"It's great to have a nice home. It's great to have nice homes! It's great to have a nice home that just escaped the fire in Santa Barbara...It's great to have a private jet. Anyone that tells you that having your own private jet isn't great is lying to you."
-- Media mogul Oprah Winfrey, speaking at Duke University's 2009 commencement.
The State of Oprah Inc.
Oprah Presents The Color Purple
The stage version of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel has won a Tony and numerous nominations. It has dramatically increased Broadway's African-American attendance over its five-year run and literally changed the face of Broadway. It kicked off a national tour last year in Chicago.
Reuters
Oprah's Big Give TV Show
The warm-hearted reality show "Oprah's Big Give" did exactly what it intended to do. It helped those in need and gave big ratings to ABC. The show premiered in March and averaged 15.6 million total viewers, ranking up there with top shows like "American Idol." Although there was a dip in ratings in the following episodes, the show ended the season strong and was hardly a failure that some critics have made it out to be. The show was not renewed by ABC for a second season, at Oprah's request and not the network's. Hey, she's a busy woman!
ABC
The Oprah Winfrey Store
Just steps away from Harpo Studios in Chicago, the recently opened Oprah Store is the first free-standing store selling Oprah-themed merchandise that represents her own personal style and flair. Even though retail business is sluggish across the board, the store goes online this summer. The store is filled with everything from books to apparel and is a mecca for Oprah Winfrey fans.
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Oprah Magazine
First published in April of 2000, The Oprah magazine continues to have unprecedented success. "O" was launched with $50.9 million dollars. However, in 2007, the magazine grossed $311.3 million with no signs of slowing down. It remains one of the top 10 home and lifestyle magazines on the newsstands, right behind Martha Stewart's magazine, despite a recent dip in circulation.
O Magazine
Oprah.com
Oprah.com averages nearly 92 million page views and more than 6 million visitors per month. And her site's numbers are holding strong. Additionally, her website has 1.8 million newsletter subscribers and is one of the top women's lifestyle sites on the Web and a daily resource for her vast fan base. If Oprah's empire is failing, it definitely is not because of her Web site.
Oprah.com
The Rachael Ray Show
The September 2006 debut of the Rachael Ray show premiered with a 2.8/9 TV market average. Simply put, Rachael Ray's show, a brain-child of Oprah, debuted with a boom in most major TV markets such as NYC and Philadelphia. Rachael Ray had the highest debut ratings of any first-run talk show since "Dr. Phil", another show of Winfrey's, premiered in 2002. Rachael Ray's energetic personality and talent to teach guests how to cook up meals for the entire family brought a different element to the Oprah Show and she still is turning up the heat with her weekly show now.
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The Oprah Show
When she began anchoring an ABC affiliate, A.M. Chicago in 1984 she had no idea it would ultimately be the turning point in her career. Within six weeks of her debut, Winfrey was beating the award-winning king of daytime talk shows, Phil Donahue, in his own city. One of Oprah's smartest business moves acquiring the rights to her talk show. Oprah remains one of the highest-paid TV personality there is, earning $260 million a year.
Harpo
Dr. Phil as part of Harpo, Inc.
Oprah has been responsible for launching many careers, especially the one of her most popular physician on her show, Dr. Phil. Known for his no-bull policy, Dr. Phil became a house hold name quite rapidly. His popularity grew on the show which allowed them to move on to receive his own show and to be a part of Harpo Company.
Last month, his show came second to the Oprah show for the Top time-shifted syndicated show with an average 6,040,000 viewers every week. He continues to coach and console many guests with different issues, from the child who won't stop abusing the parent to the millions of divorcees trying to deal with ending their marriage.
AP
Oprah & Friends on XM Radio
Oprah and her famous pals are bringing the same entertainment and knowledge from her popular syndicated show to XM listeners'. The highly anticipated "Oprah & Friends" channel on XM Radio debuted on September 25, 2006 and by the XM's fourth quarter revenues were up by 45% compared to the previous year and the network had almost 2 million more subscribers than at the end of '05. The channel features a mix of celebrities and everyday people in conversation with the shows' hosts. Some names you may know are Gayle King, Nate Berkus , Maya Angelou Dr. Robin, Jean Chatzky just to name a few.
XM Radio
Oprah's Book Club
Oprah's Book Club has been one the highlights to her popular daytime talk show. Oprah's magic touch of credibility has allowed many authors to hit the best-selling list numerous times. Many viewers simply purchase novels after watching Oprah give her famous stamp of approval. The funny thing is Oprah has YET to write her own autobiography! Just think how many copies that would sell.
Harpo
Comments: (18)
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By: TK on 5/14/2009 5:55PM
Her word were taken out of context. I watch the entire speech and she was not braggin about her material wealth. She was saying yes she has nice things but that is not what make a life, serving others is
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By: Kat on 5/14/2009 6:44PM
While I didn't see the commencement ceremony, I would like to believe that this comment was taken out of context. I'm not a fan of her show, but I am certainly a supporter. She's done some marvelous things to help other people and I'd like to believe those things were done from the heart. If she made such a callous remark like this in earnest, I might have to revise my opinion of her and say she's allowed her wealth to go to her head, and pray she learns the merit in being HUMBLE with her blessings. No matter HOW this comment was meant, I would hope her message would be that through education and hard work, one can surely achieve one's dreams. Otherwise, this is a whack comment and Oprah needs a reality check.
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By: Joe on 5/20/2009 8:52PM
So what it she said that. She's rich, we all know that. She's just being totally honest. And she's just saying it's nice to be rich and she enjoys it. I'm sure that if any of us were that rich we would enjoy it too. I know I sure would.
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By: Aida Hom on 5/21/2009 12:48AM
Of course it is wonderful to be rich. But you can also be humble and rich at the same time.
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By: Lol Augustin on 5/21/2009 12:51AM
Oprah's comments were taken out of
context I'm sure.She exemplifies the
meaning of helping others through
example. She has worked hard from where she
has come from and now she is ripping the
fruits of her labor. Look at the personalities
she has elevated to having their own TV shows.
I surely would like to meat her personally
because she is so real and not a fake!!
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By: meg on 5/21/2009 7:06AM
My first reaction to this comment was "How can she be so callous?" but then I had to realize that everything is sensationalized in the press and most likely this was taken out of context. I agree with the comment above in that she was probably trying to make a point about what the new graduates can do with their lives and may one day have and enjoy just like she does. She has done so much for so many causes that I don't think she would make a comment that was so "unfeeling and pompous". I don't always agree with what Oprah stands for, but overall she is a terrific lady and a wonderful role model! I respect her immensely!
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By: L. Latimore on 5/21/2009 3:41PM
Oprah is spending money she earned based on her talent. In addition to having a wonderful life of luxury for herself, she helps others to realize their dreams, gives to those in need and dispenses useful information that will help others when she could obviously retire and live well. Name other individuals who do as much as Oprah for society.
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By: stephanie on 5/21/2009 6:03PM
I am sure Oprah is correct in her statement that having a private jet at one's disposal is great. My problem with her statement is that just because something is great or convenient does not make it advisable. I could care less about the failing economy in her case if she's spending her own money to run a jet, which I feel is different from corporate executives running companies into the ground and still using a private jet. Instead, my problem with Oprah or anyone having his or her own jet is the energy consumption, waste of resources, and damage to the environment that having a jet flying a only few people poses.
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By: torkia on 5/24/2009 2:12PM
I think that Oprah's only speaking truthfully. I personally don't see the problem in expressing her feelings. It's terrible that the economy is such a mess; not Oprah's fault. Many people with wealth try to hind behind it and do not share with the public the extravants they enjoy. Oprah's shares her wealth with her friends, the community, charities and I personally find her to be a humble person.
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By: Brunette on 5/24/2009 3:57PM
what good is being rich if you don't enjoy it.I don't think she was being mean or callous for stating what she likes. Most people want a person to be humble about the things that they have not yet achieved. I guess other's achievements irritate them.
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