Oprah Gail Winfrey is an American entrepreneur, TV show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. She's the chairman of Harpo, Inc., and is one of a handful of women who are self made billionaires. She is the only female African American billionaire with an estimated net worth of $2.9 billion as of October 2016.
Ms. Winfrey is the largest private donor to The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture which opened in 2016.
She's the first black woman to own and run a television network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Launched on January 1, 2011. It is co-owned by Harpo Productions (50%) and Discovery Communications, Inc (50%).
The Oprah Winfrey Show was the highest-rated TV talk show in history, seen in 110 countries and was internationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011. The series finale of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired on May 25, 2011.
Oprah has been honoured with the most prestigious awards in broadcasting, including the George Foster Peabody Individual Achievement Award (1996) and the IRTS Gold Medal Award (1996). Oprah and The Oprah Winfrey Show have received a total of 39 Daytime Emmy Awards.
Through Harpo Films, Oprah has a long-term deal with the ABC Television Network to produce Oprah Winfrey Presents telefilms. Scheduled for broadcast in fall 2004, Oprah Winfrey Presents: Their Eyes Were Watching God, based on the Zora Neale Hurston novel, will star Academy Award-winner Halle Berry.
Harpo Productions also owns and produces, the daily syndicated series, Dr. Phil, featuring life strategist Dr. Phil McGraw, Ph.D., who appeared as a regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show from 1998 through 2002. Harpo Productions also produces The Rachael Ray Show.
In April 2000, Oprah and Hearst Magazines introduced O, The Oprah Magazine, a monthly magazine that has become one of today's leading women's lifestyle publications. It is credited as being the most successful magazine launch in recent history and currently has an audience of more than two million readers each month.
Oprah is co-founder of Oxygen Media, which was formed in November 1998 along with fellow founders Geraldine Laybourne, Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner, Caryn Mandabach. Oxygen Media includes the Oxygen Network, a women's cable network that launched on February 2, 2000 and is currently available in 48 million homes across the country.
Honorary Achievements
In recognition of her extraordinary achievements and contributions, Oprah has received numerous honours, including the most prestigious awards and highest industry acknowledgements.
2011
- National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Crystal Pillar Award
- Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World. She is the only person to have been included in all eight of TIME'S 100 Most Influential People in World lists, from 2004-2011.
2010
- The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' Kennedy Center Honors
- The Women's Conference (California) Minerva Award
2007
- The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity's 2007 Humanitarian Award
2006
- The New York Public Library's Library Lion 2006
2005
- National Civil Rights Museum's 2005 National Freedom Award
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Hall of Fame
- International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' 2005 International Emmy Founders Award
2004
- United Nations Association of the United States of America' Global Humanitarian Action Award
- National Association of Broadcasters' Distinguished Service Award
2003
- Association of American Publishers AAP Honors Award
2002
- 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards' Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
- Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame
1999
- National Book Foundation's 50th Anniversary Gold Medal
1998
- National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Lifetime Achievement Award
- The following year, after accepting this pinnacle honor, Oprah removed herself from future Emmy's consideration and the show followed suit in 2000. Oprah and The Oprah Winfrey Show received more than 40 Daytime Emmy Awards: seven for Outstanding Host; nine for Outstanding Talk Show; more than 20 in the Creative Arts categories; and one for Oprah's work as supervising producer of the ABC After School Special Shades of a Single Protein.
- Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century
1997
- Newsweek's Most Important Person in Books and Media
- TV Guide's Television Performer of the Year
1996
- International Radio & Television Society Foundation's Gold Medal Award
- George Foster Peabody Awards' 1995 Individual Achievement Award
