Oprah Winfrey Net Worth: How Did She Become A Billionaire Worth $2.6 Billion?

Oprah Winfrey’s net worth is $2.6 billion. Here is how she built her fortune.

Oprah’s name is globally known. It has become a household name like Muhammad Ali’s. She has done more than establish her brand; she paved the way for more African-American women to be visible on TV.

The Kosciusko, Mississippi native has built her own media empire. She has her own cable channel that launched in 2011. This gave her more control and leeway when it came to producing her own content. Oprah owns about 25 percent of the OWN channel, which is estimated to be worth $75 million.

What many do not know is that she started as a news anchor for a radio show and then went on to host a TV show called “People Are Talking.” Things did not end well for her at the time and she was put on a local TV show interviewing celebrities. But it was due to this that she discovered her true calling.

Forbes ranked her on the 20th spot on the Power Women 2019 list. The 66-year-old parlayed her early TV success into other lucrative opportunities. Growing up poor gave her many reasons to give up, but she persisted and worked hard to achieve success. “The Oprah Winfrey Show” started in 1985 and later was syndicated worldwide. Slowly, she began building her empire with her own brand: The Oprah Magazine and the The Oprah Winfrey Network, a venture in collaboration with Discovery Communications.

According to Business Insider, Oprah also appeared in a few movies such as “The Color Purple,” “A Wrinkle in Time,” “Selma,” “The Butler” and “Beloved,” among others. Even in movies, she gave it her best and this earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

She is also a known giver to charities. Some of the organizations Oprah has been helping through the years are The Angel Network, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, and The Oprah Winfrey Operating Foundation. Aside from these, she also lends a hand to Mississippi Animal Rescue League, Project Cuddle, Clinton Foundation and Free the Children, per Look to the Stars.

Oprah Winfrey bought a $52 million property in Montecito, California in 2011. Additionally, she has homes in Antigua and other states in the U.S. The former host also has a private jet that carries a $42 million price tag.

Critics are saying she owes her fortune and popularity to her hosting background. That may be true but what made Oprah unique is that she knows how to invest her money. As what FOX Business revealed, she signed a deal with Weight Watchers and now owns 8 percent stake in the company. Oprah also has lucrative deals with Apple TV+ and Kraft Heinz.