3. OPRAH WINFREY

In the beginning, she was just a talk-show host. Now she's...well, Oprah. And that means many things to many people. Hollywood insider (her friends: Cruise, Travolta, Hanks) and global activist (her allies: Mandela, Bono, Clinton). Multimedia brand and self-help cheerleader. Give-away queen, powerhouse book peddler, Broadway booster, and struggling weight-watcher. (The day her relatability became meatily manifest? When she hauled out the wagon of fat representing the 67 pounds she had shed.) By becoming Everywoman's confidante, she has redefined super-celebrity.

Get This! The Oprah Winfrey Show: 20th Anniversary Collection