2. Oprah Winfrey
Oprah grew up in extreme poverty in rural Mississippi, wearing potato sacks as dresses and enduring abuse. She worked in local radio before landing a daytime talk show in Chicago. That show became The Oprah Winfrey Show, turning her into a media mogul. Now, she’s a billionaire with her own network (OWN), film company, and global influence in media, self-development, and philanthropy.