1978: Begins her talk-show career as co-host of "People Are Talking" in Baltimore.
1984: The first version of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" begins as "A.M. Chicago" in January.
1985: Stars as “Sophia” in Steven Spielberg's "The Color Purple."
1986: Harpo Productions formed -- it's Oprah's name spelled backwards. On Sept. 8, "The Oprah Winfrey" show goes national.
1987: Wins her first Emmys as Best Talk Show Host and Best Talk Show.
1990: Harpo Films formed.
1995: Becomes the first woman and the only African-American on the Forbes list of 400 Richest Americans.
1997: Forms Oprah’s Angel Network, encouraging viewers to make charitable contributions and do volunteer work.
1998: Oxygen Media is formed.
2000: O Magazine launches; Forbes calls it “the most successful start-up “ ever in the magazine industry.
2002: Oprah is the first recipient of the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Emmys, for services to TV and film.
2006: Signs a three-year contract with XM satellite radio to start a radio channel in Chicago.
2008: Joins with the Discovery Channel to start Oprah Winfrey Network.
