Post by Oscar Knight on Nov 23, 2013 12:30:37 GMT -6
Oprah Winfrey
Net Worth $2.9 B : As of September 2013
America's only African-American billionaire appears to have reversed the fortunes of her once-struggling network OWN, which is finally cash flow positive, according to fellow investors the Discovery Channel. OWN's recent success has been due in part to a string of exclusive TV interviews with headline-grabbers like disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, troubled starlet Lindsay Lohan and out gay NBA player Jason Collins. FORBES' highest-earning celebrity of 2013 (this year's haul: $77 million) has also generated Oscar buzz for her performance in Lee Daniels' The Butler, which topped the U.S. box office following its August release. The majority of Winfrey's net worth still stems from 25 years of her profitable daytime TV show, plus earnings from her Harpo production company, which has a hand in the Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray and Dr. Oz shows. She continues to support educational causes and has spent more than $100 million on the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa