NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > OPRAH ENCOURAGES DUKE GRADUATES TO USE PRIVATE PLANES

OPRAH ENCOURAGES DUKE GRADUATES TO USE PRIVATE PLANES

May 13 2009

Durham, NC – There are many advantages to being wealthy. Beautiful homes, designer clothing, luxurious food, and of course private planes are all some of the many benefits of being wealthy. For many of the ultra-rich those luxuries have been put on the back burner through this economic crisis. The decline in dollars as well as
the desire to show sympathy for those losing jobs and homes has left many wealthy people feeling a little constricted. Oprah Winfrey, one of the richest people in the world, doesn’t feel quite the same.

In a speech to the graduating class at Duke University Oprah confirmed her love of being wealthy and encouraged the students to seek the same level of success in life. In the speech the talk show magnate espoused the benefits of being wealthy and the sheer joy of flying in her private plane. Though her words may come as little inspiration to graduates, most of who are soon to be saddled with massive debt and few opportunities in a largely jobless job market, but is music to the ears of private plane manufacturers.

“It's great to have a nice home. It's great to have nice homes! It's great to have a nice home that just escaped the fire in Santa Barbara. It’s great to have a private jet. Anyone that tells you that having your own private jet isn’t great is lying to you,” said Winfrey. “You may achieve great things, but you haven't completed the circle of success until you help someone else move to a higher ground and get to a better place.”

Winfrey owns a custom built Global Express XRS. Made by Bombardier, the jet is reportedly worth $42 million, significantly more than most University graduates can afford.

“Admittedly it would be great if everyone could afford a private plane. The skies would be a little cluttered and you would run into the problem of finding people to pilot
them. I mean who would want to fly someone else’s plane when you have one of your own,” said Scrape TV Business analyst Ken Green. “Then you would have the issue of who would maintain and fuel them, and even who would be producing gasoline. There would be a lot of kinks to work out, but it would be great if you could get past those issues.”  

Amongst the many industries that have been suffering through the economic decline, personal aviation companies have suffered tremendously, a product of fewer dollars in the market and issue of perception. Though her speech stopped short of a global endorsement, many in the industry are hoping that Winfrey’s comments will spark renewed interest in personal jet ownership.

“The Oprah effect is quite significant. We saw that most recently with the Kentucky Grilled Chicken fiasco. Simply put, when Oprah speaks, people listen. She’s very judicious in the topics she broaches and the products she endorses but when she chooses, everyone else does,” continued Green. “If she started a full scale promotion of private planes we could very well end up with a rush on them. There very well could come a day when there’s a private plane on every driveway on every street in America, provided the banks start giving out loans again that is.”

Similarly, Michelle Obama recently made a speech espousing the benefits of having a full staff to help in day to day chores, something most families in America have long had to without.

“Michelle Obama is new to this game but someday she may very well have the same kind of power as Oprah. Again you run into the issue of people serving the servants but the dream of never having to do anything and flying around on a private jet is one many Americans can get behind,” continued Green. “Once the economy gets a little better and the banking industry improves, Americans will feel a little bit better about luxuries like private planes and personal staffs. University students might have to wait a little while to get to that level, but someday, maybe.”

Sales of private planes increased slightly after Winfrey’s speech.  

Samantha Dryden, Entertainment Correspondent

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