Oprah Winfrey feared she would die at the age of 56

Oprah Winfrey endured a year of terror a decade ago, because she was convinced she would die at 56.

The media mogul, who is now 65, was haunted by dreams that her life was going to end and she kept her fears from everyone expect best friend and journalist Gayle King.

"I used to have this dream that I was going to be dead at 56, so the year that I turned 56 I was filled with dread," she told People. "I had only told one other person that I had a number in my head when I was going to die, and that was Gayle."

The star turned 57 on 29 January, 2011 and four months later decided to end her landmark series The Oprah Winfrey Show in order to start her own network.

She adds, "When I got to 57, it was like, 'Why did all my life I think it was going to be 56? (sic)'"

Oprah has also opened up about her humble beginnings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, revealing she would have had a very difficult life if she never left home.

"I believe I would have been 437 pounds," the Weight Watchers spokeswoman said. "I believe I would have had diabetes. I would have had high blood pressure. I would have suffocated knowing that things could have been different."