system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How did talk show host Oprah Winfrey become so rich and powerful?
gpt
Oprah managed to very shrewdly work herself into a market that didn't have anything else like her. 

She started as a really low-brow talkshow. Not quite as bad as Jerry Springer, but definitely one where the worst kinds of people would be featured. This built her an audience during a time when these shows were very popular.

As time went on, she evolved. She lost weight, and became an inspiration for a lot of folks. She converted her talk show into something more intelligent, and that spoke to a lot of people. Many people out there want to have some source of validation in their lives, and talk shows fulfill that need really well. 

Due to her very large audience, Oprah dominated ratings and really got to have everything her way. That business sense allowed her to build a financial empire rather than being controlled by producers who wouldn't care so much about the integrity of her show.

Of course, there are a lot of oprah bashers out there that will chime in and talk shit about her, but even though she isn't perfect she at least tried to champion many causes that need more people to back them.