With somewhere around $2.9 billion to her name, Oprah is the kind of friend everyone wishes they had. Unfortunately for most of the people in the world, Oprah is not a close and personal friend or associate. For some, however, she is a living guardian angel or perhaps a modern day Santa Claus. Famous for her talk show and her movie productions and her many other business ventures, Oprah is very wealthy. And fortunately for the 12 people on this list, she’s also made them very, very rich.
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Iyanla Vanzant
Worth more than $200,000, she’s not what most people would consider very rich. However, Iyanla Vanzant hosts the number one Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) program called, “Iyanla: Fix My Life”. She’s an ordained minister, life coach and motivational speaker and Ebony Magazine gave her a place on the 100 Most Influential Black Americans list. Oprah made her famous with more than 20 appearances on her former talk show back in the late 1990s, and Iyanla has her to thank for her newfound success and relative wealth.
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Bob Greene
He’s a health and fitness professional who writes a regular column in O Magazine as well as regular appearances on Oprah’s talk show when it was on television. He helped author two fitness books and changed the lives of millions of women across the country thanks to his pal Oprah. If it weren’t for her giving him the opportunity to appear regularly on her show, no one would know who Bob Greene was, even though he’s now worth more than $1.4 million. His relationship with Oprah is a good one, as evidenced by the fact that she was the “best woman” in his wedding in 2005.
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James Frey
He can thank Oprah for his net worth of $4.5 million, though he doesn’t have the close relationship with her that others might. In fact, you could say that Oprah embarrassed him, but it turns out that what Oprah did for Frey was make him a lot of money. After she featured his memoir on her book club list, it was discovered that much of it was fabricated. Oprah invited him onto the show and put him on the spot surrounding the controversy. What should have been very humiliating for Frey turned into a three-book deal with Harper Collins that netted him a 7-figure deal.
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Nate Berkus
Everyone’s favorite interior decorator made more than 50 appearances on Oprah’s shows over the years and from that he accumulated a career of his own worth more than $6 million. He’s written a couple of bestsellers, he’s had his own talk show, he’s created a collection of home décor for retail giant Target and he’s even the judge and host of a home makeover reality show. It’s safe to say that the next time he’s sending out thank you cards, one should head straight to Oprah’s house.
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Stedman
They’re not married, but they’ve been romantically involved since the mid-80s. Stedman makes his own money, but it’s primarily because people know him as Oprah’s main man. He’s an entrepreneur with a background in education and business consultation. He’s also the author of more than 10 self-help and business books. This all brings his net worth to approximately $10 million.
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Daphne Oz
While Oprah technically did not discover The Chew co-host Daphne Oz, the daughter of Dr. Mehmet Oz probably wouldn’t have been chosen for the role had she not been the daughter of the man Oprah made so famous. So, technically, she can take her $12 million and thank Oprah for it.
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Dr. Oz
He’s the kind of doctor who has controversial stances and beliefs, but apparently people are buying them to the tune of $14 million. Since his first appearance on Oprah’s talk show, he’s earned his own medical talk show, a couple of Emmy’s for Outstanding Talk Show and Host and he’s even one of Esquire’s 75 most influential people in the 21st century.
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Gayle King
Oprah’s best friend has about 20 million reasons to thank Oprah for her success, and they’re all in the form of dollar bills. Her former role as a CBS This Morning co-anchor, her role as editor-at-large for O Magazine and her role as a Good Morning America correspondent would never have become hers had she not been Oprah’s lifelong best friend. The world knows all about Gayle and her friendship with Oprah, but they probably didn’t know her friendship earned her approximately $20 million.
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Suze Orman
The financial guru worth $35 million wouldn’t have nearly as much money in her bank account if it weren’t for regular appearances on the Oprah Winfrey show over the years. She was the host of another OWN Network financial show and she’s the author of numerous financial guides. She’s also contributes regular articles to O Magazine. Her impressive net worth is due in large part to her success as a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
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Rachael Ray
The host of Food Network’s 30 Minute Meals was practically discovered by Oprah in 2006. She now has her own line of cookware, her own talk show and even a couple of Emmy’s thanks to Oprah. The Rachael Ray show earned those Emmys two years in a row in 2008 and 2009. She’s also the author of more than 20 cookbooks, a magazine and she has a dinnerware line. She’s also work a cool $60 million. None of which was earned by coining the phrase EVOO for extra virgin olive oil, which was actually added to the dictionary in 2007.
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Rhonda Byrne
She authored the book The Secret, a book about the law of attraction in getting what you want. In 2007, Oprah Winfrey decided to back the book as the message she herself believed should be shared with the world, the book became an instant New York Times bestseller and Amazon bestseller. She told the world she used the book and it’s method to help her win her role in The Color Purple. She’s worth $60 million.
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Dr. Phil
Everyone knows Dr. Phil from the Oprah Winfrey Show. Until 1996, he was just a husband, father and psychologist living a quiet life. It was then he helped Oprah win a major lawsuit claiming she was defaming the industry of beef farming. She began inviting Dr. Phil onto the show on Tuesdays for a weekly segment that won over viewers so much he was given his own talk show and wrote six New York Times bestsellers. He’s worth a cool $245 million.
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