Highlights

  • Oprah Winfrey spent $9.2 million on a cruise for her employees, costing each employee $5,400. They had to pay taxes on the gifted excursion.
  • She purchased a horse ranch in California for $28.9 million, which includes an avocado grove and a house with four bedrooms and a pool.
  • Oprah has donated large sums of money to COVID-19 relief efforts, including $2 million to help feed people in Nashville, and she matched a 14-year-old's $50,000 donation to help Black girls see the movie A Wrinkle In Time.

It's amazing to think about the impact that Oprah Winfrey has had on the world. Oprah helped many people's careers, from authors to other creative people, and she has done tons of interesting interviews on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Super Soul Sunday. Oprah is a rare celebrity who is incredibly rich with a net worth of $2.8 billion and also manages to seem sweet and down-to-earth. Fans feel like Oprah really cares and that she just wants to help people and be there for them.

Just like people talk about Oprah and Gayle King's close friendship, fans are curious about the money that Oprah has in the bank and what she decides to spend that money on.

Keep reading to find out about some of the most memorable purchases that Oprah has made with her $2.8 billion net worth.

RELATED: Fans Wanted Oprah Canceled After Her Reaction To Dave Chappelle's Take On Hollywood

Updated November 2023: In 2021, Oprah Winfrey was worth $3.2 billion. While she is worth $2.8 billion today, there has been a bit of a slip in her net worth. A slip that had caused her to be dropped off of 'The Forbes 400' for two years now. While there is no explanation as to the loss of funds, it could have to do with Oprah's WeightWatchers investment. An investment that she bought into the company with at over $43 million to be worth $400 million just three years later. But like many people whose companies experienced financial loss during the pandemic, WeightWatchers did as well. And while Oprah does still remain on the Board of Directors for the company, she now only has a $12 million stake in it.

7 Oprah Winfrey Spent $9.2 Million On A Cruise For Her Employees

Cost Per Employee For The Cruise: $5,400

Oprah Winfrey smiling
Via: Instar
  • Employees had to pay taxes on their gifted excursion from Oprah to the tune of $1,000

Fans are used to hearing about fabulous celebrity vacations and Oprah is no exception. Oprah spent $9.2 million on a cruise through Europe. The trip was a present for her employees and the cruise went through Malta, Turkey, Italy, Greece, and Spain.

According to The New York Post, Bridget Crawford, a professor of law at Pace University, said that it seemed like the employees would have to pay taxes on the trip. The cruise was part of the Norwegian Gem line and the publication said that 1,700 people were on the cruise. Each person cost $5,400.

6 Oprah Winfrey Purchased A Horse Ranch In California

Cost Of Horse Ranch: $28.9 Million

Oprah chalet house
The Things
  • Oprah won the property at auction
  • Property is for staff and guest use

Oprah also spends money on real estate, including a horse ranch in California, and it's impressive and huge.

RELATED: How Oprah Winfrey And Mitt Romney Felt About Each Other Before She Allegedly Pitched Him On A Presidential Run

Oprah purchased a horse ranch in 2016 in Montecito called Seamair Farm. The ranch is massive at 23 acres. According to CNN, there is an avocado grove and the house on the farm has a pool, four different fireplaces, and four bedrooms.

CNBC reported that Oprah purchased the property through an Ohio auction house called Sage Auctions.

"I have my own avocado orchard," Oprah told CNN. "I think it’s ridiculous to pay for avocados."

5 Oprah Winfrey Donated Money To Help People In Nashville

Oprah's Donation To Nashville: $2 Million

Oprah Winfrey in a shiny suit
Via: Instar
  • Oprah set up a $12 million COVID-19 Relief Fund that was distributed to those who needed it during the pandemic

Fans would hope that if someone had a lot of money, they would give some to charity and help others. Oprah is known for doing just that.

Oprah donated $2 million to help feed people in Nashville during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oprah set up a COVID-19 Relief Fund of $12 million and she has also given money to Milwaukee and Chicago.

As Oprah told The Associated Press, she believes that "people with means" need to donate money and be there for others. She explained, "So my thing is, look in your own neighborhood, in your own backyard to see how you can serve and where your service is most essential. That is the real essential work, I think, for people of means."

4 Oprah Winfrey Donated Money To Help Girls Watch 'A Wrinkle In Time'

Oprah's Matched Donation Amount: $50,000

instar52757530 (1)
  • After a 14-year-old donated $50,000 to help Black girls see A Wrinkle in Time, Oprah matched the donation

The 2018 film A Wrinkle In Time is adapted from the classic book by Madeleine L'Engle and many people were excited to see Oprah star as Mrs. Which. The movie has tons of star power, from Mindy Kaling to Reese Witherspoon.

According to Gobakingrates.com, Oprah shared in 2018 when she was on Good Morning America that she would help girls watch the movie. Taylor Richardson, a 14-year-old girl who lives in Jacksonville, Florida, had raised $50,000 so Black girls from Jacksonville could watch the movie. Oprah said she would give $50,000 as well.

3 Oprah Winfrey Invested Money In Spanx

Original Oprah Investment: Unknown

Oprah Winfrey walking to event
via Instar
  • Oprah purchased a larger stake in Spanx in 2021
  • Spanx is currently worth $1.2 billion

According to Oprah Daily, Oprah decided that she wanted to invest in Spanx, the company that she had been promoting and praising for years. Fans might remember that Oprah once called it one of her "Favorite Things."

RELATED: Oprah's Interview With The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Became One Of The Cringiest Moments Of TV Ever

Oprah said, “When Sara first came on The Oprah Show to tell us about her idea for Spanx, I knew it was brilliant. We’d all been cutting off our pantyhose for years! So from the moment I wore my first pair, they became a staple in my wardrobe. It’s remarkable the business that Sara and her team have created, with the comfort and support of all women at the heart of their creations, and I’m happy to be part of the evolution."

2 Oprah Winfrey Became A Partner With Weight Watchers

Oprah's Investment In Weight Watchers: $43.5 million

Oprah Winfrey at 'Vision Your Life in Focus'
via Instar
  • Oprah's stock shares were worth $400 million in 2018
  • Oprah sold stock during the pandemic and currently holds $12 million in shares

It is no secret that Oprah has struggled to remain a constant weight throughout her life. But one program that finally worked for Oprah to be healthy, not feel like she was depriving herself, and was something that could be maintained long-term was Weight Watchers. As such, when the opportunity became available to buy into the company, Oprah jumped at the chance.

In 2015, Oprah bought into Weight Watchers for $43.5 million. In 2018, that investment had grown to $400 million. But instead of selling at that time, Oprah chose to hold onto her shares.

It was not until after the pandemic that shares fell significantly. Oprah and other investors sold a substantial portion of their shares in the company. However, Oprah still believes in Weight Watchers. She remains on the Board of Directors and still has a $12 million stake in the company.

1 Oprah Winfrey Spends Money On Crab Cakes

Cost Per Crab Cake: $14.95 To $34.95

Oprah Winfrey on the red carpet
via Instar
  • Crab cakes range from four to 10 ounces
  • Meals for two start at $85.00

In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Oprah talked about "A Day In The Life" and talked about eating lunch with Steadman Graham, her partner. She said that she grows a lot of her own food, but she also talked about getting crab cakes from a far location.

Oprah said, "We have a rule: If we cannot find it in our garden, then we cannot eat it. Today was an exception; we had fabulous crab cakes flown in from Pappas in Baltimore."

Oprah didn't say how much this cost, but with prices ranging between $14.95 to $34.95 per crab cake, it could have been an expensive dinner.

Source: CNN, CNBC, TheAssociatedPress, Gobakingrates.com, Oprah Daily, HarpersBazaar