The most recent addition to the Oprah economy is her interior designer of choice: Nate Berkus. The Nate Berkus Show, which started earlier this month on NBC, came out of the gate at the same speed Oprah's other shows did: In its first week on air, it was the top new daytime syndicated show.
Like other Oprah protégés, Berkus had a serendipitous meeting with the woman who would eventually make him a hit. At 24, Berkus began the Nate Berkus Associates Design Firm in Chicago and, years later, met a producer from Oprah. He was assigned to makeover a small residential space for a segment on the show.
The project proved successful, launching Berkus, now 39, as a nationally recognized designer. He's appeared on the show dozens of times during the past eight years and he launched his own home decor line -- with Oprah's help, of course.
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