We Need More: Whoopi Goldberg Is The Only Black Woman On The List Of Richest Talk Show Hosts
Whoopi Goldberg has been a national treasure to the culture for almost four decades. She began as a comedian and actor, which afforded her the accolades and career decorations that she's accumulated over the years, and ultimately landed at The View as a lead co-host, a gig she has had since 2005. Goldberg is one of a handful of people on this planet who can say she's an EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards), and yet she still manages to keep her humble, simplistic lifestyle in the forefront.
And what's even more impressive, is despite her easy-going persona, she has managed to stack quite a bit of coins in the process; $60 million coins to be exact. And not only that, since the retirement of billionaire Oprah Winfrey, she is the only black woman to have a hosting purse that large. So large, that according to Yahoo! Finance, Goldberg is one of 10 hosts listed as the richest to currently hold the title. She earns an annual salary of approximately $8 million per year and has almost 200 entertainment notches to her name (with her most famous works being Ghost and the Sister Act films). In fact, Entertainment Weekly says she was paid $7 million for her starring role in the 1993 sequel Sister Act 2, which during that time, was unprecedented.
When asked what her biggest money lesson she has learned since building her wealth, she took us to school, telling Black Enterprise:
"Know what your money is doing. There was a time when I didn't pay attention and my money disappeared. It's also important to understand how things like taxes are impacting your money. If you make $1 million, that doesn't mean that you're taking $1 million home. Then, for me, there's agents, FICA, MICA, you name it. I had to learn to figure all of that into the equation."
She continues:
" Financial literacy is a big problem. We (black folks), didn't get to accumulate wealth and are playing catch-up. We've got to learn how the stuff works. Why you need a will in order to protect your family. What is interest? How does it affect my taxes? You've really got to know what's going on and be patient with yourself."
Goldberg beat out Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon to wrap up the top eight. Stephen Colbert ($75M), Kelly Ripa ($120M), Conan O'Brien ($150M), Sharon Osbourne ($220M), Ryan Seacrest ($450M), Dr. Phil ($460M), and Ellen Degeneres ($500M) all round out the remainder of the top ten on the list.
Looks like this list could use a lil' more melanin, so...who's next?!
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Featured image by Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com
Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube