Oprah named most generous celebrity

Oprah tops poll of world's most charitable stars

Oprah Winfrey has topped a poll listing the world's most charitable celebrities, with donations of over $50 million to her favourite causes in 2007 alone.

For years we have watched her give away everything from cars to homes to her ever-faithful audience so her generosity could hardly ever have been in doubt, but now it's official. 

According to the Giving Back Fund, Oprah Winfrey already known worldwide as the richest woman on TV is also the most giving of her hard-earned cash.

Most of the millions were spent on topics close to the daytime star's heart – health care and education. The runner-up spot on the list for 2007 went to trumpeter and A&M Records founder Herb Alpert.

Narrowly beating Paul Newman for third place was actress and singing legend Barbra Streisand, who clocked-up charitable giving of $11 million last year. Mel Gibson came in at number five in the poll.

It seems we may soon run out of superlatives to describe Ms Winfrey, who in 2007 was also named the world's most powerful celebrity by the business world bible, Forbes.