Oprah Winfrey Biography

Her mother's lack of supervision enabled several male relatives and friends to sexually abuse Winfrey, causing her to run away on many occasions. At the age of fourteen, she gave birth to a premature baby, who died shortly after birth.

Winfrey, now faced with a threat of being sent to a children’s home, moved to Nashville to live with her father and his wife, Zelma. Her father was to provide her with the discipline that was lacking in her life.

Her father, Vernon, placed much importance on education, which resulted in Winfrey becoming an honours student at high school. During this time, she was voted Most Popular Girl, joined her high school speech team, and placed second in the nation in dramatic interpretation. She also won an oratory contest, which secured a full scholarship to Tennessee State University. Winfrey also worked at a local radio station during her studies.

After graduating, she accepted a job offer from Nashville's WLAC-TV and in so doing became the youngest news anchor at the station. In 1976, she moved to Baltimore's WJZ-TV to co-anchor the six o'clock news.

In January 1984, Winfrey moved to Chicago to host "A.M. Chicago" for WLS-TV. In less than a year, the show expanded to one hour and was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show. It entered national syndication in 1986, becoming the highest-rated talk show in television history. In 1988, she established Harpo Studios, a production facility in Chicago, making her the third woman in the American entertainment industry (after Mary Pickford and Lucille Ball) to own her own studio.

Oprah made her acting debut in 1985, when she starred in Steven Spielberg's 'The Color Purple'. Her performance in the film earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and nominations for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.

'The Oprah Winfrey' show is still highly successful. Winfrey has also written six books and produced the film of the novel 'Beloved'. She has received many awards for her broadcasting and humanitarian work. She is also known for her repeated dramatic weight loss and gain.

Her personal wealth in 2004 was estimated as being in excess of $1.1 billion.