Early Life and Education of Oprah Winfrey: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Oprah Winfrey. From birth to education, explore key events.

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.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1933: Vernon Winfrey's Birth

In 1933, Vernon Winfrey, Oprah Winfrey's father, was born. He was a coal miner turned barber turned city councilman.

1935: Vernita Lee's Birth

In 1935, Vernita Lee, Oprah Winfrey's mother, was born. She later worked as a housemaid.

January 29, 1954: Oprah Winfrey's Birth

On January 29, 1954, Oprah Gail Winfrey was born as Orpah Gail Winfrey in Kosciusko, Mississippi, to a teenaged mother, Vernita Lee, and father Vernon Winfrey. Her first name was misspelled on her birth certificate but she became known as Oprah.

1962: Moved to Nashville

In 1962, due to her mother's difficulty in raising both daughters, Oprah Winfrey was temporarily sent to live with her father in Nashville, Tennessee.

1971: Meeting William "Bubba" Taylor

In 1971, Oprah Winfrey met William "Bubba" Taylor at Tennessee State University shortly after breaking up with Otey. According to CBS journalist George Mair, Taylor was Winfrey's "first intense, to-die-for love affair".

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.

September 8, 1981: Suicide note to Gayle King

On September 8, 1981, Oprah Winfrey wrote a suicide note to her best friend Gayle King because she was feeling depressed from an unrequited love affair with a married man.

1985: Relationship with Reginald Chevalier

In 1985, Haitian filmmaker Reginald Chevalier claimed that he appeared as a guest on Oprah Winfrey's Chicago talk show and began a relationship with her, which ended when she met Stedman Graham.

1985: Purchased condo in Chicago

In 1985, Oprah Winfrey purchased her first condominium in Chicago's Water Tower Place.

1985: Drug-related love affair with Randolph Cook

In 1985, Oprah Winfrey was allegedly involved in a drug-related love affair. Self-proclaimed former boyfriend Randolph Cook said they lived together for several months and did drugs.

1986: Life Change Acknowledgment

In 1986, Oprah Winfrey acknowledged that her father taking her in significantly changed her life for the better, providing structure and expectations.

1986: Beginning of Relationship with Stedman Graham

In 1986, Oprah Winfrey began her relationship with Stedman Graham, who has been her partner since then.

1986: Public Announcement of Childhood Abuse

In 1986, Oprah Winfrey publicly announced on her TV show that she had been molested by her cousin, uncle, and a family friend, starting when she was nine years old.

Loading Video...

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.

1988: Purchased property in Rolling Prairie

In 1988, Oprah Winfrey purchased a 164-acre property in Rolling Prairie, Indiana, as her weekend refuge.

1989: Death of Half-Brother Jeffrey

In 1989, Jeffrey, Oprah Winfrey's half-brother, died of AIDS-related causes.

1990: Story Sold to National Enquirer

In 1990, Oprah Winfrey felt betrayed when a family member sold the story of her premature son's death to the National Enquirer.

November 1992: Engagement to Stedman Graham

In November 1992, Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham were engaged to be married, but the ceremony never took place.

1992: Purchased condos and compound

In 1992, Oprah Winfrey purchased condos adjoining her Water Tower Place condo and an 80-acre compound in Telluride, Colorado.

1993: Purchased condos

In 1993, Oprah Winfrey purchased condos in Chicago.

1994: Purchased condos and apartments

In 1994, Oprah Winfrey purchased condos in Chicago and an apartment at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.

1996: Purchased condos

Between 1996 and 2000, Oprah Winfrey purchased a total of five condos in different development areas of Fisher Island, Florida.

1997: Randolph Cook sues Oprah

In 1997, Randolph Cook tried to sue Oprah Winfrey for $20 million for allegedly blocking a tell-all book about their alleged relationship.

1998: Caribbean cruise for Maya Angelou's 70th birthday

In 1998, Oprah Winfrey hosted a week-long Caribbean cruise for Maya Angelou and 150 guests for Angelou's 70th birthday.

2000: Purchased estate and condos

In 2000, Oprah Winfrey purchased an estate for Gayle King in Greenwich, Connecticut, and acquired five condos in Fisher Island, Florida.

2001: Sold condos and purchased estate in Montecito

In 2001, Oprah Winfrey sold all five of her Fisher Island condos and purchased a 42-acre estate in Montecito, California, which she has called "The Promised Land".

2002: Purchased homes for family

In 2002, Oprah Winfrey purchased homes in Elmwood Park, Illinois, and Merrillville, Indiana, for family members and friends. She also purchased her father's home in Franklin, Tennessee, and a lakefront condo in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

February 2003: Death of Half-Sister Patricia

In February 2003, Patricia, Oprah Winfrey's younger half-sister, died of causes related to cocaine addiction at age 43.

2003: Listed Rolling Prairie compound

In 2003, Oprah Winfrey listed her compound in Rolling Prairie, Indiana.

2004: Sold Rolling Prairie compound

In 2004, Oprah Winfrey sold her compound in Rolling Prairie, Indiana.

2005: Acquired properties in Hawaii and Georgia

From 2003 to 2005, Oprah Winfrey acquired properties totaling 163 acres in Kula and Hana, Hawaii, as well as a penthouse apartment in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2005, she also purchased a home in Douglasville, Georgia.

2006: Purchased co-op apartment in Chicago

In 2006, Oprah Winfrey purchased a co-op apartment along Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago, with plans to move there permanently. However, the property remained unused.

2006: Genetic Test Results

In 2006, a genetic test determined that Oprah Winfrey's matrilineal line originated among the Kpelle ethnic group from Liberia. Her genetic makeup was determined to be 89% Sub-Saharan African, 8% Native American, and 3% East Asian.

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.

2008: Sold penthouse in Atlanta and purchased penthouse in NYC

In 2008, Oprah Winfrey sold her penthouse apartment in Atlanta. That year, she also listed Gayle King's estate and purchased her (through her second LLC Sophie's Penthouse) a penthouse apartment in midtown Manhattan, New York City.

2008: 80th birthday celebration for Maya Angelou

In 2008, Oprah Winfrey threw "an extravagant 80th birthday celebration" for Maya Angelou at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

2010: Discovery of Second Half-Sister

In 2010, Oprah Winfrey learned that she had a second half-sister named Patricia, who had been put up for adoption.

2011: Gifted home to family member

In 2011, Oprah Winfrey gifted a home in Douglasville, Georgia, which she had purchased in 2005, to a family member.

2012: Winfrey's Scholarships to Morehouse College

As of 2012, Oprah Winfrey had given over 400 scholarships to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

2012: Sold co-op apartment

In 2012, Oprah Winfrey sold her unused co-op apartment along Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago.

2014: Listed Chicago duplex and purchased property in Telluride

In early 2014, Oprah Winfrey listed her combined-unit Chicago duplex on the market. Later that year, Oprah came back to Telluride, Colorado to purchase a 60-acre lot with plans to build on the property.

2015: Purchased property in Telluride and expanded Montecito compound

In 2015, Oprah Winfrey purchased another property in Telluride, and later that year, expanded her Montecito compound with another 23-acre estate and yet another 44-acre dedicated crop and equestrian preserve. That year she also sold both of her downtown Chicago homes.

2017: Reason for not wanting children

In a 2017 interview with Vanity Fair, Oprah Winfrey explained that she didn't want babies after the loss of her infant child at age 14 because she didn't believe she would have been a good mom for babies.

2018: Obtained land on Orcas Island and sold home in Chicago

In 2018, Oprah Winfrey obtained two adjoining parcels of land totaling 23 acres including the Madroneagle compound on Orcas Island, Washington and sold her last home property in the Chicago area from Elmwood Park.

2018: Death of Vernita Lee

In 2018, Vernita Lee, Oprah Winfrey's mother, passed away.

2019: Expanded Montecito compound

In late 2019, Oprah Winfrey expanded her Montecito home-base compound to 70 contiguous acres with the purchase of a four-acre complex from actor Jeff Bridges.

2021: Sold Orcas Island compound and purchased property in Montecito

In 2021, Oprah Winfrey sold her Orcas Island compound and purchased another compound in Montecito further away from her home-base compound.

2022: Continues to live in Montecito estate

As of 2022, Oprah Winfrey continues to reside at her Montecito estate, which she refers to as "The Promised Land".

2022: Flipped property in Montecito

In 2022, Oprah Winfrey flipped her Montecito property, splitting it into two properties, one of which was sold to her property manager and longtime personal trainer Bob Greene, and the other to actress Jennifer Aniston.