The age of television is considered to be one of the most defining moments of how far humanity has come especially when it comes to entertainment. And one of the most groundbreaking programs to ever grace television screens all over the world is the Oprah Winfrey show – which as the name suggests, was hosted by American media personality giant Oprah Winfrey. Born on January 29, 1954 to a life of poverty, Oprah’s rise to fame and fortune by building a massive media empire through a sweet combination of perseverance and a standout personality is one of the most inspiring stories in our list of Female Billionaire CEOs.
Starting out her career in media as both the youngest and the first black female anchor for WLAC-TV back in Nashville, Oprah slowly made a name for herself until she reached the $1 billion mark by self-producing the Oprah Winfrey show with business partner Jeffrey Jacobs through HARPO Productions (Oprah owned 90% of HARPO while Jeffrey owned 10%). This came after a fall out of negotiations regarding syndication deals with King World Productions – the show’s former producer.
This venture into HARPO marked the beginning of several business ventures which expanded Oprah’s influence into several other media empires. Some of these business moves include a lucrative deal with ABC which entitled her to several rights such as magazines, books, and the right to launch other TV shows under her production firm. Oprah Winfrey also negotiated ownership of King World itself, which ensured a share in the profits of their numerous shows such as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!
Besides her expansion into the media industry, Oprah also has several partnerships and investments with company giants such as Apple, CBS, and Disney. The American personality has also produced and starred in a number of documentaries, series, and shows – bagging several awards such as the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host. Oprah Winfrey also owns several real estate properties in different areas such as Montecito and Maui which all contribute to her now multi-billion valued fortune. As of writing, Oprah Winfrey’s current net worth is a staggering amount estimated at a value of $2.6 billion.
By Neil Gregorio
Neil Gregorio is a graduating university student who writes as a hobby; when he is away from the keyboard, he spends his time watching Japanese animated shows and jamming out to his favorite rock music.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-gregorio/
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