Entrepreneurs: Oprah Winfrey By Biography.com Editors and A+E Networks, adapted by Newsela staff on 08.17.16 Word Count 834 Level 1030L

Oprah Winfrey pictured in 2014 Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Synopsis: Media giant Oprah Winfrey was born in rural Mississippi in 1954. She began her broadcasting career at age 19. In 1976, Winfrey moved to Baltimore, where she co-anchored the evening news. In 1978, co-hosted a talk show, "People Are Talking." She later became the host of her own wildly popular program, "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which aired from 1986 to 2011. That same year, Winfrey launched her TV network, the Oprah Winfrey Network.

From Struggle To Stardom

American television host, actress, producer, philanthropist and businesswoman Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She had a troubled adolescence, during which she was abused by several relatives and friends of her mother, Vernita Lee. Later, she moved to Nashville to live with her father, Vernon Winfrey, and her stepmother, who were more strict. She entered Tennessee State University in 1971 and began working in radio and television broadcasting in Nashville.

In 1976, Winfrey moved to Baltimore, Maryland, to co-anchor the evening news for a local station. In 1978, she co-hosted the TV talk show "People Are Talking." The program became a hit. Five

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. years later she was recruited by a Chicago TV station to host the morning show, "A.M. Chicago." Within several months, Winfrey's open, warm-hearted style had won her scores of viewers and took her show from last to first in the ratings. Her success led to nationwide fame and a role in the film "The Color Purple," for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.

"A.M. Chicago" was renamed "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 1985, and in 1986, it began to air nationwide. With its placement on 120 channels and an audience of 10 million people, the show earned $125 million by the end of its first year.

Respected And Influential

In 1994, talk shows were becoming increasingly trashy. Winfrey, however, pledged to keep her show free of tabloid topics. Although ratings initially fell, she earned the respect of her viewers and was soon rewarded with a surge in popularity.

Winfrey contributed immensely to the publishing world by launching Oprah's Book Club as part of her talk show. The book club propelled many unknown authors to the top of the bestseller lists. It also gave pleasure-reading a new kind of popular prominence.

In 2000, Winfrey helped launch Oxygen Media, a company dedicated to producing programming for women. This ensured her place at the forefront of the media industry. Winfrey's highly successful O: The Oprah Magazine, also debuted in 2000, and in 2004, she signed a new contract to continue "The Oprah Winfrey Show" through the 2010-11 season. The show was seen on nearly 212 U.S. stations and in more than 100 countries.

A Network Of Her OWN

In 2009, Winfrey announced that she would be ending her program when her contract with the ABC television network ended in 2011. Soon after, she moved to her own network, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

The network made headlines in January 2013, when it aired an interview between Winfrey and Lance Armstrong, the American cyclist and seven-time Tour de France winner. During the interview, Armstrong admitted to using performance-enhancing substances throughout his cycling career. The interview reportedly brought in millions of dollars for OWN.

Using Money And Power To Affect Change

According to Forbes magazine, Winfrey was the richest African-American of the 20th century. She was also the world's only black billionaire for three years straight. Life magazine hailed her as the most influential woman of her generation. In 2005, Business Week named her the greatest black philanthropist in American history. Winfrey's Angel Network has raised more than $51 million for charitable programs, including schools for girls in South Africa and relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Winfrey is a dedicated activist for children's rights. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed a bill into law that Winfrey had proposed to Congress. It created a nationwide database of convicted child abusers. In September 2002, Winfrey was named the first winner of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. In November 2013, Winfrey received the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Barack Obama gave her this award for her contributions to her country.

Personal Life

In the final season of her talk show, Winfrey made ratings soar when she revealed a family secret that she had a half-sister named Patricia. Winfrey's mother gave birth to a baby girl in 1963, when Winfrey was 9 years old and temporarily living with her father. Winfrey's mother put the infant up for adoption. As an adult, Patricia researched her family background and eventually discovered her connection to Winfrey. The two had DNA tests done that proved they were related. "It was one of the greatest surprises of my life," Winfrey said on her show.

Since 1992, Winfrey has been engaged to Stedman Graham, a public relations executive. The couple lives in Chicago. Winfrey also has homes in California, Hawaii and Colorado.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.