When I hear the name Oprah, I remember the first time I heard it. It was the Oprah Winfrey Show on Kenya Television Network (KTN). I have wanted to know more about Oprah’s $2.6 billion net worth and where she finds her inspiration.
Although raised in poverty, Forbes named Oprah the first female self-made African American billionaire in 2014. Her biography has been translated into 91 languages on Wikipedia.
How is that even possible in the media landscape? How did she do it? And what can we learn from Oprah?
Oprah’s rise to fame and popularity was not an easy journey. It is not an overnight success story. Like most influential people, she has dealt with failure, abuse, discrimination, and critics. She uses her influence to inspire a generation of conscious readers and leaders through film, publishing, writing, radio, and online.
In the 25 years of The Oprah Winfrey Show, it was aired worldwide in more than 140 countries. In Kenya, the talk show was aired on KTN. Perhaps that’s when and where most of us (in Kenya) became familiar with Oprah Gail Winfrey.
It is the proceeds she generated from the syndication of her shows that Oprah ploughed back to build an empire across multiple industries.
Related article: Top 10 Most Influential African Women
Where do Oprah’s billions come from?
The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance, and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah believes that her personality is at the core of her financial success. She operates from compassion, a willingness to understand and be understood, and the law of action and reaction.
She believes that your actions in the world determine what you get out of life. “Whatever you put out there,” Oprah said in an interview at Stanford University in 2014, “comes back to you.” By centring her life around these principles, her work has significantly impacted her followers. The ripple effect is seen in her net worth.
Oprah also believes in being intentional with one’s decisions. Before you do anything, Oprah says you should align it to your values. Compassion, she says, played a critical role in her rise to fame and popularity by connecting her to her audience.
However, her business acumen, resilience, and hard work have also been crucial in her unparalleled success.
Here are some of Oprah’s sources of wealth;
Hosting talk shows
Hosting talk shows is perhaps Oprah’s highest paying job, generating for her more than $1 million annually. For instance, it is reported that Oprah’s March 2021 interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a worldwide viewership of nearly 50 million people.
The Washington Post reported that the interview netted Oprah over 17 million viewers and $7million, adding to Oprah’s $2.6 billion net worth.
Back in 1993, Oprah interviewed Michael Jackson. It was the most-watched interview in tv history, drawing an audience of 90 million. Oprah is one of the best celebrity and political interviewers of the 21st century.
Acting
Although she’s not a top-paid actor, she has acted in several films. Her initial appearance on the big screen was in 1985 in The Color Purple, in which she played Sofia, the main character. She was 32 at the time.
Her debut in acting was a success. She has since appeared in over 15 movies, which significantly impacted her net worth.
Writing
Oprah Winfrey is an avid reader and writer. She authored and co-authored dozens of books. Some of her best-selling books include What Happened to You: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing, The Wisdom of Sundays, and Mr. Or Ms. Just Right.
Oprah’s deal with Apple TV+ regarding Oprah Book Club gives the media mogul enormous influence on promoting and selling new books to her audience. If she chooses and recommends your book, it becomes an overnight bestseller.
TV production
Oprah is the founder of Harpo Productions Inc, a multimedia productions company where she owns a 25.5% stake. According to Forbes, Harpo Studio’s estimated net worth is $150 million. The films produced by Harpo Studios have generated more than 2 billion dollars.
Besides, in the U.S, TV producers earn between $29,000 and $67,000 annually. Oprah has produced a bunch of films for her and others’ networks. So TV production is another place where Oprah’s billions come from.
Her network
Oprah launched the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) in 2011. In 2020, she sold over $36 million OWN shares to Discovery Inc.
Although she now has a little stake in the network, she is still the CEO and chief creative officer of OWN. The network contributes significantly to Oprah’s $2.6 billion net worth.
Philanthropy
Philanthropic work through the Oprah Winfrey Foundation also plays a significant role in her net worth. Oprah is a top-earning philanthropist, netting over 124,000 dollars annually.
Oprah’s net worth
Oprah Winfrey believes in being intentional with one’s decisions. Before you do anything, Oprah says you should align it to your values. For instance, compassion played a critical role in her rise to fame and popularity by connecting her to her audience.
According to the former American politician Rod Blagojevich, Oprah has “a voice larger than all 100 senators combined.” For example, if Oprah endorses your product, the business gets crazy.
Her endorsement will spike your company’s online traffic and demand. It has been called The Oprah Effect – the power to influence and shape consumer purchasing choices and public opinion.
Because of her influence, Oprah is an inspiration and role model to millions of women and children globally. I hold her in high regard. Since I knew about Oprah, I have not stopped following her. She one of the most respected and admired black women globally.
What are your thoughts about the self-made African American media mogul? In what ways did she shape your views? Does she inspire you? Share with me in the comment section.
