Oprah Winfrey Then & Now: From Young Talk Show Host to Media Billionaire

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January 29, 2024 9:01AM EST
Oprah Winfrey
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Oprah Winfrey has been on the top of her game for decades and you can check out photos of her, here.

The one, the only Oprah Winfrey. There is truly no one like Oprah, born on January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi. The talk show host, actress, television producer, media executive, and philanthropist is one of the most famous people in the whole world.

Oprah got her start on television at the age of 19 when she became the youngest news anchor and the first black female news anchor at Nashville’s WLAC-TV. Oprah eventually relocated to Chicago to host WLS-TV’s half-hour morning talk show, AM Chicago, which led to her getting her own talk show after her earning top ratings.

She hosted The Oprah Winfrey Show from 1986 to 2011, but that was just the start of her media empire. She launched her OWN network in 2008 and had her print magazine O until 2020. Making her a talent on all fronts, Oprah has starred in films like The Color Purple (1985) and Selma (2014).

To explore some more, scroll through the gallery for photos of the icon through the years.

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Oprah in 1971

Oprah in 1971
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Oprah Winfrey as a youngster in 1971 when she won the title of Miss Fire Prevention in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. She posed with her trophy, crown and sash during an adorable photo op. 

May 28, 2020, 11:52AM
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Oprah at the 1987 Oscars

Oprah at the 1987 Oscars
Elisa Leonelli/Shutterstock

Oprah Winfrey was a presenter at the 59th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, CA on March 30, 1987. She was all smiles while giving the crowd a thumbs up on stage. 

May 28, 2020, 11:52AM
3 of 27

Oprah in 1988

Oprah in 1988
Charles Bennett/AP/Shutterstock

Oprah Winfrey cheers during the debut of her 67-pound weight loss on her talk show in 1988. She revealed that she dropped the weight by following a liquid diet and exercising.

May 28, 2020, 11:52AM
4 of 27

Oprah in 1993

Oprah in 1993
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Oprah smiles for a professional portrait in 1993, where she glowed in a yellow blazer. She acccessorized with gold earrings and donned a short do’.

May 28, 2020, 11:52AM
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Oprah at the 1994 Daytime Emmy Awards

Oprah at the 1994 Daytime Emmy Awards
Luc Novovitch/AP/Shutterstock

Oprah Winfrey clutches her Daytime Emmy Award at the 21st annual show in New York in 1994. Oprah, who showed off her amazing figure in a corsetted floral dress, won the award for outstanding talk show host. 

May 28, 2020, 11:52AM
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Oprah in 1997’s ‘Before Women Had Wings’

Oprah in 1997’s ‘Before Women Had Wings’
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Oprah as Zora Williams in the TV film, Before Women Had Wings. The family drama was released in 1997. 

May 28, 2020, 11:52AM
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Oprah in 2001

Oprah in 2001
Walter McBride/Shutterstock

Oprah on the red carpet at the 1st anniversary of O Magazine at Cipriani Restaurant in New York City on April 17, 2001. Oprah, along with her good friend Gayle King and Hearst Magazines hosted the event. 

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah at the 2002 Primetime Emmy Awards

Oprah at the 2002 Primetime Emmy Awards
Laura Rauch/AP/Shutterstock

Oprah waved to fans on the red carpet as she arrived at the 54th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 2002. It was a big night for the host, who received the first-ever Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for her services in TV and film. 

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah at the 2004 People’s Choice Awards

Oprah at the 2004 People’s Choice Awards
Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Oprah hits the red carpet dressed in all black at the 30th annual People’s Choice Awards in Pasedena, California on January 11, 2004. She held a video camera as she flaunted her amazing curves in a leather jacket and black skirt.  

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah & Nicole Kidman at the 2004 Oscars

Oprah & Nicole Kidman at the 2004 Oscars
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

Nicole Kidman and Oprah were the ultimate friend duo at the 2004 Academy Awards on February 29, 2004. The pair attended Vanity Fair’s annual Oscars party in similar seafoam green-colored dresses.

 

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah & Mary J. Blige at the 2007 Academy Awards

Oprah & Mary J. Blige at the 2007 Academy Awards
Richard Young/Shutterstock

Oprah and Mary J. Blige pose for a photo together at the 79th Annual Academy Awards Vanity Fair Party in Los Angeles, CA on February 25, 2007. Both stars looked stunning in flowy dresses with their hair down and curly. 

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah & The Obamas at a 2008 Campaign Rally

Oprah & The Obamas at a 2008 Campaign Rally
Jim Cole/AP/Shutterstock

Oprah Winfrey attends a campaign rally for Barack Obama in Manhcester in 2008. She held hands with former first lady Michelle Obama while on stage with the couple. 
 

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah & Tyler Perry at AFI Fest in 2009

Oprah & Tyler Perry at AFI Fest in 2009
Chris Pizzello/AP/Shutterstock

Oprah Winfrey poses with her good friend Tyler Perry at the premiere of the film Precious, based on the novel Push by Sapphire at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles. Tyler has four shows on Oprah’s OWN network, and the pair have supported one another throughout their careers. 

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ at Radio City Music Hall in 2010

‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ at Radio City Music Hall in 2010
Amanda Schwab/Starpix/Shuttersto

Oprah Winfrey hosts The Oprah Winfrey Show at Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY on May 7, 2010. The event was in celebration of O Magazine’s 10th Anniversary. Christina Aguilera performed on the show, and Oprah helped shave Dr. Phil’s mustache off for the first time in many years.

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah at the Premiere of ‘Beyonce: Life Is But A Dream’

Oprah at the Premiere of ‘Beyonce: Life Is But A Dream’
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutte

Oprah Winfrey attends the premiere of Beyonce: Life Is But A Dream at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York, NY in February 2013. She showed off her amazing figure in a plunging blue dress. 

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah & Stedman Graham at the 2015 Oscars

Oprah & Stedman Graham at the 2015 Oscars
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutte

Oprah Winfrey’s longtime partner Stedman Graham holds her close on the red carpet at the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, CA in 2015. She looked radiant in a rose gold dress, while Graham looked dapper in a black tux.  

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah at the 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Oprah at the 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards
Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/S

Oprah attends the 20th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA in 2014. She debuted a slimmer waist in a curve-hugging purple dress with a jeweled broche. 

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards

Oprah at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutt

Oprah poses in the press room at the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, CA on January 7, 2018. She proudly held the Cecil B. DeMille Award, in which she was honored with that year.  

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah at the LA Premiere of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’

Oprah at the LA Premiere of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutt

Oprah Winfrey arrived in navy at the world premiere of A Wrinkle in Time at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on February 26, 2018. She posed solo and rocked an up do’, which consisted of a long, straight ponytail.

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards

Oprah at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards
Andrew H Walker/WWD/Shutterstock

Oprah Winfrey is all smiles while on stage at the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York, NY on June 4, 2018. She stunned in an off-the-shoulder plunging black dress by celebrity designer, Brandon Maxwell. 

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah at the Premiere of ‘David Makes Man’

Oprah at the Premiere of ‘David Makes Man’
Chelsea Lauren/Variety/Shutterst

Oprah dazzles on the red carpet at the David Makes Man TV Show premiere, at NeueHouse in Los Angeles, CA on August 6, 2019. She looked gorgeous in a white, long sleeve dress with pointed stilettos.  

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah & Stedman Graham at the Opening of Tyler Perry Studios

Oprah & Stedman Graham at the Opening of Tyler Perry Studios
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Stedman Graham and Oprah Winfrey pose together on the pose red carpet at the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta on October 5, 2019. The star-studded event was attended by rapper T.I. and his wife, Tiny Harris, and many more. 

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah at the ‘2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus’ Event

Oprah at the ‘2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus’ Event
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Oprah Winfrey took the stage for a powerful conversation at her event, Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus, at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA on February 22. She wore a cream-colored pantsuit as she addressed the crowd. 

May 28, 2020, 12:39PM
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Oprah Winfrey at the Premiere of ‘Sidney’

Oprah Winfrey at the Premiere of ‘Sidney’
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Oprah Winfrey dazzled during the premiere of Sidney at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on Sep. 10. Her hair was raked back into a high ponytail and she wore a silver sequined frock with little round glasses.

January 3, 2023, 4:08PM
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Oprah Winfrey at the 2022 Emmys

Oprah Winfrey at the 2022 Emmys
Mark Terrill/Invision/AP/Shutter

Oprah Winfrey wowed during the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sep. 12, 2022. She presented the first honor of the evening while wearing a radiant white suit, with her hair in a thick braid.

January 3, 2023, 4:08PM
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Oprah Winfrey at the LA Premiere of ‘Sidney’

Oprah Winfrey at the LA Premiere of ‘Sidney’
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

Oprah Winfrey was angelic in flowing white during the LA premiere of Sidney on Sep. 21, 2022. The media mogul was proud to present the Apple TV+ documentary about actor Sidney Poitier, which she produced.

January 3, 2023, 4:08PM
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Oprah Winfrey in 2023

Oprah Winfrey in 2023
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

Oprah Winfrey looked great during the premiere of the television version of The 1619 Project on Jan 26, 2023, in Los Angeles. She wore a chocolate-colored sequined suit and shiny boots for the affair.

January 27, 2023, 10:55AM