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 an influential American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor, widely recognized for The Oprah Winfrey Show, which aired for 25 years. Known as the "Queen of All Media," she was the wealthiest African-American of the 20th century and, at one point, the world's only black billionaire. She is consistently ranked among the most influential women globally.
April 15, 1900: Hattie Mae (Presley) Lee Born
On April 15, 1900, Hattie Mae (Presley) Lee, Oprah Winfrey's maternal grandmother, was born. She passed away on February 27, 1963.
1933: Vernon Winfrey Born
In 1933, Vernon Winfrey, Oprah Winfrey's father, was born. He passed away in 2022.
1935: Vernita Lee Born
In 1935, Vernita Lee, Oprah Winfrey's mother, was born. She passed away in 2018.
January 29, 1954: Oprah Winfrey Born
On January 29, 1954, Oprah Gail Winfrey, originally named Orpah Gail Winfrey, was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She is now known as 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 in Nashville, Tennessee, due to her mother's difficulty raising both daughters.
February 27, 1963: Death of Hattie Mae (Presley) Lee
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, initiating what CBS journalist George Mair described as her "first intense, to-die-for love affair." This relationship marked a significant personal connection for Winfrey during that year.
June 1976: Moved to Baltimore
In June 1976, Winfrey moved to Baltimore to work at WJZ-TV. The move ended her relationship with William "Bubba" Taylor, who was unwilling to relocate from Nashville with her, marking a pivotal moment in her career and personal life.
September 8, 1981: Suicide Note
On September 8, 1981, Winfrey wrote a suicide note to her best friend, Gayle King, during a period of depression. She later reflected on the note, stating she realized she couldn't go through with it as she'd miss out on something good.
1985: Purchased a condominium in Chicago
In 1985, Oprah Winfrey first purchased a condominium in Chicago's Water Tower Place.
1985: Involved in Drug-Related Love 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 did drugs. This period marked a controversial aspect of her personal life.
1985: Relationship with Reginald Chevalier
In 1985, before her talk show went national, Oprah Winfrey allegedly began a relationship with Haitian filmmaker Reginald Chevalier after he appeared on her show. The relationship ended when she met Stedman Graham.
1986: Announcement of Sexual Abuse
In 1986, Oprah Winfrey first announced on an episode of her TV show that she was molested by her cousin, uncle, and a family friend, starting when she was nine years old.
1986: Oprah's Quote on Father's Influence
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: Began Relationship with Stedman Graham
In 1986, Winfrey began her long-term relationship with Stedman Graham, marking a significant and enduring personal partnership in her life.
1987: Earned College Degree
In 1987, Oprah Winfrey earned her degree from Tennessee State University, a historically black institution, after submitting her final paper.
1988: Purchased property in Rolling Prairie, Indiana
In 1988, Oprah Winfrey purchased an 164-acre property in Rolling Prairie, Indiana as her weekend refuge.
1989: Death of Half-Brother Jeffrey
In 1989, Oprah Winfrey's half-brother Jeffrey 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, Winfrey became engaged to Stedman Graham, although the marriage ceremony never took place. This marked a key moment in their relationship.
1993: Purchased condos below
In 1993, Oprah Winfrey purchased the condos directly below her original condo in Chicago.
1994: Induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame
In 1994, Oprah Winfrey was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and she finished the Marine Corps Marathon in less than four and a half hours.
1996: Purchased condos in Fisher Island
Between 1996 and 2000 Oprah Winfrey purchased a total of five condos in different development areas of Fisher Island, Florida.
1997: Cook Attempted to Sue Winfrey
In 1997, Randolph Cook attempted to sue Winfrey for $20 million, alleging she blocked a tell-all book about their alleged relationship. This legal action highlighted a challenging period in her personal life.
1998: Creation of Oprah's Angel Network
In 1998, Oprah Winfrey created Oprah's Angel Network, a charity supporting charitable projects and providing grants to nonprofits worldwide. Oprah's Angel Network raised more than $80 million.
1998: Hosted Maya Angelou's 70th Birthday
In 1998, Winfrey hosted a week-long Caribbean cruise for Maya Angelou and 150 guests to celebrate Angelou's 70th birthday, showcasing their close friendship.
2000: Purchased estate for Gayle King
In 2000, Oprah Winfrey purchased her friend Gayle King an estate in Greenwich, Connecticut.
2001: Purchased estate in Montecito, California
In 2001, Oprah Winfrey sold all five of her Fisher Island condos and purchased an estate in Montecito, California, which would become her "main home base".
2002: Purchased homes for family members
In 2002, Oprah Winfrey 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, Oprah Winfrey's younger half-sister, Patricia, 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: Sold compound in Rolling Prairie, Indiana
In 2004, Oprah Winfrey sold her compound in Rolling Prairie, Indiana.
2004: Oprah's Christmas Kindness
In 2004, Winfrey filmed "Oprah's Christmas Kindness" in South Africa, bringing attention to children affected by poverty and AIDS. She distributed presents to 50,000 children, raising over $7 million for Oprah's Angel Network. Winfrey also invested $40 million to establish the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls.
2005: Acquired properties in Hawaii and Atlanta
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 which was gifted in 2011 to a family member.
August 2006: Addressed Gay Rumors
In the August 2006 issue of O magazine, Winfrey addressed persistent rumors that she and Gayle King were gay, explaining that their close bond defies typical cultural definitions.
2006: Purchased a co-op apartment in Chicago
In 2006, Oprah Winfrey purchased a co-op apartment along Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago, reportedly with plans to permanently move there from her prior adjoined-condo unit in Water Tower Place for the duration of her show; for reasons unknown, the property sat entirely unused until she sold it in 2012.
2006: Hawaii Vacation with Staff
In the summer of 2006, Oprah Winfrey celebrated two decades on national TV by taking her staff and their families, totaling 1,065 people, on vacation to Hawaii as a thank you for their hard work.
January 2007: Opening of Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
In January 2007, The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls opened in Henley on Klip, South Africa, with 150 pupils. Nelson Mandela praised Winfrey for her contribution.
2008: Sold penthouse apartment in Atlanta and Gayle King's estate
In 2008, Oprah Winfrey sold her penthouse apartment in Atlanta and listed Gayle King's estate, purchasing a penthouse apartment in midtown Manhattan, New York City for Gayle King.
2008: Threw Angelou an 80th Birthday Celebration
In 2008, Winfrey threw Maya Angelou "an extravagant 80th birthday celebration" at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, demonstrating her deep affection and respect for her mentor.
May 2010: Closure of Oprah's Angel Network
In May 2010, as Oprah's show was ending, Oprah's Angel Network stopped accepting donations and was shut down, after having raised more than $80 million for charitable causes.
2010: Discovery of Second Half-Sister
In 2010, Oprah Winfrey learned that she had a second half-sister.
2011: Gifted home to family member
In 2011, Oprah Winfrey gifted a home in Douglasville, Georgia, which she purchased in 2005, to a family member.
2012: Scholarships to Morehouse College
As of 2012, Winfrey had provided over 400 scholarships to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to education and supporting students.
2012: Sold co-op apartment in Chicago and Gayle King's apartment
In 2012, Oprah Winfrey sold her co-op apartment along Lake Shore Drive in downtown Chicago that she had purchased in 2006, and Gayle King's penthouse apartment in midtown Manhattan.
2013: Donation to Smithsonian and Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2013, Oprah Winfrey donated $12 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Later in 2013, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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. A lawsuit filed against her that year regarding trail access rights was dismissed.
2015: Purchased and Expanded Properties in Telluride and Montecito
In 2015, Oprah Winfrey purchased another property in Telluride, and expanded her Montecito compound with another 23-acre estate and a 44-acre 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, Winfrey explained that after losing her infant child at age 14, she did not want more children because she felt she wouldn't have been a good mother for babies.
2018: Acquired Land on Orcas Island and Sold Home Property
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 New Montecito Compound
In 2021, Oprah Winfrey sold her Orcas Island compound and purchased another compound in Montecito further away from her home-base compound.
2022: Oprah Winfrey still resides at the Montecito estate as of 2022.
As of 2022, Oprah Winfrey still resides at her estate in Montecito, California, which she has called "The Promised Land".
2022: Flipped Montecito Properties
In 2022, Oprah Winfrey flipped her newly acquired Montecito properties, selling one to her property manager and longtime personal trainer Bob Greene, and the other to actress Jennifer Aniston.
2022: Death of Vernon Winfrey
In 2022, Vernon Winfrey, Oprah Winfrey's father, passed away.
2023: Purchased Land in Maui
In 2023, Oprah Winfrey purchased 870 acres of land in Maui for $6.6 million.
