Career Timeline of Oprah Winfrey: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Oprah Winfrey made an impact.
Oprah Winfrey, an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor, rose to fame through her nationally syndicated talk show, *The Oprah Winfrey Show*, which aired for 25 years. Known as the "Queen of All Media," she became the wealthiest African-American of the 20th century and the world's only Black billionaire at one point. Winfrey is often recognized as one of the most influential women globally.
June 1976: Move to Baltimore and breakup with Taylor
In June 1976, William "Bubba" Taylor was unwilling to leave Nashville with Winfrey when she moved to Baltimore to work at WJZ-TV, which led to their breakup.
1976: Moved to Baltimore's WJZ-TV
In 1976, Oprah Winfrey moved to Baltimore's WJZ-TV to co-anchor the six o'clock news, making her the first black female news anchor at Nashville's WLAC-TV.
1977: Lower Profile Role at WJZ-TV
In 1977, Oprah Winfrey was removed as co-anchor at WJZ-TV and transitioned to lower profile positions within the station.
August 14, 1978: People Are Talking Premiere
On August 14, 1978, Oprah Winfrey joined Richard Sher as co-host of WJZ's local talk show People Are Talking.
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. She was hired by the station'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. 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. This marked a significant expansion for the show.
1986: The Oprah Winfrey Show National Syndication
In 1986, The Oprah Winfrey Show, originating from Chicago, began its national syndication run, which would last for 25 years. This marked a significant milestone in Oprah Winfrey's career.
1987: Tennessee State University Degree
In 1987, Oprah Winfrey finally delivered her final paper and earned her degree from Tennessee State University, a historically black institution, after having been a successful television personality for some time.
August 1988: Time Magazine Scrutiny
In August 1988, Time magazine reported the much-publicized contest of the audience share between the shows of Oprah Winfrey and Phil Donahue, which was the subject of enormous scrutiny.
1989: The Women of Brewster Place
In 1989, Oprah Winfrey produced and co-starred in the drama miniseries The Women of Brewster Place and its short-lived spin-off, Brewster Place.
1989: Induction into NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame
In 1989, Oprah Winfrey was accepted into the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame.
1992: ABC Afterschool Special Moderation
From 1992 to 1994, Oprah Winfrey moderated three ABC Afterschool Specials, contributing to educational programming for young audiences.
1993: Michael Jackson Talks ... to Oprah Interview
In 1993, Oprah Winfrey hosted "Michael Jackson Talks ... to Oprah" with Michael Jackson. The interview became the fourth most-watched event in American television history and the most-watched interview ever, with 36.5 million viewers.
1994: ABC Afterschool Special Moderation
From 1992 to 1994, Oprah Winfrey moderated three ABC Afterschool Specials, contributing to educational programming for young audiences.
1994: Shift in Talk Show Content
Since 1994, Oprah Winfrey abandoned traditional talk-show fare for more edifying content, marking a significant shift in the focus of her program.
April 16, 1996: Comments on mad cow disease
On April 16, 1996, during a show about mad cow disease with Howard Lyman, Oprah Winfrey stated that she was stopped cold from eating another burger.
1996: Introduction of Oprah's Book Club
Late in 1996, Oprah Winfrey introduced the Oprah's Book Club segment to her television show, which had a significant impact on book sales and popular attention to literature.
October 1998: Produced and starred in Beloved
In October 1998, Oprah Winfrey produced and starred in the film "Beloved", based on Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. She prepared for her role by experiencing a 24-hour simulation of slavery.
1998: 'Change Your Life TV' begins
In 1998, Oprah Winfrey began 'Change Your Life TV', marking a turn to spirituality and self-help on her show, cementing her role as a spiritual leader.
1998: Ongoing 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, and she keeps a copy of Zukav's "The Seat of the Soul" by her bedside.
1998: Winfrey Creates 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.
2000: Richest African American of the 20th century
By the year 2000, with a net worth of $800 million, Oprah Winfrey is believed to have been the richest African American of the 20th century.
2001: Host of 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: Oprah After the Show on Oxygen
From 2002 to 2006, Oprah Winfrey's Oprah After the Show program aired on Oxygen, the women's cable television network she co-founded.
2002: O, the Oprah Magazine deemed most successful start-up
In 2002, "Fortune" called "O, the Oprah Magazine" the most successful start-up ever in the industry.
2002: Invitation to join US delegation to Afghanistan
In 2002, George W. Bush invited Oprah Winfrey to join a US delegation planning to go to Afghanistan to celebrate the return of Afghan girls to school, however, Winfrey refused to participate, and the trip was postponed.
2002: Winfrey Receives Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
In 2002, Oprah Winfrey was the recipient of the first Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Emmy Awards for services to television and film.
2003: First black woman billionaire in the world
In 2003, Oprah Winfrey became the first black woman billionaire in the world.
2004: Only black billionaire on Forbes' list
From 2004 to 2006, Oprah Winfrey was listed as the world's only black billionaire on Forbes' list of The World's Billionaires.
2004: Oprah's Christmas Kindness Episode
In 2004, Oprah Winfrey and her team filmed an episode of her show, "Oprah's Christmas Kindness", in which Winfrey travelled to South Africa to bring attention to the plight of young children affected by poverty and AIDS, distributing Christmas presents to 50,000 children.
2004: Winfrey Ranked Among Most Generous Americans
In 2004, Oprah Winfrey became the first Black person to rank among the 50 most generous Americans.
2004: Publication of O At Home magazine
In 2004, Oprah Winfrey published a magazine called "O At Home".
December 1, 2005: Oprah appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman
On December 1, 2005, Oprah Winfrey made her first appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in 16 years to promote "The Color Purple" musical. The episode was considered a major television event, attracting a large audience for Letterman.
2005: The Color Purple on Broadway and Their Eyes Were Watching God film adaptation
In 2005, "The Color Purple" opened as a Broadway musical, with Oprah Winfrey credited as a producer. Also in 2005, Harpo Productions released a film adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's 1937 novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God", starring Halle Berry.
2005: Reading with Oprah: The Book Club that Changed America
In 2005, Kathleen Rooney described Winfrey as "a serious American intellectual who pioneered the use of electronic media, specifically television and the Internet, to take reading – a decidedly non-technological and highly individual act – and highlight its social elements and uses in such a way to motivate millions of erstwhile non-readers to pick up books" in the book Reading with Oprah: The Book Club that Changed America.
2005: Weight-loss book announcement
In 2005, Oprah Winfrey announced a weight-loss book co-authored with Bob Greene, reportedly breaking 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
Oprah & Friends began broadcasting on September 25, 2006, from a new studio at Winfrey's Chicago headquarters on XM Radio Channel 156.
2006: Only black billionaire on Forbes' list
From 2004 to 2006, Oprah Winfrey was listed as the world's only black billionaire on Forbes' list of The World's Billionaires.
2006: Confrontation with James Frey
In 2006, Oprah Winfrey confronted James Frey on her show after his book, "A Million Little Pieces", was found to contain fabrications.
2006: Oprah After the Show Moves to Oprah.com
In 2006, Oprah Winfrey sold her stake in Oxygen and moved her Oprah After the Show program to Oprah.com.
2006: Voiced Gussie in Charlotte's Web
In 2006, Oprah Winfrey voiced Gussie the goose in the movie "Charlotte's Web".
2006: Highest-paid television entertainer
In 2006, Oprah Winfrey was the highest-paid television entertainer in the United States, earning an estimated $260 million during the year.
2006: Winfrey Takes Staff on Vacation
In the summer of 2006, Oprah Winfrey took her staff and their families, totaling 1,065 people, on vacation to Hawaii to celebrate two decades on national TV and to thank them for their hard work.
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: Fundraiser for Barack Obama
On September 8, 2007, Oprah Winfrey held a fundraiser for Barack Obama at her Santa Barbara estate to support his presidential campaign.
September 10, 2007: Letterman Appears on The Oprah Winfrey Show
On September 10, 2007, David Letterman made his first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, which was filmed in New York City for its season premiere.
December 9, 2007: Rally with Barack Obama 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: Rallies with Barack Obama in Primary States
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: Endorsement of The Secret
In 2007, Oprah Winfrey began to endorse the self-help program "The Secret". The Secret claims that people can change their lives through positive thoughts or 'vibrations'.
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: Oprah Winfrey Network
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: Yearly income increased to $275 million
By 2008, Oprah Winfrey's yearly income had increased to $275 million, further solidifying her status as a top entertainer.
2008: Endorsement of Barack Obama
In 2008, Oprah Winfrey endorsed Barack Obama for president, and economists estimate that this endorsement was worth over a million votes in the Democratic primary race.
2008: Endorsement of Barack Obama & Launch of OWN
In 2008, Oprah Winfrey endorsed Barack Obama in the presidential race, estimated to have been worth about one million votes. Also in 2008, she formed her own network, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
2008: Endorsement of 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: 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 animals.
2008: End of O At Home magazine
In 2008, Oprah Winfrey's magazine "O At Home" ceased publication.
2008: Most powerful woman in entertainment
In 2008, as chairman of Harpo Inc., Oprah Winfrey was named the most powerful woman in entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter.
2008: Harpo Films 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.
2009: Scheduled launch of OWN
In 2009, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network was initially scheduled to launch but was delayed.
2009: Apology to James Frey
In 2009, Oprah Winfrey apologized to James Frey for the public confrontation regarding his book, "A Million Little Pieces", that was aired in 2006.
2009: Filming 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 Eudora, Princess Tiana's mother, in Disney's "The Princess and the Frog."
May 2010: Oprah's Angel Network Shuts Down
In May 2010, with Oprah's show ending, Oprah's Angel Network stopped accepting donations and was shut down.
2010: Narrated Life for Discovery
In 2010, Oprah Winfrey narrated the US version of the BBC nature program "Life" for Discovery.
2010: Winfrey Remained Among Top 50 Most Generous Americans
In 2010, Oprah Winfrey remained among the top 50 most generous Americans, a position she had held since 2004.
January 1, 2011: Launch of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
After being delayed from its original scheduled launch in 2009, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network officially launched on January 1, 2011.
May 25, 2011: The Oprah Winfrey Show Series Finale
On May 25, 2011, the series finale of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired, marking the end of its long and influential run.
2011: End of The Oprah Winfrey Show
In 2011, The Oprah Winfrey Show concluded its 25-year run in national syndication. This marked the end of an era for the influential talk show.
2012: Winfrey's Scholarships to Morehouse College
As of 2012, Oprah Winfrey had given over 400 scholarships to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
2012: Winfrey's Donations to Educational Causes
By 2012, Oprah Winfrey had given away approximately $400 million to educational causes.
2013: Winfrey Donates to Smithsonian and Receives Medal of Freedom
In 2013, Oprah Winfrey donated $12 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Later that year, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2013: Starred in The Butler
In 2013, Oprah Winfrey starred in the film "The Butler" directed by Lee Daniels. Her performance garnered Oscar buzz, though she was not nominated.
2013: Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2013, Oprah Winfrey was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, recognizing her contributions to society and culture.
April 2014: Fundraiser speech for Lavern Chatman
In April 2014, Oprah Winfrey spoke for over 20 minutes at a fundraiser in Arlington, Virginia, for Lavern Chatman, 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 in excess of 2.9 billion dollars and had overtaken former eBay CEO Meg Whitman as the richest self-made woman in America.
2015: Announcement of memoir The Life You Want
In 2015, Oprah Winfrey's memoir, "The Life You Want", was announced, following her tour of the same name.
2016: Selection for SuperSoul 100 list
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: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton
In 2016, Oprah Winfrey endorsed Hillary Clinton in the presidential election and referred to Republican candidate Donald Trump as a "demagogue".
2016: Postponement of memoir publication
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 on the Sunday evening news magazine program.
September 2017: Debut on 60 Minutes
In September 2017, Oprah Winfrey started as a special contributor on 60 Minutes.
2017: Scheduled publication of The Life You Want
In 2017, the planned publication of Oprah Winfrey's memoir, "The Life You Want", was scheduled.
2018: Canvassing and Donation for Gun Control
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: Denial of presidential run
In 2018, Oprah Winfrey denied any plans to run for president, stating that while she was honored by the suggestion, she believed it was "not a clean business" and "would kill me".
2018: Departure from 60 Minutes & Museum Exhibit
In 2018, Oprah Winfrey left 60 Minutes. The National Museum of African American History and Culture opened a special exhibit on Winfrey's cultural influence through television.
2018: Starred in A Wrinkle in Time and Crow: The Legend
In 2018, Oprah Winfrey starred as Mrs. Which in the film adaptation of "A Wrinkle in Time". She also lent her voice to the animated virtual-reality short film "Crow: The Legend".
2018: Meeting with Mohammad bin Salman
In early 2018, Oprah Winfrey met with Mohammad bin Salman, the crown prince and de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, when he visited the United States.
March 21, 2020: Debut of Oprah Talks COVID-19
On March 21, 2020, Oprah Talks COVID-19 debuted on Apple TV+ during the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 2020: End of regular print publications for O Magazine 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 Winfrey "[continuing] to explore impactful and relevant topics with fascinating thought leaders from all over the world".
December 2020: Final monthly print edition of O Magazine
In the December 2020 issue, Oprah Winfrey thanked readers and acknowledged it was the magazine's "final monthly print edition".
2020: Speculation about presidential campaign
Leading up to the 2020 election, there was media speculation that Oprah Winfrey might run for president, but she ultimately denied any plans to do so and later campaigned for Joe Biden during the general election.
2021: Interview with Meghan and Prince Harry
In 2021, Oprah Winfrey conducted an interview with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and her husband Prince Harry, which was broadcast globally and received international media attention.
2022: Real estate portfolio
As of 2022, Oprah's real-estate portfolio is estimated to total approximately $127 million.
2022: Endorsement of 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.
2022: Launch of 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: Speech at Wes Moore's Inauguration
On January 18, 2023, Oprah Winfrey attended and spoke at Wes Moore's gubernatorial inauguration in Maryland after endorsing him in the 2022 primary.
August 21, 2024: Endorsement of 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 television special hosted by Oprah Winfrey. The show explored the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on daily life and featured interviews with tech industry figures like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Bill Gates.
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