The $100 Million Visionary and Then Some | Oprah Winfrey

It’s not every day someone comes along and believes in you so much so, that they ‘gift’ you $100 million dollars. But in essence, that’s just what Discovery Communications did when inking a deal with humanitarian and mega-media visionary, Oprah Winfrey—and The Oprah Winfrey Network was born.  

"The Promised Land," Oprah's oceanside home (Montecito, CA)

Debuting on January 1, 2011 Oprah’s network began captivating more than 83,000 households with a bevy of original programming, documentaries, specials and acquired movies.  Yep, the media gurus at Discovery Communications new what they were doing.  

One year later, Oprah teamed up with long-time friend and media mogul Tyler Perry-- where his directing, producing and gritty-yet-powerful story telling brought to OWN, one of the hottest night time dramas, The Haves and the Have Nots. In just a few short seasons, 3.6+million viewers have become Tuesday night soap-box addicts (me included!), as we find ourselves ‘thirsting for more’-- betrayal, manipulation, sexy, cut-throat scripting from Perry.  The Haves and the Have Nots gives us an ‘up close and personal’ view of the Cryer’s, a power-hungry and ohhh-so-dysfunctional family and the intricate dynamics they have with their staff and Southern community.  

OWN’s innovative foray into TV-land continues with Oprah’s Next Chapter, Oprah’s Lifeclass, Super Soul Sunday, and a host of non-scripted segments due this Fall.  

And, as per usual, you know Oprah does it B-I-G... so her international reach is no exception. Millions of cable households as far away as The Balkans/Romania/Bulgaria, Australia, South Africa, Poland and Russia, enjoy the network’s exciting, thought provoking and transformational television programming.  

Yep, Discovery Communications new what they were doing!

My tribute to this beautiful humanitarian and her vision continues on my website G A Z E L L A | Beauty + Grace + Gentleness. Oprah Winfrey, the woman-- then and now-- her message, the Network, Tyler, Iyanla, Marianne, Tina, VIDEOS, her books and more!  

“…I am a woman in process. I'm just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it. Life is never dull.” --Oprah Winfrey

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