Oprah Winfrey is one of the most inspirational women in the world today. Her favorite things are widely respected and people love being able to gain her perspective in almost any given situation. She is ranked as the richest African-American of the 20th century and her net worth is estimated to be over $2 billion. She is also the first African-American woman billionaire in the history of the world. That’s not too bad for a woman who was born into a life that was so poor that she didn’t get her first pair of shoes until the age of six. Here are some more interesting facts about this inspirational woman.
1. She Keeps a Diary
Since the age of 15, Oprah has been writing a diary about the daily events of her life. For her, it’s a way to stay grounded and to make sure that she’s always proceeding forward on the journey of life. To Oprah, there are certain things that people should always do just because it is the right thing to do. A great example of this is the fact that she asked permission from Forest Whittaker’s wife so that the two could work on their chemistry for a movie about to be filmed.
2. It’s a Lifetime
In 1998, Oprah Winfrey won an Emmy award for her television show. They gave her a lifetime achievement award and it was one of the proudest moments of her life. After the award, she also decided to withdraw herself and her show from consideration for any future Emmy awards. What was the reason that she gave for this decision? Oprah didn’t feel it was appropriate to get more awards after she was granted an award for her lifetime achievements.
3. A Lifetime of Firsts
Oprah got started on her career right away. At the age of 19, while she was still a sophomore in college, she became the youngest and the first African-American anchor for a television station in Nashville. She also opened one of the first educational centers for girls in Africa that houses 152 students from impoverished backgrounds so that they can still get an education. Oprah reportedly spent over $40 million to get the school open.
4. It’s a Biblical Thing
Oprah’s real name is actually “Orpah.” The Biblical Orpah is mentioned in the Book of Ruth and according to Jewish tradition, gave birth to four giants of Philistine. One of those giants was Goliath, who is famous for being slain by a shepherd boy with a sling because the rest of the army was too scared to step up to the plate. Oprah may not have given birth to giants, but she has certainly become an inspirational giant in her own right.
5. Oprah Winfrey: US Senator?
In 2007, Oprah Winfrey campaigned very heavily for Barack Obama. She has often been credited with being one of the primary reasons behind Obama’s historic initial election. The influence that she had on the campaign was so strong, in fact, that the governor of Illinois strongly considered offering Oprah the chance to fill Obama’s empty Senate seat.
Oprah Winfrey has inspired many to chase their own dreams. Her message is simple: be authentic, work hard, and you can do anything.
