Oprah Winfrey: Media Titan

by Dejan Snoh

"Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire.”

Oprah Gail Winfrey (born Oprah Winfrey; January 29, 1954) is an American media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, which was the highest-rated television program of its’ kind, remaining nationally syndicated for 25 years. Dubbed the "Queen of All Media", she was the richest African American of the 20th century and America's first black multi-billionaire. She’s donated more than $400 million in philanthropic efforts and has been ranked as one of  the most influential people in the world. Being the benefactress that she is, her contribution to society are that of an iconique.

Winfrey is a Mississippi native, she spent a lot of her childhood moving throughout the United States. At the age of six, she moved to Milwaukee to live with her mother. During her teen years, she was sent to Nashville to live with her father. While attending Tennessee State University, Winfrey was offered a position at a local CBS station as an anchor. Winfrey was still attending school, working at the station, and had to be home by 11:00 every night, after anchoring the 10:00 news.

Winfrey was actually about to be fired but the station didn’t want to pay out her contract. So, the station demoted her and ironically, she discovered her true passion in the position she was demoted to. Winfrey was aware of her unique skill set and ended up changing her career path to align with her gift. In 1984, she moved to Chicago to host the talk-show, AM Chicago, a slowly dying broadcast at the time. Her honesty, vibrant personality, and engaging persona quickly turned the show into a success and in 1985 it was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show. Syndicating in 1986, the talk-show became the highest rated television program in the United States, one of her most prominent accomplishment.

In 1985, the Spielberg adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple, was released, and Winfrey made her debut debut as an actor. It was her first role on the big screen, but her performance as Sofia grew critical acclaim, opening many more doors for her in the film industry. With all of these fruitions in addition to a renowned talk show, she would venture off and publish her very own production company, Harpo.

By the year 1998, she helped to co-found Oxygen Media, a cable television network for women. In 2008, she enclosed a partnership with Discovery Communications and started the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). The following year, she announced that, after 25 years, her talk show would be coming to an end. However, the media titan has since shown no signs of slowing down. If anything, we can expect that Winfrey will secure her biggest bag yet.

According to Forbes, Winfrey’s estimated net worth is about $2.6 billion. In 2015, she became a board member and brand ambassador for Weight Watchers. Her share in the company since have grown from $43.5 million to more than $400 million. In 2018, Winfrey signed a multi-year deal with Apple that includes programming for original content lineup. The financial details of the partnership are undisclosed, but there’s no question that Winfrey is being well compensated for her services. The deal is rumored to be well-over $100 million. She’s also received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes, which inspired a viral plea for a presidential run.

Although Winfrey has denied the rumors that she’ll be running for leader of the Free World, her influence will continually be felt throughout the world. Her work in the media has inspired many, but her philanthropy is what she truly takes pride in. Through her Leadership Academy, she has given girls in South Africa amazing opportunities in education. The resources and support she provides through this program are changing the lives of hundreds of young women in South Africa.

Winfrey has shown us that following your heart can give you a life you’ve never imagined. Her amazing talents have uplifted people across the globe, making her one of the most important black icons on this list. She’s a powerhouse who moves with love, integrity, and passion. If a quarter of America’s population followed the same principles, the world would be a much better place. Thank you for all your hard work, Lady O!