Oprah Winfrey announced today, Nov. 20 that she will end her talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” after 25 years.

The next season of her long-running talk show that turned her into a billionaire will be the last, with the final show airing on Sept. 2, 2011.

She has been in the works of developing her own cable network call the Oprah Winfrey Network or OWN, which is to be a joint venture with Discovery .

Winfrey, 55, is famous for her exclusive guest list and having a huge influence on American consumer habits. Her latest “big get” was Sarah Palin this week, for her first interview after losing the bid for Vice President of the United States with John McCain.

Her endorsement of Barack Obama is widely credited with helping elect him president in 2008.

Her formal announcement came today on her talk show.

“After much prayer and months of careful thought, I have decided that next season, Season 25, will be the last season of ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show,’” she said in a formal announcement.

“So here we are, halfway through the season, 24, and it still means as much to me to spend an hour every day with you as it did back in 1986. So why walk away and make next season the last?

Here is the real reason: I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it’s time to say good-bye.

Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and it feels right in my spirit. It’s the perfect number—the exact right time. So I hope that you will take this 18-month ride with me right through to the final show.”

Winfrey has produced several successful talk shows already, including “Dr. Phil,” “Rachel Ray,” and “The Dr. Oz Show. “