Biography
Oprah Gail Winfrey (born January 29, 1954) is an American media personality and one of the most influential celebrities in the world. Originally named Orpah Gail Winfrey, the media icon has built many successful careers in the show business.
She is a talk show host, film and television producer, actress, philanthropist and author. She is the host and producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show, which brought her international fame.
At the time, Oprah Winfrey was the only black billionaire and once held the record as the richest African American in the world.
American landlord
Oprah Winfrey |
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 Oprah Winfrey: History • Biography • Photos |
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| Real name: | Oprah Gail Winfrey |
| Stage name: | Oprah Winfrey |
| Born: | January 29, 1954 (age 70) |
| Place of birth: | Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 1.69 minutes |
| Parents: | Vernon Winfrey, Vernita Lee |
| Siblings: | Patricia Lofton, Patricia Lee Lloyd, Jeffrey Lee |
| Husband • Spouse: | Stedman Graham (1986–) |
| Boyfriend • Partner: | Roger Ebert (former), Lloyd Kramer (former), Josh Tesh (former) |
| The children: | Do not have |
| Job: | Actress • Television Personality |
| Net worth: | 2.75 billion USD |
Early life
Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She was originally named Orpah after a biblical figure, but because people often mispronounced her name as “Oprah,” she decided to keep the latter. Her siblings are Patricia Lofton, Patricia Lee Lloyd, and Jeffrey Lee.
She is the daughter of Vernon Winfrey and Vernita Lee. Her parents were not married when she was born. Oprah Winfrey’s mother was still a teenager when she gave birth to her.
Her father, Vernon Winfrey, was a coal miner, also worked as a barber and was elected to the council later in life. At the same time, her mother, Vernita Lee, worked as a maid.
After giving birth to Oprah Winfrey, Vernita Lee left Mississippi for the northern part of the country in search of job opportunities. So Oprah Winfrey spent her first six years living with her grandmother. Her grandmother taught her how to read at the age of three. She then moved in with her mother.
Education
Oprah Winfrey attended high school at Lincoln High School, Milwaukee.
However, she did not complete her studies at this school and later transferred to Nicolet High School.
She also attended East Nashville High School. After graduating from high school, she won a scholarship to study Communications at Tennessee State University. Oprah Winfrey earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1987.
Career
While Oprah Winfrey was still in high school, she got her first job at a radio station in Tennessee. By the age of nineteen, she was co-anchoring the local evening news. She then moved to Chicago and began working as a daytime talk show/host. She successfully turned a third-rated show in Chicago into the top show in the city.
After forming her own production company, she started The Oprah Winfrey Show. The first episode aired nationwide on September 8, 1986. By 1998, the show had become the number one daytime talk show in the country. Initially, the show was a tabloid talk show. Oprah Winfrey later expanded its topics to include discussions of heart disease, spirituality, geopolitics, and meditation.
As a filmmaker, Oprah Winfrey produced and starred in the short-lived television series The Women Of Brewster Place in 1988. She played Sofia in The Color Purple, released in 1985. She has starred in other films such as The Native Son, Brewster Place, Lincoln, There Are No Children Here, Ellen, Before Women Had Wings, Beloved, Charlotte’s Web, and Sesame Street.
A highly influential figure, Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of Barack Obama ahead of the 2008 election helped him win about a million votes. In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall Of Fame in 1994.
Her work in the media has been recognized, with several awards to her credit. Oprah Winfrey has won 18 Daytime Emmy Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, a Peabody Award, and the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. She has also received the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, presented by the Academy. In 2021, she was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Social media
Oprah Winfrey TV has over 1.4 million followers on Instagram. Meanwhile, Oprah Winfrey has over 43.2 million followers on her personal Twitter page.
- Twitter Username: @Oprah
- Instagram Name: @owntv
Personal life
Oprah Winfrey has been in a relationship with Stedman Graham since 1986. Although the couple were engaged and planned to marry in November 1992, they never married.
Before meeting Stedman Graham, she had been romantically linked to a number of men. She dated film critic Roger Ebert. She also dated reporters Lloyd Kramer and Josh Tesh.
Her best friend is Gayle King, who is also a media personality. Gayle King is the former host of The Gayle King Show and the current editor of O, Oprah Magazine.
Oprah Winfrey currently lives on a 42-acre estate called The Promise Land. The estate is located in Montecito, California. She also owns sought-after properties in New Jersey, Chicago, Florida, Colorado, Hawaii, and Washington State.
Oprah Winfrey has no children of her own.
Net worth
Oprah Winfrey runs one of the world’s largest media companies. She has amassed a fortune from her career as a television host and actress.
Oprah Winfrey’s net worth is currently estimated at $2.75 billion.
