Age: 56yrs
Website: www.oprah.com

Why they made the list..

Now, before you all start with the fire and pitchforks hear me out, Oprah really is a brilliant entrepreneur, and not just a talk-show host. Born into poverty in Kosciusko, Mississippi, Oprah was unaware of the great hardship that she was to face later in life, only to rise from the ashes and become the star we know her to be today. At the age of nine Oprah was the victim of a ferocious sexual attack, which she revealed to shocked viewers on her show in 1986. She was further distressed when aged 14yrs she became pregnant and later lost the child. In 1983 when she found fame with her talk-show she became a huge success, and her following rapidly grew.

However by 1988 although a huge national treasure with hundreds of thousands of fans and viewers, Oprah had become weary of “Just working for someone else”. That year she founded her very own production company that she named Harpo Studios (Oprah spelled backwards). The business snowballed, probably likely credited to her television career that earned her unfathomable advertisement day in, day out. The company now has over 250 employees and is growing each year. She also co-founded the company Oxygen Media, which operates a huge network for cable and attracts over 50 million viewers. Outstanding achievements by anyone’s standard.


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