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 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.

Sections (6)

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

April 15, 1900: Hattie Mae (Presley) Lee's Birth

April 15, 1900, marked the birth of Hattie Mae (Presley) Lee, Oprah Winfrey's maternal grandmother.

1933: Vernon Winfrey's birth

In 1933, Vernon Winfrey, Oprah's father, was born.

1935: Vernita Lee's birth

In 1935, Vernita Lee, Oprah Winfrey's mother, was born.

January 29, 1954: Oprah Winfrey's Birth

On January 29, 1954, Orpah Gail Winfrey, later known as Oprah, was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor.

1962: Move to Nashville

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

February 27, 1963: Hattie Mae (Presley) Lee's Death

On February 27, 1963, Hattie Mae (Presley) Lee, Oprah Winfrey's maternal grandmother, passed away.

1971: Meets William "Bubba" Taylor

In 1971, Oprah Winfrey met William "Bubba" Taylor at Tennessee State University, starting what was described as her "first intense, to-die-for love affair".

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.

September 8, 1981: Wrote Suicide Note

On September 8, 1981, Oprah Winfrey wrote a suicide note to Gayle King due to depression from a relationship. She later reflected that she couldn't go through with it, fearing she'd miss out on something good.

1985: Relationship with Reginald Chevalier

In 1985, Haitian filmmaker Reginald Chevalier claimed he had a relationship with Oprah Winfrey after appearing on her show, which included romantic evenings and dinners with Michael Jordan and Danny Glover. The relationship reportedly ended when Winfrey met Stedman Graham.

1985: Purchased Condominium in Chicago

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

1985: Alleged Drug-Related Affair

In 1985, Oprah Winfrey was allegedly involved in a drug-related love affair with Randolph Cook, who claimed they lived together for several months and used drugs.

1986: Began Relationship with Stedman Graham

In 1986, Oprah Winfrey began her long-term relationship with Stedman Graham.

1986: Announcement of Abuse

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

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1986: Oprah on her Father Saving Her

In 1986, Oprah Winfrey said, "'When my father took me, it changed the course of my life. He saved me. He simply knew what he wanted and expected. He would take nothing less'".

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.

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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.

1988: Purchased Property in Rolling Prairie, Indiana

In 1988, Oprah Winfrey purchased a 164-acre property including main and guest residences, orchard, and stables in Rolling Prairie, Indiana, as her weekend refuge.

1989: Jeffrey's Death

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

1990: Betrayal by Family Member

In 1990, Oprah Winfrey stated she felt betrayed by the family member who had sold the story of her son 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 Compound in Telluride, Colorado

In 1992, Oprah Winfrey purchased an 80-acre compound in Telluride, Colorado.

1993: Purchased Adjoining Condos in Chicago

In 1993, Oprah Winfrey purchased the condos adjoining and directly below her initial condo in Chicago's Water Tower Place.

1994: Purchased More Condos in Chicago

In 1994, Oprah Winfrey purchased the condos adjoining and directly below her initial condo in Chicago's Water Tower Place. She also purchased an apartment at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago that year.

1996: Purchased Condos in Fisher Island, Florida

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

1997: Guest appearance on Ellen

In 1997, Oprah Winfrey appeared on an episode of Ellen, playing a therapist, after which she and Gayle King became targets of rumors that they were gay.

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1997: Cook Attempted to Sue Winfrey

In 1997, Randolph Cook attempted to sue Oprah Winfrey for $20 million, alleging she blocked a tell-all book about their alleged relationship.

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: Hosted Caribbean Cruise for Maya Angelou's 70th Birthday

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

2000: Purchased Estate for Gayle King

In 2000, Oprah Winfrey purchased an estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, for her friend Gayle King.

2001: Purchased Estate in Montecito, California

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

2002: Purchased Homes for Family and Friends

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

February 2003: Patricia's Death

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

2003: Listed Compound in Rolling Prairie, Indiana

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

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: Sold Compound in Rolling Prairie, Indiana

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 several properties totaling 163 acres in Kula and Hana, Hawaii, as well as a penthouse apartment in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2005, she purchased a home in Douglasville, Georgia.

August 2006: Addressed Gay Rumors

In the August 2006 issue of O, the Oprah Magazine, Oprah Winfrey addressed the persistent rumors that she and Gayle King were gay, explaining that their close bond is not sexual and she is not ashamed of her sexuality.

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.

2006: Genetic Test Results

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

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.

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).

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2008: Sold Atlanta Penthouse and Purchased Penthouse for Gayle King

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: Threw Extravagant 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.

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: Discovery of Second Half-Sister

In 2010, Oprah Winfrey learned that she had a second half-sister named Patricia.

May 25, 2011: Series Finale of The Oprah Winfrey Show

The series finale of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired on May 25, 2011.

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2011: Gifted Home in Douglasville, Georgia

In 2011, Oprah Winfrey gifted the home in Douglasville, Georgia, to a family member.

2011: The Oprah Winfrey Show Ends

In 2011, The Oprah Winfrey Show concluded its 25-year run in national syndication.

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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.

2012: Sold Chicago Co-op and Gayle King's Penthouse

In 2012, Oprah Winfrey sold her unused co-op apartment in Chicago and Gayle King's penthouse apartment in New York City.

2013: Donation to Smithsonian Museum

In 2013, Oprah Winfrey donated $12 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.

2014: Listed Chicago Duplex and Purchased Land in Telluride

In early 2014, Oprah Winfrey listed her combined-unit Chicago duplex on the market. Later that year, she came back to Telluride, Colorado, to purchase a 60-acre lot with plans to build on the property. A lawsuit filed against her regarding trail access rights was dismissed.

2015: Purchased Property in Telluride and Expanded Montecito Compound

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

2017: Discussed Decision Not to Have Children

In a 2017 interview with Vanity Fair, Oprah Winfrey explained that she did not want more children after the loss of her infant child at age 14, stating she wouldn't have been a good mom for babies due to a lack of patience.

2018: Obtained Land on Orcas Island and Sold Chicago Home

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: Vernita Lee's death

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

2019: Expanded Montecito Home-Base 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.

March 21, 2020: Debut of Oprah Talks COVID-19

On March 21, 2020, Oprah Talks COVID-19 debuted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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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.

2021: Sold Orcas Island Compound and Purchased Another in Montecito

In 2021, Oprah Winfrey sold her Orcas Island compound as she was too busy to use it and purchased another compound in Montecito further away from her home-base compound.

2022: Current Residence

As of 2022, Oprah Winfrey lives in her "main home base" she has also called "The Promised Land" (where she currently lives as of 2022), a (then) 42-acre (17 ha) estate with ocean and mountain views in Montecito, California.

2022: Real Estate Investments Estimated

As of 2022, Oprah Winfrey's real estate investments are estimated to total approximately $127 million.

2022: Flipped Montecito Compound

In 2022, Oprah Winfrey flipped the Montecito compound she purchased in 2021, splitting properties, one of which was sold to her property manager and longtime personal trainer Bob Greene, and the other to actress Jennifer Aniston.