Oprah Winfrey surprises half-sister Pat at her college graduation (2024)

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When Oprah Winfrey learned she had a long-lost half-sister and that her dream was to graduate from college, the media mogul took steps to make that dream a reality.

She bought Patricia Lofton a half million dollar home in Wisconsin and gave her a monthly allowance so she could quit her job and complete her studies.

And on Sunday Oprah, 64, was there to see Pat, 53, graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Oprah posted a photo of herself with Pat at the graduation to her Instagram.

Alongside it she wrote: 'My sister Pat who discovered she was a part of our family 6 years ago, had 1 big dream when I met her. To go to college and finish strong!'

'Today that dream came true. Congratulations lil Sis.'

Naturally, someone as famous as Oprah couldn't get away with not being spotted in a crowd.

Other students and their guests excitedly shared pics of her and her partner Stedman Graham sitting in the bleachers.

Michelle Johnson, senior director of integrated marketing and communications for UWM, told local news media that seats were reserved for Oprah and her family and she had her own security.

Oprah and Pat share a mother Vernita Lee who also resides in Wisconsin.

The daytime TV titan introduced the world to her half-sister on an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2011.

Pat has two adult children and has dreams of being a social worker.

Oprah, who is worth an estimated $2.8 billion, was born to an unmarried, teenage mother Vernita Lee in 1956 in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Vernita worked as a housemaid and split from Oprah's father shortly after falling pregnant.

Patricia was born in 1963 when Vernita was living in Milwaukee and she was given up for adoption.

Oprah had already been sent away to live with her biological father in Nashville, Tennessee.

The two siblings only learned about each other in 2010.

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