Oprah Winfrey says 'life starts at 44,' so there might be hope for millennials after all
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey discusses the importance of self-awareness and personal freedom, suggesting that life truly begins at age 44. She advises young professionals that work-life balance is earned over time rather than expected at the start of a career.
Why it matters
Provides cultural commentary on career development and aging, offering a perspective that challenges the modern obsession with early-career work-life balance.
Oprah Winfrey in 2026. Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images Oprah Winfrey, 72, said life starts at 44 due to freedom and self-awareness. She spoke about balancing a career and personal life during an appearance on Keke Palmer's podcast. Winfrey credited self-belief and strategic choices for her successes throughout the years. Rejoice, millennials: According to Oprah , life really begins at 44. The 72-year-old media mogul appeared on the July 21 episode of Keke Palmer's podcast, " Baby, This Is Keke Palmer ," and said there's no way she'd want to go back to being 30. But she'd happily be 44 again. "I think life starts at 44, because you come into yourself in a way that you're no longer trying to please everybody else. You come into yourself," Winfrey said.
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