Oprah Winfrey, 72, revealed in a recent appearance on Keke Palmer's podcast, "Baby, This Is Keke Palmer," that her legal birth name is "Orpah," a detail she was unaware of until around age 20. The media mogul explained that the name, derived from the Bible, was difficult for people in her home to spell.
"It was Orpah from the Bible," Winfrey told Palmer. "And then people started calling me Oprah. And so it’s just the difference between the P being before the R or after the R. So once they started with Oprah, that’s it."
Winfrey further elaborated on the biblical significance of her birth name, referencing Ruth, chapter 1, verse 14, from the Old Testament. She contrasted the biblical figures Ruth and Orpah, noting that Ruth pledged loyalty while Orpah chose to return.
The media mogul's production company, Harpo Productions, is famously named after Oprah spelled backward, a name she adopted, noting her family's disinterest in comedian Harpo Marx. She previously discussed the origin of her name on a 2005 episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," stating that her aunt named her from the Bible, but spelling difficulties led to the name becoming Oprah.
In addition to discussing her name, Winfrey also drew attention for her comments on work-life balance for young professionals. She stated that individuals in their early careers, particularly those in their early twenties, are "not supposed to have" a work-life balance and should instead focus on dedicating themselves to their work. Winfrey argued that this period of intense work is necessary to achieve freedom and the ability to make choices based on personal desires later in life. She shared that she now only does what she wants to do because she has earned the right through years of hard work.
These remarks on work-life balance generated significant online discussion. Some criticized Winfrey, suggesting she could not relate to the financial struggles of ordinary people, while others acknowledged the merit of her advice, though noting it is contingent on achieving financial security. Winfrey, who built a net worth of an estimated $3.4 billion through her media ventures, began her career at 17 and became a millionaire by 32. She founded Harpo Productions in 1986 and launched the OWN network in 2011.