American talk show host Oprah Winfrey is the richest woman in entertainment, according to business magazine Forbes. Its latest poll estimates her net worth at $1.5bn, based on the $225m she is said to earn from TV, satellite radio, magazines and other multimedia ventures.

Oprah, 52, is not only a celebrity, but Oprah is a brand. Millions of people worldwide are influenced by anything that carries the name Oprah on it. When Oprah lends her name to a book or a magazine, she’s actually lending her name, worth over a billion dollars. If the product — for any reason — is not up to par, it can damage the trust people have put into the name ‘Oprah.’

Reared in poor, rural Mississippi, Oprah today is the only black female billionaire.  At East Nashville High School, she …became a brilliant student, joined drama club and student council. After graduation in 1971, she received a four-year scholarship to Tennessee State University. She began to develop broadcasting career at 17, working for WVOL radio in Nashville.

The year of 1984 marked Oprah’s career as she came to Chicago and was chosen to host a local talk show called “AM Chicago.” Following the show’s success, its name then was changed into “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in September 1985.

Being watched by up to 20 million U.S. audiences every week, the talk show has spread its charm to more than 130 countries. Oprah’s show had collected 30 Daytime Emmy Awards throughout 1987-1998. Being the most successful talk show host in the world, Oprah took a deal to extend her show until 2011 which means that the show will have been broadcasted for 25 years.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling comes second in the list with a net worth estimated at $1bn.

But there’s a difference here. Harry Potter may be a brand, but not JK Rowling.