Oprah is first Black woman on Forbes' billionaire list

Jet, March 17, 2003

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey can add another accomplishment to her impressive resume--billionaire.

She recently became the first Black woman on Forbes magazine's annual list of billionaires.

Winfrey, chair of Harpo, Inc.; Harpo Productions, Inc.; Harpo Studios, Inc.; Harpo Films, Inc.; Harpo Print, LLC; and Harpo Video, has an estimated net worth of $1 billion. She is only the second Black to make the prestigious list. Black Entertainment Television founder Robert Johnson, who became the first Black on Forbes' list in 2001, made this year's list with a net worth of $1.2 billion.

"The Oprah Winfrey Show" has remained the No. 1 talk show for 16 consecutive seasons.

She expanded her media empire in 1998 with the formation of Oxygen Media LLC, which includes a women's cable TV network and Internet site. In 2000, Winfrey launched O, The Oprah Magazine.

The 2003 Forbes list names 476 billionaires from 43 countries, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who took the top spot for the ninth straight year with a net worth of $40.7 billion, and investment wizard Warren Buffett, who remained in second place with $30.5 billion.

Others in the top 10 are German retailers Thee and Karl Albrecht (No. 3; $25.6 billion), Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen (No. 4; $20.1 billion), Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud (No. 5; $17.7 billion) and software mogul Lawrence Ellison (No. 6; $16.6 billion). Five heirs of the late Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., occupy spots seven through 11 with a net worth of $16.5 billion each.