Despite already amassing an abundance of wealth, success, and notoriety, Oprah Winfrey has managed to reach yet another milestone. On Tuesday, it was announced that the 64-year-old media mogul became the first black female entrepreneur to appear on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a daily ranking of the world’s 500 richest people. As of Wednesday, Winfrey placed as
No. 489, bringing the total number of women listed to 65, with six of those women being entrepreneurs. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos tops the Bloomberg Billionaires Index with a net worth of $144 billion; followed by Bill Gates with a $92.7 billion fortune; Warren Buffet, who has an $82 billion net worth; and Mark Zuckerberg, whose net worth stands at $79.8 billion.The “Queen of All Media” has accumulated a net worth of $4 billion thanks to her partnership with Weight Watchers. Winfrey bought a 10% stake and became an ambassador for the brand in 2015. Today her stake is worth $427 million.
Winfrey also generates revenue through several other business endeavors, including ownership of the cable network OWN, Harpo Films, and her iconic talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show
, which ran from 1986 to 2011. Last week, it was announced that she signed a multiyear deal with Apple in which she will produce original content and programming for the tech giant. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Winfrey will retain ownership rights to any and all content produced under the partnership.Winfrey, a highly recognized trailblazer and a staple in pop culture, is the subject of a new exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture that explores her impact on storytelling, literature, film, and television. The exhibition, titled “Watching Oprah: The Oprah Winfrey Show and American Culture,” also examines the media magnate’s rags to riches story and illustrious career.