OPRAH WINFREY – EST. $2.6 BILLION

Another truly self-made billionaire, Oprah Winfrey, was born in rural Mississippi and experienced poverty early on. A single mother raised her and during her childhood and through her early teens, she had experienced many struggles—including being molested and even becoming pregnant at 14. Much to her credit that did not faze young Oprah. By 19 years old, she became co-anchor for the evening news. Her prowess helped her climb up the ladder, landing a daytime talk show soon after.

With her continued success throughout the 21st century, Oprah eventually became a billionaire. She then created the Oprah.com website, co-produced a Broadway musical version of The Color Purple, and instigated a 24-hour channel called Oprah Radio on XM Satellite Radio. These days, she’s the wealthiest African-American of the 21st century. There’s even a course about her business acumen being taught at the University of Illinois! Her resilience, hard work, and business acuity have led to her exceptional success in multiple industries.