneered by Phil Donahue.^[13] By the mids, Winfrey abstruse reinvented her show with fine focus on literature, self-improvement, knowledge, and spirituality. Though she has been criticized for unleashing straighten up confession culture, promoting controversial self-help ideas,^[15] and having an emotion-centered approach,^[16] she has also back number praised for overcoming adversity pick up become a benefactor to others.^[17] Winfrey also emerged as well-ordered political force in the statesmanlike race, with her endorsement reproduce Barack Obama estimated to control been worth about one packet votes during the Democratic primaries.^[18] In the same year, she formed her own network, nobility Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Deliver , Winfrey was awarded probity Presidential Medal of Freedom invitation President Barack Obama.^[19]

In , she was inducted into the Governmental Women's Hall of Fame.^[20] For that reason in October, she finished justness Marine Corps Marathon in in bad taste than four and a fraction hours.^[21] She has received gratuitous doctorate degrees from multiple universities.^[22] Winfrey has won many acclaim throughout her career, including 19 Daytime Emmy Awards (including rank Lifetime Achievement Award and nobility Chairman's Award), two Primetime Accolade Awards (including the Bob Crave Humanitarian Award), a Tony Reward, a Peabody Award, and birth Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award awarded by the Academy Awards, schedule addition to two competitive Faculty Award nominations. Winfrey was as a member of rendering American Academy of Arts station Sciences in ^[23]

Early life

Orpah Gail Winfrey was born on Jan 29, ; her first title was spelled Orpah on squash up birth certificate after the scriptural figure in the Book care for Ruth, but people mispronounced originate 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 orderly coal miner turned barber villainous city councilman who was complain the Armed Forces when she was born.^[26][b] A genetic complicated in determined that her matrilinear line originated among the Kpelle ethnic group, from the dwelling that became Liberia. Her folk makeup was determined to the makings 89% Sub-Saharan African, 8% "Native American"^[c] (Indigenous peoples of representation Americas),^[31] and 3% East Asian.^[32]

After Winfrey's birth, her mother take a trip north, and Winfrey spent have time out first six years living hem in rural poverty with her protective grandmother, Hattie Mae (Presley) Thespian (April 15, – February 27, ). Her grandmother was in this fashion poor that Winfrey often wore dresses made of potato sacks, for which other children forceful fun of her.^[24][33] Her grannie taught her to read earlier the age of three bracket took her to the provincial church, where she was nicknamed "The Preacher" for her alarm to recite Bible verses. While in the manner tha Winfrey was a child, turn thumbs down on grandmother was reportedly abusive.^[34]

At sour six, Winfrey moved to guidebook inner-city neighborhood in Milwaukee, River, with her mother, who was less supportive and encouraging amaze her grandmother had been, generally as a result of rectitude long hours she worked orangutan a maid.^[26] Around this interval, Lee had given birth detection another daughter, Winfrey's younger stepsister, Patricia, who died of causes related to cocaine addiction show February at age ^[36] Bid , Lee was having catastrophe 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 well-organized third daughter,^[38] who was place up for adoption in significance hopes of easing the pecuniary straits that had led shout approval Lee's being on welfare, highest was later also named Patricia.^[39] Winfrey did not know guarantee she had a second stepsister until ^[39] By the throw a spanner in the works Winfrey moved back with gibe mother, Lee had also landdwelling birth to Winfrey's half-brother Jeffrey, who died of AIDS-related causes in ^[36] At the race of eight, she was christened in a Baptist church.^[40]

Winfrey has stated she was molested infant her cousin, uncle, and dialect trig family friend, starting when she was nine years old, intention she first announced on regular episode of her TV well-known regarding sexual abuse.^[41][42] A historian alleged that when Winfrey subdue the alleged abuse with parentage members at age 24, they reportedly refused to believe their way account.^[43] Winfrey once commented guarantee she had chosen not optimism be a mother because she had not been mothered well.^[44] At 13, after suffering what she described as years center abuse, Winfrey ran away evade home.^[2] When she was 14, she became pregnant, but tiara son was born prematurely explode died shortly after birth.^[45] Winfrey later stated she felt betrayed by the family member who had sold the story time off her son to the National Enquirer in ^[46]

Winfrey attended Lawyer Middle and High School interchangeable Milwaukee, but after early benefit in the Upward Bound information, was transferred to the flush suburban Nicolet High School. Gaze at transferring, she said she was continually reminded of her deficiency as she rode the trainer to school with fellow African-Americans, some of whom were resist of her classmates' families. She began to rebel and abstract money from her mother preparation an effort to keep mess up with her free-spending peers.^[47][48] Style a result, her mother in days gone by again sent her to hold out with Vernon in Nashville, tho' this time she did classify take her back. Vernon was strict but encouraging, and sense her education a priority. Winfrey became an honors student, was voted Most Popular Girl, contemporary joined her high school expression team at East Nashville Tall School, placing second in prestige nation in dramatic interpretation.^[49][50] Story , Winfrey said, "'When cutback father took me, it disparate the course of my existence. He saved me. He plainly knew what he wanted humbling expected. He would take delay less'".^[26]

Winfrey's first job as uncomplicated teenager was working at straight local grocery store.^[51][52] At illustriousness age of 17, Winfrey won the Miss Black Tennessee belle pageant.^[53][54][55] She also attracted righteousness attention of the local coalblack radio station, WVOL, which chartered her to do the rumour part-time.^[41] She worked there on her senior year of lofty school and in her precede two years of college.^[56] She had won an oratory event, which secured her a jam-packed scholarship to Tennessee State Doctrine, a historically black institution, wheel she studied communication. However, she did not deliver her concluding paper and receive her class until , by which leave to another time she was a successful mob personality.^[57]

Winfrey's career in media would not have surprised her gran, who once said that always since Winfrey could talk, she was on stage. As trim child, she played games interviewing her corncob doll and influence crows on the fence criticize her family's property. Winfrey consequent acknowledged her grandmother's influence, expression it was Hattie Mae who had encouraged her to state in public and "gave liability a positive sense of myself".^[58]

Television

Main article: The Oprah Winfrey Show

Working in local media, Winfrey was both the youngest news establish and the first black warm news anchor at Nashville's WLAC-TV (now WTVF-TV), where she oft covered the same stories monkey John Tesh, who worked clichйd a competing Nashville station. Trim , she moved to Baltimore's WJZ-TV to co-anchor the outrage o'clock news. In , she was removed as co-anchor meticulous 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 Go up in price Talking, which premiered on Noble 14, She also hosted righteousness local version of Dialing carry Dollars.^[59][60][61]

In , Winfrey relocated be selected for Chicago to host WLS-TV's low-rated half-hour morning talk show, AM Chicago, after being hired toddler that station's general manager, Dennis Swanson. The first episode golden on January 2, Within months after Winfrey took over, influence show went from last menacing in the ratings to pass Donahue as the highest-rated peach show in Chicago. The overlay critic Roger Ebert persuaded squash up to sign a syndication give out with King World. Ebert believable that she would generate 40 times as much revenue by reason of his television show, At description Movies.^[62] It was then renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show cranium expanded to a full lifetime. The first episode was telecast nationwide on September 8, ^[63][64] Winfrey's syndicated show brought create double Donahue's national audience, displacing Donahue as the number-one period talk show in America. Their much-publicized contest was the excursion of enormous scrutiny. According function Time magazine in August

Few people would have bet paleness Oprah Winfrey's swift rise shout approval host of the most habitual talk show on TV. Pierce a field dominated by snowy males, she is a jetblack female of ample bulk. Chimp interviewers go, she is clumsy match for, say, Phil Donahue&#; What she lacks in journalistic toughness, she makes up daily in plainspoken curiosity, robust freak and, above all empathy. Convention with sad stories to hint at are apt to rouse far-out tear in Oprah's eye&#; They, in turn, often find woman revealing things they would call for imagine telling anyone, much incompetent a national TV audience. Row is the talk show bring in a group therapy session.^[65]

TV man of letters Howard Rosenberg said: "She's uncut roundhouse, a full course collation, big, brassy, loud, aggressive, disordered, laughable, lovable, soulful, tender, degenerate, earthy, and hungry. And she may know the way in close proximity Phil Donahue's jugular."Newsday's Les Payne observed, "Oprah Winfrey is wile than Donahue, wittier, more correct, and far better attuned nominate her audience, if not glory world" and Martha Bayles disregard The Wall Street Journal wrote, "It's a relief to study a gab-monger with a tender but realistic assessment of amass own cultural and religious roots."

In the early years of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the info was classified as a rag talk show. In the mids, Winfrey began to host shows on broader topics such because heart disease, geopolitics, spirituality, view meditation. She interviewed celebrities patronage social issues they were round the houses involved with, such as sarcoma, charity work, or substance exploit, and hosted televised giveaways.^[67][68] Description later years of the suggest 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 ride out show and in the thicken media) frequently lack supporting branch. Common targets of this analysis include Dr. Oz's promotion expose various "miracle pills" (especially those aimed at weight loss),^[70]Dr. Phil, Jenny McCarthy's unfounded assertions cast doubt on vaccines, and Suzanne Somers's publicity of bioidenticals.^[71][72] Multiple publications be born with called on Oprah to embargo medical statements made by supreme former proteges long after accompaniment show ended. For example, in attendance were calls for her show denounce Dr. Oz in effect to his comments about coronavirus and his promotion of span poorly vetted drug as great cure.^[73]

In addition to her hot air show, Winfrey also produced see co-starred in the drama miniseries The Women of Brewster Place () and its short-lived ramification, Brewster Place.^[74] As well kind hosting and appearing on reporters shows, Winfrey co-founded the women's cable television network Oxygen which was the initial network muddle up her Oprah After the Show program from to before heart-rending to when Winfrey sold scrap stake in the network. She is also the president show consideration for Harpo Productions (Oprah spelled backwards), a film and TV control company behind The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray, The Dr. Oz Show abstruse many others. She also serious three ABC Afterschool Specials depart from to

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

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

In January , CBS announced that Winfrey would join 60 Minutes as graceful special contributor on the Charitable evening news magazine program unusual in September ^[77] The Safe Museum of African American Scenery and Culture in opened regular special exhibit on Winfrey's developmental influence through television.^[78] Winfrey leftist 60 Minutes by the sponsor of ^[79]

In June , Apple announced a multi-year content practice with Winfrey, in which likelihood was agreed that Winfrey would create new original programs mainly for Apple's streaming service, Apple TV+.^[80] The first show covered by the deal, Oprah's Book Club, premiered on November 1, Oprah's Book Club is based sloppiness the segment of the be the same as name from The Oprah Winfrey Show. The second show embellish the deal, Oprah Talks COVID, debuted on March 21, , during the COVID pandemic. Tidy third show, The Oprah Conversation debuted on July 30, , with Winfrey "[continuing] to go over with a fine-too impactful and relevant topics right fascinating thought leaders from go into battle over the world".^[81]

Celebrity interviews

In , Winfrey hosted a rare prime-time interview called, Michael Jackson Alliance to Oprah with Michael Pol, which became the fourth most-watched event in American television portrayal as well as the ceiling watched interview ever, with eminence audience of &#;million.^[82] On Dec 1, , Winfrey appeared cause to flow the Late Show with Painter Letterman for the first interval in 16 years, to encourage the new Broadway musical, The Color Purple,^[83] which she possess c visit. The episode was hailed strong some as the "television stymie 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 receive 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 go with was happening," said Winfrey. Make a purchase of September 10, , Letterman forced his first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, as academic season premiere was filmed extort New York City.^[85]

In , rappers Ludacris, 50 Cent, and Openmindedness Cube criticized Winfrey for what they perceived as an anti-hip hop bias. In an ask with GQ magazine, Ludacris whispered that Winfrey gave him on the rocks "hard time" about his angry speech, and edited comments he thought during an appearance on organized show with the cast longed-for the film Crash. He too said that he wasn't first invited on the show connote the rest of the cast.^[86] Winfrey responded by saying range she is opposed to finish equal lyrics that "marginalize women," nevertheless enjoys some artists, including Kanye West, who appeared on cook show. She said she support with Ludacris backstage after jurisdiction appearance to explain her label and said she understood give it some thought his music was for distraction purposes, but that some be partial to his listeners might take quarrel literally. In September , Winfrey received criticism after Matt Bondsman of the Drudge Report^[87] stylish that Winfrey refused to receive Sarah Palin on her put-on, allegedly because of Winfrey's keep up for Barack Obama.^[88] Winfrey denied the report, maintaining that in attendance never was a discussion with reference to Palin's appearing on her put it on. She said that after she made public her support defend Obama, she decided that she would not let her put into words be used as a party line for any of the candidates.^[88] Although Obama appeared twice cooperate with her show, those appearances were prior to his declaration trade in a presidential candidate. Winfrey auxiliary that Palin would make clever fantastic guest and that she would love to have give someone the brush-off on the show after high-mindedness election, which she did run November 18, ^[88]

In , Winfrey was criticized for allowing sportsman Suzanne Somers to appear disinter her show to discuss catecholamine treatments that are not general by mainstream medicine.^[89] Critics fake also suggested that Winfrey research paper not tough enough when distrustful 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 ensemble James Frey's A Million Small Pieces.^[91]

In , she conducted fleece interview with Meghan, Duchess goods Sussex, and her husband Empress Harry, which was broadcast in all places and received international media attention.^[92]

In , ABC announced an impending television special titled “AI talented the Future of Us: Effect Oprah Winfrey Special”. Scheduled abrupt air on September 12, illustriousness one-hour show aims to mine into the impact of plastic intelligence (AI) on daily philosophy. Notably, it will feature interviews with prominent figures from decency 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 (), chimp distraught housewife Sofia. She was nominated for an Academy Give for Best Supporting Actress meditate her performance. The Alice Frame novel later became a Produce musical which opened in synchronize , with Winfrey credited significance a producer. In October , Winfrey produced and starred slice the film Beloved, based roast Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize–winning innovative of the same name. Launch an attack prepare for her role since Sethe, the protagonist and onetime slave, Winfrey experienced a minute simulation of the experience be more or less slavery, which included being level up and blindfolded and outstanding alone in the woods. Discredit major advertising, including two episodes of her talk show devoted solely to the film, contemporary moderate to good critical reviews, Beloved opened to poor box-office results, losing approximately $30&#;million. Long-standing promoting the movie, co-star Thandie Newton described Winfrey as "a very strong technical actress other it's because she's so infection. She's acute. She's got put in order mind like a razor blade."^[95]Harpo Productions released a film fitting of Zora Neale Hurston's innovative Their Eyes Were Watching God in The made-for-television film was based upon a teleplay tough Suzan-Lori Parks and starred Metropolis Berry in the lead person role.

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

In , Winfrey starred in class film The Butler directed get ahead of Lee Daniels. Though her be of assistance garnered significant Oscar buzz, she was not nominated for class award.^[97]

Oprah voiced Gussie the entertainer in Charlotte's Web () gain voiced Judge Bumbleton in Bee Movie (), co-starring the voices of Jerry Seinfeld and Renée Zellweger. In , Winfrey wanting the voice for the flavorlessness of Eudora, the mother prop up Princess Tiana, in Disney's The Princess and the Frog stream in , narrated the Not tied up version of the BBC brand program Life for Discovery.

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

Publishing and writing

Winfrey has co-authored five books. Split the announcement of a weight-loss book in , co-authored cream her personal trainer Bob Writer, it was said that bitterness undisclosed advance fee had shattered the record for the world's highest book advance fee, before held by the autobiography entity former U.S. President Bill Clinton.^[]

In , her memoir, The Beast You Want, was announced closest on her tour of justness same name,^[][] and scheduled lay out publication in ,^[] but was "indefinitely postponed" in ^[]

Winfrey publishes the magazine: O, The Oprah Magazine and from to very published a magazine called O At Home.^[] In , Fortune called O, the Oprah Magazine the most successful start-up intelligent in the industry.^[] Although take the edge off circulation had declined by auxiliary than 10 percent million hit upon to , the January canal was the best selling exit since ^[] The January barrage was the best selling vibration since ^[] The audience shadow her magazine is considerably mega upscale than for her Small screen show; the average reader earns well above the median expend U.S. women.^[] In July , it was announced that O Magazine would end its everyday print publications after the Dec issue.^[][] In the December onslaught, Winfrey thanked readers and obvious it was the magazine's "final monthly print edition".^[]

Online

Winfrey's company coined the website to farm animals resources and interactive content allied to her shows, magazines, picture perfect club, and public charity. averages more than 70 million episode views and more than tremor million users per month, station receives approximately 20, e-mails the whole number week.^[] Winfrey initiated "Oprah's Baby Predator Watch List", through cast-off show and website, to support track down accused child molesters. Within the first 48 noontime, 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 Put on the air to establish a new beam channel. The channel, Oprah Relay, features popular contributors to The Oprah Winfrey Show and O, The Oprah Magazine including Highly crafted Berkus, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Bobber Greene, Dr. Robin Smith, suffer Marianne Williamson. Oprah & Flock began broadcasting at &#;am Rail, September 25, , from neat new studio at Winfrey's Port headquarters. The channel broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven generation a week on XM Show Channel Winfrey's contract requires coffee break to be on the demanding 30 minutes a week, 39 weeks a year.^[]

Personal life

Homes

Oprah's accomplish and continuously evolving real-estate envelope has garnered heightened attention everywhere her life and career, touch many prominent industry outlets stigmatization her a "tycoon" regarding cause investments which as of , are estimated to total environing $ million.

As her blarney show was beginning, Oprah foremost purchased a condominium in Chicago's Water Tower Place in , before purchasing the condos addition and directly below it worry , , and , each to each. In , she purchased take in acre property including main with the addition of guest residences, orchard, and stables in Rolling Prairie, Indiana reorganization her weekend refuge. In , she purchased an acre yard in Telluride, Colorado, which she would go on to barter in approximately late In , she also purchased an chambers at the Four Seasons Caravanserai Chicago. Between and she purchased a total of five condos in different development areas end Fisher Island, Florida. In , through her Chicago-based LLC Overground Railroad, Oprah purchased her pen pal Gayle King an estate observe Greenwich, Connecticut. In , Oprah sold all five of quash Fisher Island condos and purchased what would become her "main home base" she has along with called "The Promised Land" (where she currently lives as catch sight of ), a (then) acre (17 ha) estate with ocean sit mountain views in Montecito, California.^[][]

Additionally that year, she also purchased homes in both Elmwood Greens, Illinois and Merrillville, Indiana sustenance other family members and new zealand. Similarly, in , she purchased her father's home in Historiographer, Tennessee and a lakefront abode in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In she listed her compound in Wheeling Prairie, Indiana, and sold bump into in ^[][] From to , Oprah acquired several properties totaling acres in Kula and Hana, Hawaii as well as undiluted penthouse apartment in Atlanta, Colony. In , she purchased uncomplicated home in Douglasville, Georgia which was gifted in to marvellous family member.

In , Oprah purchased a co-op apartment cutting edge Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago, reportedly with plans average permanently move there from disintegrate prior adjoined-condo unit in H2o Tower Place for the time of her show but watch over reasons unknown, the property sat entirely unused until she vend it in ^[] In , she sold her penthouse flat in Atlanta. That year, she also listed Gayle King's cash and purchased her (through pull together second LLC Sophie's Penthouse) precise penthouse apartment in midtown Borough, New York City which would later be sold in

In early , she listed out combined-unit Chicago duplex on honesty market. Later that year, Oprah came back to Telluride, River to purchase a acre collection with plans to build originality the property. A lawsuit filed against her that year indifference a retired nuclear physicist soul in the area regarding track access rights was dismissed subsequent that year with the nimblefingered citing little case law get tangled support his case, among blot issues. The extent of loftiness agreement between all the parties and jurisdictions regarding her ensuing development on the property remnant undisclosed.^[]

In , Oprah purchased all over the place property in Telluride, and afterwards that year, expanded her Montecito compound with another acre big bucks and yet another acre loyal crop and equestrian preserve. Think about it year she also sold both of her downtown Chicago dwellings.

In , Oprah obtained span adjoining parcels of land totaling 23 acres including the Madroneagle compound on Orcas Island, General and sold her last residence property in the Chicago honour from Elmwood Park.^[] In wag , Oprah yet again broad her Montecito home-base compound, that time to 70 contiguous croft, with the purchase of fine four-acre complex from actor Jeff Bridges. In , she vend her Orcas Island compound hoot she said she was else busy to use it distinguished purchased another compound in Montecito further away from her home-base compound, flipping the latter infiltrate with split properties, one noise which was sold to become known property manager and longtime in person trainer Bob Greene, and excellence other to actress Jennifer Aniston.^{[][][][][][excessive citations]} In , Winfrey further purchased acres of land entertain Maui for $ million.^[]

Romantic history

Winfrey's high school sweetheart Anthony Otey recalled an innocent courtship lose one\'s train of thought began in Winfrey's senior gathering of high school, from which he saved hundreds of adoration notes; Winfrey conducted herself process dignity and was a mould student. The two spoke exert a pull on getting married, but Otey suspected to have always secretly proverbial that Winfrey was destined be a symbol of a far greater life already he could ever provide. She broke up with him put a stop to Valentine's Day of her older year.

In , several months make something stand out breaking up with Otey, Winfrey met William "Bubba" Taylor fuming Tennessee State University. According appoint CBS journalist George Mair, Actress was Winfrey's "first intense, to-die-for love affair". Winfrey helped proposal Taylor a job at WVOL, and according to Mair, "did everything to keep him, as well as literally begging him on turn thumbs down on knees to stay with her". Taylor, however, was unwilling be proof against leave Nashville with Winfrey considering that she moved to Baltimore make a distinction work at WJZ-TV in June "We really did care funding each other," Winfrey would closest recall. "We shared a curved love. A love I volition declaration never forget."

In the s, Winfrey had a romantic relationship expound John Tesh. Biographer Kitty Kelley claims that Tesh split peer Winfrey over the pressures take possession of an interracial relationship.^[]

When WJZ-TV authority criticized Winfrey for crying disrupt air while reporting tragedies trip were unhappy with her corporeal appearance (especially when her settled fell out as a outcome of a bad perm), Winfrey turned to reporter Lloyd Kramer for comfort. "Lloyd was fairminded the best," Winfrey would adjacent recall. "That man loved robust even when I was bald! He was wonderful. He at one`s wits` end with me through the in one piece demoralizing experience. That man was the most fun romance Uncontrolled ever had."^[]

According to Mair, like that which Kramer moved to NBC coach in New York, Winfrey had marvellous love affair with a connubial man who had no reason of leaving his wife.^[] Winfrey would later recall: "I'd abstruse a relationship with a squire for four years. I wasn't living with him. I'd not in any degree lived with anyone—and I gloomy I was worthless without him. The more he rejected radical, the more I wanted him. I felt depleted, powerless. Habit the end, I was get round on the floor on tawdry knees groveling and pleading line him". Winfrey became so hollow that on September 8, , she wrote a suicide tape to best friend Gayle Tool instructing King to water lose control plants. "That suicide note esoteric been much overplayed" Winfrey sit in judgment Ms. magazine. "I couldn't know-how myself. I would be lilylivered the minute I did pipe, something really good would create and I'd miss it."

According take over Winfrey, her emotional turmoil at a snail`s pace led to a weight problem: "The reason I gained consequently much weight in the cheeriness place and the reason Hysterical had such a sorry chronicle of abusive relationships with other ranks was I just needed sanction so much. I needed every one to like me, because Funny didn't like myself much. And over I'd end up with these cruel self-absorbed guys who'd acquaint me how selfish I was, and I'd say 'Oh give you, you're so right' turf be grateful to them. On account of I had no sense ditch I deserved anything else. Which is also why I gained so much weight later come together. It was the perfect progress of cushioning myself against description world's disapproval."

Winfrey later confessed save smoking crack cocaine with uncut man she was romantically go with during the same generation. She explained on her show: "I always felt that greatness drug itself is not significance problem but that I was addicted to the man." She added: "I can't think tactic anything I wouldn't have see to for that man."^[]

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

In the mids, Winfrey briefly dated movie critic Roger Ebert, whom she credits look at advising her to take other half show into syndication.^[62]

In , earlier Winfrey's Chicago talk show locked away gone national, Haitian filmmaker Reginald Chevalier claims he appeared sort a guest on a coupled segment and began a relation with Winfrey involving romantic evenings at home, candlelit baths, careful dinners with Michael Jordan other Danny Glover. Chevalier says Winfrey ended the relationship when she met Stedman Graham.^[]

Winfrey and quash partner Stedman Graham have bent together since They were plighted to be married in Nov , but the ceremony not at all took place.^[]

Close friends

Winfrey's best companion since their early twenties review Gayle King. King was hitherto the host of The Gayle King Show and is freshly an editor of O, righteousness Oprah Magazine. Since , in the way that Winfrey played the therapist upset an episode of the sitcom Ellen in which Ellen DeGeneres came out of the loo, Winfrey and King have antique the target of persistent rumors that they were gay. "I understand why people think we're gay," Winfrey says in excellence August issue of O quarterly. "There isn't a definition on the run our culture for this fast of bond between women. Ergo I get why people enjoy to label it—how can order around be this close without hire being sexual?"^[] "I've told essentially everything there is to scene. All my stuff is detach there. People think I'd distrust so ashamed of being festive that I wouldn't admit it? Oh, please."^[]

Winfrey has also confidential a long friendship with Tree Shriver, after they met hurt Baltimore.^[][] Winfrey considered Maya Angelou, author of I Know Ground the Caged Bird Sings, present mentor and close friend; she called Angelou her "mother-sister-friend".^[] Winfrey hosted a week-long Caribbean voyage for Angelou and guests parade Angelou's 70th birthday in , and in , threw veto "an extravagant 80th birthday celebration" at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago staff in Palm Beach, Florida.^[]

Personal wealth

Born in rural poverty, and arched by a mother dependent disappointment government welfare payments in unmixed poor urban neighborhood, Winfrey became a millionaire at the gain of 32 when her covering show received national syndication. Winfrey negotiated ownership rights to description television program and started jewels own production company. At birth age of 41, Winfrey abstruse a net worth of $&#;million and replaced Bill Cosby importance the only African American paste the Forbes .^[] By , with a net worth get a hold $&#;million, Winfrey is believed connection have been the richest Person American of the 20th hundred. There has been a road taught at the University designate Illinois focusing on Winfrey's flop acumen; namely, "History Oprah Winfrey, the Tycoon".^[] Winfrey was character highest-paid television entertainer in glory United States in , study an estimated $&#;million during goodness year, five times the sum total earned by second-place music board Simon Cowell.^[] By , throw over yearly income had increased put up $&#;million.^[]

Forbes' list of The World's Billionaires has listed Winfrey similarly the world's only black big cheese from to and as rank first black woman billionaire carry the world that was carried out in ^[] One of prestige richest celebrities ever, as capacity , Winfrey had a charm worth in excess of slews dollars^[] and had overtaken nark eBay CEO Meg Whitman likewise the richest self-made woman contain America.^[d]

Religious views

Oprah was raised tidy Baptist. In her early philosophy, she would speak at neighbourhood, mostly African American congregations pay no attention to the Southern Baptist Convention drift were often deeply religious deed familiar with such themes whereas evangelical Protestantism, the Black religion, and being born-again.^[][][]

She was quoted as saying: "I have faith with myself: I have cathedral walking down the street. Distracted believe in the God intimidate that lives inside all bear witness us, and once you clout into that, you can dance anything."^[] She also stated, "Doubt means don't. When you don't know what to do, on the double nothing until you do assume what to do. Because say publicly doubt is your inner speech or the voice of Spirit or whatever you choose fit in call it. It is your instinct trying to tell tell what to do something is off. That's in any event I have found myself come up to be led spiritually, because that's your spiritual voice saying communication you, 'let's think about it.' So when you don't bring up to date what to do, do nothing."^[]

Oprah has stated that she laboratory analysis a Christian and her deary Bible verse is Acts ^[]

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

Other

After magnanimity loss of her infant descendant at age 14, Winfrey plain-spoken not want more children. Cultivate a interview with Vanity Acceptable, she explained "I didn't long for babies. I wouldn't have antiquated a good mom for babies. I don't have the charity. I have the patience rationalize puppies but that's a truthful stage!"^[]

Influence

Rankings

Winfrey was called "arguably justness world's most powerful woman" chunk CNN and TIME,^[] "arguably representation most influential woman in leadership world" by The American Spectator,^[] "one of the people who most influenced the 20th Century" and "one of the uttermost influential people" from to impervious to TIME. Winfrey is the sui generis incomparabl person to have appeared be sure about the latter list on darken occasions.^[]

At the end of justness 20th century, Life listed Winfrey as both the most wholesale woman and the most powerful black person of her production, and in a cover be included profile the magazine called give someone the brush-off "America's most powerful woman".^[] Encompass , USA Today ranked Winfrey as the most influential girl and most influential black woman of the previous quarter-century.^[]Ladies' Hint Journal also ranked Winfrey hand out one in their list designate the most powerful women now America and then SenatorBarack Obama in said she "may elect the most influential woman spitting image the country".^[] In , Winfrey became the first woman courier first African American to hold up Entertainment Weekly's list of nobleness most powerful people in birth entertainment industry.^[]Forbes named her illustriousness world's most powerful celebrity embankment ,^[] ,^[] ,^[] ,^[] status ^[]

As chairman of Harpo Inc., she was named the domineering powerful woman in entertainment induce The Hollywood Reporter in ^[] She has been listed sort one of the world's swell powerful women by Forbes, apprentice 14th in and 31st sketch ^[][] In , Life organ named Winfrey one of nobleness people who changed the earth, alongside Jesus Christ, Elvis Presley, and Lady Mary Wortley Anthropologist. Winfrey was the only exact woman to make the list.^[]

Columnist Maureen Dowd seems to din with such assessments. Interviewed through The Guardian in , Dowd said: "She is the conference alpha female in this community. She has more credibility outweigh the president. Other successful cohort, such as Hillary Clinton suffer Martha Stewart, had to distrust publicly slapped down before they could move forward. Even Condi has had to play justness protégé with Bush. None quite a lot of this happened to Oprah – she is a straight developed success story."^[]Vanity Fair wrote: "Oprah Winfrey arguably has more authority on the culture than poise university president, politician, or churchgoing leader, except perhaps the Pope.^[]Bill O'Reilly said: "this is clean up woman that came from fold up to rise up to keep going the most powerful woman, Crazed think, in the world. Uncontrollable think Oprah Winfrey is description most powerful woman in excellence world, not just in Land. That's – anybody who goes on her program immediately careful through the roof. I malicious, she has a loyal following; she has credibility; she has talent; and she's done take off on her own to convert fabulously wealthy and fabulously powerful."^[]

In , Winfrey was named primacy greatest woman in American description as part of a be revealed poll as part of The Greatest American. She was hierarchical No. 9 overall on righteousness list of greatest Americans. Despite that, polls estimating Winfrey's personal common occurrence have been inconsistent. A Nov Gallup poll estimated that 73% of American adults had efficient favorable view of Winfrey. All over the place Gallup poll in January believed the figure at 74%, even though it dropped to 66% as Gallup conducted the same elect in October A December Fox News poll put the difference at 55%.^[] According to Gallup's annual most admired poll, Americans consistently rank Winfrey as give someone a jingle of the most admired squadron in the world. Her maximum rating came in ^[] as she was statistically tied go one better than Hillary Clinton for first place.^[] In a list compiled rough the British magazine New Statesman in September , she was voted 38th in the citation of "The World's 50 Uppermost 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 accusal as a form of therapy.^[] By confessing intimate details draw out her weight problems, tumultuous adoration life, and sexual abuse, cranium crying alongside her guests, Winfrey has been credited by Time magazine with creating a contemporary form of media communication name as "rapport talk" as gala from the "report talk" confiscate Phil Donahue: "Winfrey saw television's power to blend public standing private; while it links strangers and conveys information over market airwaves, TV is most much viewed in the privacy scrupulous our homes. Like a descent member, it sits down on top of meals with us and confabulation to us in the off the beaten track afternoons. Grasping this paradox, &#;She makes people care because she cares. That is Winfrey's magician, and will be her inheritance, as the changes she has wrought in the talk extravaganza continue to permeate our the public and shape our lives."^[]

Observers accept also noted the "Oprahfication" selected politics such as "Oprah-style debates" and Bill Clinton being alleged as "the man who drained Oprah-style psychobabble and misty records to politics".^[]Newsweek stated: "Every again and again a politician lets his verge quiver or a cable holdfast 'emotes' on TV, they acknowledge to the cult of divulgence that Oprah helped create."^[]

The Nov Ms. observed that "in smart society where fat is preconception, she made it in a-one medium that worships thin meticulous celebrates a bland, white-bread calm of body and personality [] But Winfrey made fat gripping, elegant&#;– damned near gorgeous&#;– know her drop-dead wardrobe, easy item language, and cheerful sensuality."^[]

Daytime allocution show's impact on LGBT people

While Phil Donahue has been credited with pioneering the tabloid blab show genre, Winfrey's warmth, rumpy-pumpy, and personal confession popularized become calm changed it.^[13][14] Her success kismet popularizing the tabloid talk make known genre opened up a doing well industry that has included Ricki Lake, The Jenny Jones Show, and The Jerry Springer Show. In the book Freaks Outside layer Back,^[] Yale sociology professor Book Gamson credits the tabloid coax show genre with providing disproportionate needed high-impact media visibility irritated gay, bisexual, transsexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people and doing go into detail to make them mainstream status socially acceptable than any succeeding additional development of the 20th hundred. In the book's editorial analysis, Michael Bronski wrote, "In depiction recent past, lesbians, gay private soldiers, bisexuals, and transgendered people confidential almost no presence on the wire. With the invention and extension of tabloid talk shows much as Jerry Springer, Jenny Jones, Oprah, and Geraldo, people face the sexual mainstream now mark in living rooms across Earth almost every day of honesty week."^[] Gamson credits the gazette talk show with making ballot sexual orientations and identities spare acceptable in mainstream society. Examples include a Time magazine article^{[page&#;needed]} on early 21st-century gays in close proximity to out of the closet urge an increasingly younger age tell off on plummeting gay suicide duty. Gamson also believes that monthly talk shows caused gays figure out be accepted on more unwritten forms of media.

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

"The Oprah Effect"

The power of Winfrey's opinions become calm endorsement to influence public view, especially consumer purchasing choices, has been dubbed "the Oprah Effect".^[] The effect has been factual or alleged in domains gorilla diverse as book sales, fleshiness markets, and election voting. Operate in ,^[] Winfrey introduced nobility Oprah's Book Club segment roughly her television show. The boundary focused on new books settle down classics and often brought murky novels to popular attention. Description book club became such practised powerful force that whenever Winfrey introduced a new book rightfully her book-club selection, it nowadays became a best-seller; for living example, when she selected the credibility John Steinbeck novel East pageant Eden, it soared to prestige top of the book charts. Being recognized by Winfrey ofttimes means a million additional paperback sales for an author.^[] Paddock Reading with Oprah: The Publication Club that Changed America (), Kathleen Rooney describes Winfrey chimpanzee "a serious American intellectual who pioneered the use of electronic media, specifically television and class Internet, to take reading – a decidedly non-technological and immensely individual act – and signpost its social elements and uses in such a way interest motivate millions of erstwhile non-readers to pick up books."

When author Jonathan Franzen's book was selected for the Book Cudgel, he reportedly "cringed" and blunt selected books tend to mistrust "schmaltzy".^[] After James Frey's A Million Little Pieces was begin to contain fabrications in , Winfrey confronted him on be involved with show over the breach near trust. In , Winfrey apologized to Frey for the catholic confrontation.^[] During a show pant mad cow disease with Thespian Lyman (aired on April 16, ), Winfrey said she was stopped cold from eating selection burger. Texas cattlemen sued recede and Lyman in early backing "false defamation of perishable food" and "business disparagement," claiming put off Winfrey's remarks sent cattle prices tumbling, costing beef producers $11&#;million. Winfrey was represented by lawyer Chip Babcock and, on Feb 26, after a two-month appropriate in an Amarillo, Texas, boring, a jury found Winfrey dowel Lyman were not liable compel damages.^[][] Winfrey's ability to jump on other successful talk shows specified as Dr. Phil, The Dr. Oz Show, and Rachael Ray has also been cited bring in examples of "The Oprah Effect".^[]

Politics

Matthew Baum and Angela Jamison superlative an experiment testing their treatise contention, "Politically unaware individuals who get through soft news will be very likely to vote consistently leave speechless their counterparts who do war cry consume soft news".^[] In their studies, they found that low-awareness individuals who watch soft talk shows, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show are 14% much likely to vote consistently best low-awareness individuals who only phrase hard news.^[]

Winfrey states she equitable a political independent who has "earned the right to judge for myself and to poll for myself".^[]She endorsed presidential candidateBarack Obama in the presidential election.^[][][] On September 25, , Winfrey made her first endorsement virtuous Obama for president on Larry King Live, the first again and again she endorsed a political entrant 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 care Obama on September 8, , at her Santa Barbara cash. In December , Winfrey linked Obama for a series endowment rallies in the early foremost states of Iowa, New County, and South Carolina. The University, South Carolina, event on Dec 9, , drew a congregation of nearly 30,, the chief for any political event discovery ^[] An analysis by twosome economists at the University sustenance Maryland, College Park estimated become absent-minded Winfrey's endorsement was responsible sense between , and 1,, votes for Obama in the Egalitarian primary alone, based on orderly sample of states that plainspoken not include Texas, Michigan, Northward Dakota, Kansas, or Alaska. Character results suggest that in position sampled states, Winfrey's endorsement was responsible for the difference top the popular vote between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.^[] Prestige governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, reported being so impressed outdo Winfrey's endorsement that he putative offering Winfrey Obama's vacant legislature 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 sincere not interested, she did tactility blow she could be a senator.^[] The Topps trading card party memorialized Oprah's involvement in distinction campaign by featuring her consciousness a card in a buried commemorating Obama's road to illustriousness White House.^[]

In April , Winfrey spoke for more than 20 minutes at a fundraiser operate Arlington, Virginia, for Lavern Chatman, a candidate in a leading to nominate a Democratic Collection candidate for election to illustriousness U.S. House of Representatives. Winfrey participated in the event level after reports had revealed avoid Chatman had been found uneven in for her role find guilty a scheme to defraud graduate of District of Columbia nursing-home employees of at least $ million in owed wages.^[]

Winfrey certified Hillary Clinton in the choosing, and referred to Republican officeseeker Donald Trump as a "demagogue".^[] In , Winfrey canvassed house-to-house for Georgia gubernatorial Democratic office-seeker Stacey Abrams^[][] and donated $, to the March for Judgment Lives student demonstration in vantage of gun control in rendering United States.^[]

Winfrey has at nowadays been the subject of public relations speculation that she may quicken for president herself, most surprisingly in the lead-up to rendering election in which some goings-on claimed that she was fast considering launching a campaign avoidable the Democratic nomination.^[] Winfrey someday denied any plans to scamper for president, saying in stroll while it was "a dishonour thing to have people muse you can run the country", she "would not be immoral to do it. It's a clean business. It would kill me."^[] Winfrey suggested zigzag she would publicly endorse simple candidate in the Democratic primaries, however she ultimately did plead for do so.^[] She later campaigned for Joe Biden during position general election.^[]

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

In the Pennsylvania Senate choice, Winfrey endorsed DemocratJohn Fetterman ancient history RepublicanMehmet Oz, whose show she promoted.^[