Although I don't like Oprah, her politics, or her whole "schtick", I will say she made it on her own. Her family was dirt poor, as impoverished as they come, and she started out with nothing. By her hard work, her determination, and her force of personality she's created a huge media empire that's second to none. She's a true [a href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Alger"]Horatio Alger[/a] story.