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

By:

1 of 28

Oprah Winfrey’s Evolution

Oprah Winfrey’s Evolution — 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 own print magazine O until 2020. Making her a talent on all fronts, Oprah has starred in films like The Color Purple (1985), The Butler (2013), Selma (2014), and A Wrinkle In Time (2018.)

Her business chops extend beyond entertainment too. In 2015, she purchased a minority stake in Weight Watchers and she’s producing things non-stop with her outfit Harpo Productions.

It’s truly wild to think about Oprah Winfrey’s evolution. To explore some more, click through the gallery for photos of the icon through the years.

2 of 28

Oprah In 1971

Oprah In 1971 — 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.

3 of 28

Oprah At The 1987 Oscars

Oprah At The 1987 Oscars — 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.

4 of 28

Oprah In 1988

Oprah In 1988 — 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.

5 of 28

Oprah In 1993

Oprah In 1993 — 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’.

6 of 28

Oprah At The 1994 Daytime Emmy Awards

Oprah At The 1994 Daytime Emmy Awards — 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.

7 of 28

Oprah In 1997’s ‘Before Women Had Wings’

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

8 of 28

Oprah In 2001

Oprah In 2001 — 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.

9 of 28

Oprah At The 2002 Primetime Emmy Awards

Oprah At The 2002 Primetime Emmy Awards — 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.

10 of 28

Oprah At The 2004 People’s Choice Awards

Oprah At The 2004 People’s Choice Awards — 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.

11 of 28

Oprah & Nicole Kidman At The 2004 Oscars

Oprah & Nicole Kidman At The 2004 Oscars — 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.

12 of 28

Oprah & Mary J. Blige At The 2007 Academy Awards

Oprah & Mary J. Blige At The 2007 Academy Awards — 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.

13 of 28

Oprah & The Obamas At A 2008 Campaign Rally

Oprah & The Obamas At A 2008 Campaign Rally — 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.

14 of 28

Oprah & Tyler Perry at AFI Fest in 2009

Oprah & Tyler Perry at AFI Fest in 2009 — 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.

15 of 28

‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ at Radio City Music Hall in 2010

‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ at Radio City Music Hall in 2010 — 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.

16 of 28

Oprah At The Premiere Of ‘Beyonce: Life Is But A Dream’

Oprah At The Premiere Of ‘Beyonce: Life Is But A Dream’ — 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.

17 of 28

Oprah & Stedman Graham At The 2015 Oscars

Oprah & Stedman Graham At The 2015 Oscars — 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.

18 of 28

Oprah At The 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Oprah At The 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards — 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.

19 of 28

Oprah At The 2018 Golden Globe Awards

Oprah At The 2018 Golden Globe Awards — 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.

20 of 28

Oprah At The LA Premiere Of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’

Oprah At The LA Premiere Of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ — Oprah Winfrey arrived in the 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.

21 of 28

Oprah At The 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards

Oprah At The 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards — 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.

22 of 28

Oprah At The Premiere of ‘David Makes Man’

Oprah At The Premiere of ‘David Makes Man’ — 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.

23 of 28

Oprah & Stedman Graham At The Opening of Tyler Perry Studios

Oprah & Stedman Graham At The Opening of Tyler Perry Studios — 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.

24 of 28

Oprah At The ‘2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus’ Event

Oprah At The ‘2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus’ Event — 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.

25 of 28

Oprah Winfrey At The Premiere Of ‘Sidney’

Oprah Winfrey At The Premiere Of ‘Sidney’ — 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.

26 of 28

Oprah Winfrey At The 2022 Emmys

Oprah Winfrey At The 2022 Emmys — 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.

27 of 28

Oprah Winfrey At The LA Premiere Of ‘Sidney’

Oprah Winfrey At The LA Premiere Of ‘Sidney’ — 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.

28 of 28

Oprah Winfrey In 2023

Oprah Winfrey In 2023 — 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.

Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get the hottest celeb news.

ad