Oprah Winfrey

Deemed as one of the greatest black philanthropists in the history of America, Oprah began her journey from extreme poverty while she endured numerous hurdles to become the influential African-America powerhouse that she is today. The media mogul received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama. Oprah also has an honorary degree from Duke and Harvard. With a whopping $3.5 billion as her net worth, the media icon’s talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show became the highest-rated television program of its kind in history.

Her zest for life and the wisdom she has shared all throughout her career has become a source of strength for so many globally. Oprah was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi to an unmarried teenage housemaid while her biological father was known to have served in the Armed Forces during the time of Oprah’s birth. Her rise from poverty, prejudice, and abuse made her among the most influential people on Earth.