Back then: Born to unmarried parents in rural Mississippi, Oprah was raised on her deeply religious and poverty-stricken grandmother's farm. Motivated by a desire for a better life, she moved to live with her mother. But when living there she was sexually molested by her male relatives. At the age of just 14, Oprah reportedly gave birth to a premature baby, who quickly passed away. Shortly after, she moved to her fathers home, where she finally found discipline and stability.

Now: Thanks to her many projects, the queen of talk has become a billionaire. In addition to her syndicated chat show, Oprahs multimedia empire includes a widely read magazine and a weekly radio show. Earlier this year, she also added the $40 million Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls to her growing list of generous acts.