There’s no denying the power of Oprah Winfrey. The Queen of Talk, worth a reported $3 billion, is a household name in the U.S. and abroad. Her influence is so strong that people even coined a phenomenon after her: The Oprah Effect. The Oprah Effect suggests that just one co-sign from the icon will result in overnight success, literally. In 2009, a Florida cake business, We Take the Cake, was on the verge of bankruptcy. As soon as Winfrey got a taste of the company’s Key Lime Bundt Cake and featured it on her “Favorite Things” episode, the cakery sold 10,000 cakes after the show aired and became a million dollar business. Oprah has used her powers for good in the case of celebrity careers as well. Before wrapping up the 25th and final season of The Oprah Winfrey Show, she would often bring on expert guests. If their expertise triggered a big enough aha moment, the media mogul would make them regulars among her 44-million-viewer audience; she even gave some of them their own segments. Of the experts who were fortunate enough to get the Oprah nod, many have successfully catapulted to new heights. Here are five superstar careers who got hit by The Oprah Effect.
Iyanla Vanzant
Vanzant was a regular on The Oprah Winfrey show as a relationship expert in the 90s. After she and Winfrey
had a miscommunication that resulted in severed ties, Iyanla left the show and the two didn’t speak for 11 years. They finally reconnected when Winfrey invited the renowned spiritual leader and her friend back to bury the hatchet. Now, Iyanla has her own show, Iyanla: Fix My Life, on the Oprah Winfrey Network.Dr. Oz
It was Oprah who gave Dr. Oz his first mainstream platform as a frequent guest on her segment, “America’s Doctor.” Viewers absorbed Oz’s expertise and his popularity quickly grew. Today, Dr. Oz has his own multi Emmy winning daytime talk show, The Dr. Oz Show, where he promotes healthy living. He has also authored several New York Times Bestseller books.
Gayle King
The world was introduced to Gayle King as Oprah’s longtime best friend. Oprah fans naturally took to Gayle too after the girlfriends traveled cross country, road trip-style, and recorded the whole thing for “Oprah and Gayle’s Big Adventure.” Viewers got a front seat to their petty spats and their tear-jerking laughs. King is currently the Editor at Large for O, The Oprah Magazine, and she is co-anchor on CBS This Morning.
Dr. Phil
Oprah extended an invitation to Dr. Phil in 1998 to appear on her hit talk show. Phil accepted and came on to offer his life advice to Oprah guests and viewers. The psychologist became a regular and like many of Winfrey’s other friends, he benefited from the support of her unwavering fans. Dr. Phil launched his own daytime talk show, Dr. Phil
, in 2002 and has been nominated for 27 Emmys.Suze Orman
Suze Orman, the no-holds-barred financial advisor, made her Oprah show debut in 1998. Her saving, retirement and debt management jewels proved to be favorites with Oprah devotees. Winfrey gave Orman a special, America’s Money Class with Suze Orman, on OWN in 2012, and now the money expert contributes to O, The Oprah Magazine. She has authored multiple New York Times Bestseller books, some of which have even been turned into PBS specials.