Career Timeline of Oprah Winfrey: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Oprah Winfrey made an impact.
Oprah Winfrey is a highly influential American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. Her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, aired for 25 years and made her one of the most influential women globally. She was the richest African-American of the 20th century and the world's only black billionaire at one point. Known as the "Queen of All Media", Winfrey's career spans entertainment, business, and philanthropy.
June 1976: Moved to Baltimore
In June 1976, Oprah Winfrey moved to Baltimore to work at WJZ-TV, ending her relationship with William "Bubba" Taylor as he was unwilling to leave Nashville with her.
1976: Move to Baltimore's WJZ-TV
In 1976, Oprah Winfrey moved to Baltimore's WJZ-TV to co-anchor the six o'clock news.
1977: Shift in Role at WJZ-TV
In 1977, Oprah Winfrey was removed as co-anchor at WJZ-TV and worked in lower-profile positions at the station.
August 14, 1978: People Are Talking Premieres
On August 14, 1978, Oprah Winfrey co-hosted WJZ's local talk show People Are Talking, which premiered on August 14, 1978.
January 2, 1984: First Episode of AM Chicago
On January 2, 1984, the first episode of AM Chicago aired with Oprah Winfrey as the host after she was hired by WLS-TV's general manager, Dennis Swanson.
1985: Co-starred in The Color Purple
In 1985, Oprah Winfrey co-starred in Steven Spielberg's 'The Color Purple' as Sofia, a distraught housewife. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
September 8, 1986: Nationwide Broadcast of The Oprah Winfrey Show
On September 8, 1986, the first episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show was broadcast nationwide.
1986: The Oprah Winfrey Show Begins
In 1986, The Oprah Winfrey Show, a talk show broadcast from Chicago, began its national syndication run, which lasted for 25 years.
1987: Completion of College Degree
In 1987, Oprah Winfrey, by then a successful television personality, submitted her final paper and earned her degree from Tennessee State University.
August 1988: Time Magazine Article
In August 1988, Time magazine covered the much-publicized contest between The Oprah Winfrey Show and Donahue due to its enormous scrutiny.
1993: Interview with Michael Jackson
In 1993, Oprah Winfrey hosted a prime-time interview with Michael Jackson titled 'Michael Jackson Talks ... to Oprah'. It became the fourth most-watched event in American television history, with an audience of 36.5 million.
1994: Oprah Abandoned Traditional Talk-Show Fare for More Edifying Content
Since 1994, Oprah Winfrey abandoned traditional talk-show fare for more edifying content.
April 16, 1996: Mad Cow Disease Show
During a show about mad cow disease with Howard Lyman, aired on April 16, 1996, Oprah Winfrey said she was stopped cold from eating another burger, leading to a lawsuit from Texas cattlemen.
1996: Introduced Oprah's Book Club
Late in 1996, Oprah Winfrey introduced the Oprah's Book Club segment to her television show, which significantly boosted book sales and brought obscure novels to popular attention, leading to "the Oprah Effect".
April 1997: Guest star on "Ellen"
In April 1997, Oprah Winfrey played the therapist in "The Puppy Episode" on the sitcom Ellen, in which the character (and the real-life Ellen DeGeneres) came out as a lesbian.
October 1998: Produced and Starred in Beloved
In October 1998, Oprah Winfrey produced and starred in the film 'Beloved,' based on Toni Morrison's novel. She prepared for her role by experiencing a 24-hour simulation of slavery.
1998: Oprah's Conversation with Gary Zukav Begins
In 1998, Oprah Winfrey began an ongoing conversation with Gary Zukav, an American spiritual teacher, who appeared on her television show 35 times.
1998: Creation of Oprah's Angel Network
In 1998, Oprah Winfrey created Oprah's Angel Network, a charity that supported charitable projects and provided grants to nonprofit organizations around the world.
1998: Cattlemen Lawsuit
In early 1998, Texas cattlemen sued Oprah Winfrey and Howard Lyman for "false defamation of perishable food" and "business disparagement," claiming that Winfrey's remarks on mad cow disease sent cattle prices tumbling, costing beef producers $11 million.
1998: Oprah Began 'Change Your Life TV'
Since 1998, Oprah Winfrey began 'Change Your Life TV', solidifying her role as a spiritual leader for her audience.
2000: Richest African American of the 20th Century
By 2000, Oprah Winfrey, with a net worth of $800 million, was believed to be the richest African American of the 20th century.
2001: Oprah Hosts Prayer for America Service
Twelve days after the September 11 attacks, in 2001, New York mayor Rudy Giuliani asked Oprah Winfrey to serve as host of a Prayer for America service at New York City's Yankee Stadium.
2002: Fortune calls O, the Oprah Magazine the most successful start-up ever in the industry
In 2002, Fortune called O, the Oprah Magazine the most successful start-up ever in the industry.
2002: George W. Bush Invites Winfrey to Join Delegation to Afghanistan
In 2002, George W. Bush invited Oprah Winfrey to join a US delegation that included adviser Karen Hughes and Condoleezza Rice, planning to go to Afghanistan to celebrate the return of Afghan girls to school, but she refused to participate.
2002: Recipient of Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
In 2002, Oprah Winfrey received the first Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Emmy Awards for services to television and film.
2003: First Black Woman Billionaire
In 2003, Oprah Winfrey was recognized as the first black woman billionaire in the world.
2004: World's Only Black Billionaire
From 2004 to 2006, Forbes listed Oprah Winfrey as the world's only black billionaire.
2004: Published O At Home magazine
From 2004 to 2008 Oprah also published a magazine called O At Home.
2004: Filmed 'Oprah's Christmas Kindness' in South Africa
In 2004, Oprah Winfrey and her team filmed an episode of her show, "Oprah's Christmas Kindness", in which Oprah travelled to South Africa to bring attention to the plight of young children affected by poverty and AIDS.
2004: Ranked Among Most Generous Americans
In 2004, Oprah Winfrey became the first Black person to rank among the 50 most generous Americans.
December 1, 2005: Appeared on Late Show with David Letterman
On December 1, 2005, Oprah Winfrey appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman for the first time in 16 years to promote the Broadway musical, The Color Purple, which she produced. The episode was considered a major television event, attracting a large audience for Letterman.
2005: Circulation of O, the Oprah Magazine declined
Although its circulation had declined by more than 10 percent to 2.4 million from 2005 to 2008
2005: Harpo Productions released film adaptation of Their Eyes Were Watching God
In 2005, Harpo Productions released a film adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's 1937 novel 'Their Eyes Were Watching God'.
2005: Weight-Loss Book Announcement
In 2005, Oprah Winfrey announced a weight-loss book co-authored with her personal trainer Bob Greene. Her undisclosed advance fee was said to have broken the record for the world's highest book advance fee.
February 9, 2006: Signed Contract with XM Satellite Radio
On February 9, 2006, Oprah Winfrey signed a three-year, $55-million contract with XM Satellite Radio to establish a new radio channel.
September 25, 2006: Oprah & Friends Began Broadcasting
On September 25, 2006, 'Oprah & Friends' began broadcasting from a new studio at Winfrey's Chicago headquarters on XM Radio Channel 156.
2006: Confronted James Frey
After James Frey's A Million Little Pieces was found to contain fabrications, Oprah Winfrey confronted him on her show over the breach of trust in 2006.
2006: Circulation of O, the Oprah Magazine declined
Although its circulation had declined by more than 10 percent to 2.4 million from 2005 to 2008
2006: World's Only Black Billionaire
From 2004 to 2006, Forbes listed Oprah Winfrey as the world's only black billionaire.
2006: Voiced Gussie in Charlotte's Web
In 2006, Oprah Winfrey voiced Gussie the goose in 'Charlotte's Web'.
2006: Highest-Paid TV Entertainer
In 2006, Oprah Winfrey was the highest-paid television entertainer in the United States, earning an estimated $260 million during the year.
2006: Vacation to Hawaii with Staff
In the summer of 2006, Oprah Winfrey took her staff and their families (1,065 people in total) on vacation to Hawaii to celebrate two decades on national TV and to thank her employees.
January 2007: Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls Opens
In January 2007, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls opened in Henley on Klip, south of Johannesburg, South Africa, with an enrollment of 150 pupils.
September 8, 2007: Oprah Holds Fundraiser for Obama
On September 8, 2007, Oprah Winfrey held a fundraiser for Barack Obama at her Santa Barbara estate during his presidential campaign.
September 10, 2007: First Appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show
On September 10, 2007, David Letterman made his first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show as its season premiere was filmed in New York City.
December 9, 2007: Oprah Joins Obama for Rallies in South Carolina
On December 9, 2007, Oprah Winfrey joined Barack Obama for a rally in Columbia, South Carolina, which drew a crowd of nearly 30,000 people, the largest for any political event of 2007.
December 2007: Oprah Joins Obama for Rallies
In December 2007, Oprah Winfrey joined Barack Obama for a series of rallies in the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina to support his presidential campaign.
2007: Oprah Endorses 'The Secret'
In 2007, Oprah Winfrey began to endorse the self-help program 'The Secret'.
2007: Voiced Judge Bumbleton in Bee Movie
In 2007, Oprah Winfrey voiced Judge Bumbleton in 'Bee Movie', co-starring Jerry Seinfeld and Renée Zellweger.
January 15, 2008: Announcement of OWN
On January 15, 2008, Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications announced plans to change Discovery Health Channel into a new channel called OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
2008: Increased Yearly Income
By 2008, Oprah Winfrey's yearly income had increased to $275 million.
2008: Ratings Decline to 7.3 Million Viewers
By 2008, the ratings for The Oprah Winfrey Show declined again to around 7.3 million viewers, though it remained the highest-rated talk show.
2008: O At Home magazine was no longer published
From 2004 to 2008 Oprah also published a magazine called O At Home.
2008: Political Force and Launch of OWN
In 2008, Oprah Winfrey emerged as a political force with her endorsement of Barack Obama. In the same year, she formed her own network, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
2008: Oprah Endorses Barack Obama
In 2008, Oprah Winfrey endorsed Barack Obama for president. It was estimated that her endorsement was worth over a million votes in the Democratic primary race.
2008: Oprah Endorses Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth"
In 2008, Oprah Winfrey endorsed author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle and his book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, which sold several million extra copies after being selected for her book club.
2008: Oprah Named PETA's Person of the Year
In 2008, Oprah Winfrey was named as the Person of the Year by animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for using her fame and listening audience to help the less fortunate, including animals.
2008: Show Airing in 140 Countries
In 2008, Oprah Winfrey's show was airing in 140 countries internationally and seen by an estimated 46 million people in the US weekly.
2008: Most Powerful Woman in Entertainment
In 2008, The Hollywood Reporter named Oprah Winfrey, as chairman of Harpo Inc., the most powerful woman in entertainment.
2008: Oprah Popular in the Arab World
In 2008, The New York Times reported that The Oprah Winfrey Show, with Arabic subtitles, was broadcast twice each weekday on MBC 4.
2008: Exclusive Pact with HBO
In late 2008, Oprah Winfrey's company, Harpo Films, signed an exclusive output pact to develop and produce scripted series, documentaries, and movies exclusively for HBO.
January 2009: Best-Selling Issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
In January 2009, 'O, the Oprah Magazine' had its best-selling issue since 2006.
2009: Apologized to James Frey
In 2009, Oprah Winfrey apologized to James Frey for the public confrontation regarding the fabrications in his book A Million Little Pieces.
2009: Oprah Films Interviews in Denmark
In 2009, Oprah Winfrey filmed a series of interviews in Denmark highlighting its citizens as the happiest people in the world.
2009: Voiced Eudora in The Princess and the Frog
In 2009, Oprah Winfrey provided the voice for the character of Eudora, the mother of Princess Tiana, in Disney's 'The Princess and the Frog'.
2009: Delayed Launch of OWN
In 2009, the planned launch of the Oprah Winfrey Network was delayed.
2010: Narrated Life for Discovery
In 2010, Oprah Winfrey narrated the US version of the BBC nature program 'Life' for Discovery.
2010: Remained Among Top 50 Most Generous Americans
Oprah Winfrey remained among the top 50 most generous Americans until 2010.
January 1, 2011: Launch of OWN
On January 1, 2011, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) was officially launched after delays.
May 25, 2011: Series Finale of The Oprah Winfrey Show
The series finale of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired on May 25, 2011.
2011: The Oprah Winfrey Show Ends
In 2011, The Oprah Winfrey Show concluded its 25-year run in national syndication.
2012: Scholarships to Morehouse College
As of 2012, Oprah Winfrey had given over 400 scholarships to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
2012: Donated to Educational Causes
By 2012, Oprah Winfrey had given away approximately $400 million to educational causes.
2013: Donation to Smithsonian Museum
In 2013, Oprah Winfrey donated $12 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.
2013: Starred in The Butler
In 2013, Oprah Winfrey starred in the film 'The Butler' directed by Lee Daniels. Her performance garnered Oscar buzz but she was not nominated.
April 2014: Oprah Speaks at Fundraiser for Lavern Chatman
In April 2014, Oprah Winfrey spoke at a fundraiser in Arlington, Virginia, for Lavern Chatman, who was a candidate in a primary to nominate a Democratic Party candidate for election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
2014: Richest Self-Made Woman in America
As of 2014, Oprah Winfrey had a net worth exceeding $2.9 billion and had surpassed Meg Whitman as the richest self-made woman in America.
2015: Memoir Announcement
In 2015, Oprah Winfrey's memoir, 'The Life You Want', was announced, following her tour of the same name.
2016: Oprah selects SuperSoul 100 list of innovators
Following the launch of the Super Soul Sunday and SuperSoul Sessions programs on Harpo Productions' SuperSoul TV, in 2016 Oprah Winfrey selected 100 people for the SuperSoul 100 list of "innovators and visionaries who are aligned on a mission to move humanity forward".
2016: Oprah Endorses Hillary Clinton
In 2016, Oprah Winfrey endorsed Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, and referred to Republican candidate Donald Trump as a "demagogue".
2016: Memoir Postponed
In 2016, the publication of Oprah Winfrey's memoir, 'The Life You Want', was "indefinitely postponed".
January 2017: Joining 60 Minutes
In January 2017, CBS announced that Oprah Winfrey would join 60 Minutes as a special contributor.
September 2017: Debut on 60 Minutes
In September 2017, Oprah Winfrey started as a special contributor on 60 Minutes.
June 2018: Content Partnership with Apple
In June 2018, Apple announced a multi-year content partnership with Oprah Winfrey.
2018: Oprah Canvasses and Donates to Political Causes
In 2018, Oprah Winfrey canvassed door-to-door for Georgia gubernatorial Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams and donated $500,000 to the March for Our Lives student demonstration in favor of gun control in the United States.
2018: Leaving 60 Minutes
In 2018, Oprah Winfrey left 60 Minutes. The National Museum of African American History and Culture also opened a special exhibit on Winfrey's cultural influence through television in 2018.
2018: Oprah Meets with Mohammad bin Salman
In 2018, Oprah Winfrey met with Mohammad bin Salman, the crown prince and de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, when he visited the United States.
2018: Starred in A Wrinkle in Time
In 2018, Oprah Winfrey starred as Mrs. Which in the film adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's novel 'A Wrinkle in Time'. She also lent her voice to 'Crow: The Legend'.
2018: Oprah States She Would Not Run for President
In 2018, Oprah Winfrey stated that she "would not be able to" run for president, noting that "it's not a clean business. It would kill me."
March 21, 2020: Debut of Oprah Talks COVID-19
On March 21, 2020, Oprah Talks COVID-19 debuted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 2020: End of O Magazine's Regular Print Publications Announced
In July 2020, it was announced that 'O Magazine' would end its regular print publications after the December 2020 issue.
July 30, 2020: Debut of The Oprah Conversation
On July 30, 2020, The Oprah Conversation debuted, with Oprah Winfrey continuing to explore impactful topics with thought leaders.
December 2020: Final Monthly Print Edition of O Magazine
The December 2020 issue was 'O Magazine's' final monthly print edition, with Winfrey thanking readers.
2020: Oprah Denies Presidential Run
In 2020, leading up to the election, there was media speculation that Oprah Winfrey might run for president. However, Winfrey ultimately denied any plans to run, though she later campaigned for Joe Biden during the general election.
2021: Interview with Meghan and Harry
In 2021, Oprah Winfrey conducted an interview with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, which was broadcast globally and received international media attention.
2022: Oprah Endorses John Fetterman and Wes Moore
In 2022, Oprah Winfrey endorsed Democrat John Fetterman in the Pennsylvania Senate election and Baltimore author Wes Moore in the Maryland gubernatorial election, also co-hosting a virtual fundraiser for him in June.
2022: Oprah Sets Up OWN Your Vote
In 2022, Oprah Winfrey set up OWN Your Vote, a nonpartisan group dedicated to voter registration and a get-out-the-vote campaign focused on providing Black women with tools and resources to vote in the November election.
January 18, 2023: Oprah Speaks at Wes Moore's Gubernatorial Inauguration
On January 18, 2023, Oprah Winfrey attended and spoke at Wes Moore's gubernatorial inauguration in Maryland after endorsing him in the Democratic primary in 2022.
August 21, 2024: Oprah Endorses Kamala Harris
On August 21, 2024, Oprah Winfrey endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
2024: AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special
In 2024, ABC aired “AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special”, a one-hour show hosted by Oprah Winfrey that delves into the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on daily life, featuring interviews with tech industry figures like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Bill Gates.
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