The Disheartening Reasons Oprah Winfrey Decided Not To Have Children
A renowned billionaire, philanthropic powerhouse, and the "Queen of All Media," Oprah Winfrey has achieved lifetimes worth of success, yet she still can't escape one question: "Why didn't you have children?" Well, she finally relented and opened up about the reasons she has decided not to reproduce — and they surprised even those who already knew her history.
Dominating the industry
Imagine being so famous that your first name is synonymous with an entire industry. Well, that's Oprah. She's dominated the media industry for decades, her unrivaled talent and charisma leading the way. But she wasn't exactly born into this life of everlasting success and luxury.
Her origin story
Every hero has an origin story, and Oprah, who became the world's first female black billionaire, is no different. Born on January 29, 1954, in rural Mississippi to a poor, teenage mom, she suffered at the hands of abusive family members.
Starting from darkness
"I was raped at 9 years old by a cousin," Oprah confessed years later, while painfully recounting her extremely daunting experiences with abuse. "Then again by another family member, and another family member." And the effects were more than psychological.
Giving birth
The recurring abuse led to an inevitable pregnancy, and in 1968, at the raw and impressionable age of 14 years, Oprah birthed a son she later named Canaan. He tragically died just a few weeks post-birth.
