Oprah Winfrey is a name that will not be forgotten any time soon. The host successfully made a name for herself through her self-named show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. Later on, Oprah carved out a different image through her philanthropic work. However, her unrivaled success in the entertainment industry did not just happen overnight. It resulted from years of investments in herself that made her one of the most influential celebrities we have today.
Broadcasting Career
Winfrey’s career as a broadcaster began in Nashville when she was just 19 years old. Not only was she the youngest person to become the anchor of Nashville’s WTVF-TV, but she was also the first African-American woman to do so. She moved to become the co-anchor of Six O’Clock News which was followed by People Are Talking.
By 1984, Winfrey has transferred to Chicago, where she hosted the morning show, AM Chicago, which, to hercredit, became the most popular local talk show. It was later renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show. In 1986, her program was nationally syndicated, becoming the most prominent talk show in television history. She used her earnings to build one of her ventures called Harpo Studios.
It was her studio that produced The Oprah Winfrey Show during its run for 25 years. Her show has reached millions of viewers in the United States alone, but it was also licensed to show in other countries.
Oprah’s Numerous Investments
Winfrey has a knack for making her money grow. Aside from forming Harpo Studios, she also co-created the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) together with Discovery Communications. She also built Oprah’s Lifeclass, where students from across the globe can interact with her on-air, through social media, or online even. Winfrey, together with select experts, interacted with her fans.
In 2000, Oprah launched O, The Oprah Magazine, which is now considered one of the best women’s lifestyle magazines. It is regarded as the most successful launch, with a circulation amounting to 2.35 million readers, further earning her an impressive credit score. She later expanded the reach of her magazine to South Africa.
Oprah, the Actress
Oprah did try her hand in acting, with her debut film being The Color Purple, where she was cast in the role of Sofia. Her performance here made her a recipient of both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. She also appeared in movies made for television, such as Before Women Had Wings, There Are No Children Here, and The Women of Brewster Place.
She also tried her hand in voice acting and earned voiceover credits for animated films like Charlotte’s Web, Bee Movie, and The Princess and the Frog.
Philanthropy Work
Thanks to the massive success she experienced since starting her career, Oprah could extend a helping hand to many communities through her philanthropic endeavors. She put her investment money into setting up The Oprah Winfrey Foundation. The foundation provides grants to various organizations that promote education and empowerment to women, children, and families not just in the United States but across the globe.
Another example of her philanthropy work was The Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program for students who want to use their education to give back to their communities. She also established The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation that became the stepping stone for creating the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls – South Africa.
Oprah Winfrey has undoubtedly led an interesting and highly successful career in the entertainment industry. That is why it doesn’t surprise us that she doesn’t have to worry about a mortgage since her net worth is enough to invest in properties.
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