Although Whoopi Goldberg’s career has made her famous, her family is her greatest source of pride. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she has created a close-knit family.
Whoopi Goldberg’s eldest granddaughter shares a special bond with her, often seeking her advice before making major life decisions. During a TV appearance, Amara revealed surprising details about Whoopi’s personal life.
Whoopi Goldberg’s early life was marked by family struggles. Raised in a challenging environment, she was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in New York City and faced hardships growing up. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she was raised primarily by her mother, a teacher and nurse. Despite these challenges, Whoopi’s resilience and passion for acting eventually led her to become a trailblazer in Hollywood.
In the late ’70s, Whoopi Goldberg’s family of three faced significant struggles. Her daughter, Alex, later opened up about the challenges she and her parents experienced during that time.
Alex recalled their difficult times, saying, “I remember we had the one-room space, and we slept in the bed together. I remember when we wanted to travel, we would drive across the country in broken-down cars. We didn’t have the money to go to the movies.”
In a 2015 interview with the Grio, Whoopi Goldberg recalled her childhood, saying, “I found friends, I walked down the street, I climbed trees, I did camping.” Alex also shared that she and her parents relied on “food stamps” during her upbringing. She explained, “I know what it’s like because my mom has her [welfare] cards framed.”
At the time, Whoopi Goldberg had dropped out of high school, and she and her husband, Alvin, were married for only six years before separating in 1979. Despite the challenges they faced, Whoopi has embraced that period of her life, believing it helped her become a better mother to her three children: daughters Amara and Jerzey, and son Mason Dean.
Whoopi Goldberg welcomed her children with her husband of over ten years, film producer Bernard Dean. Her bond with her daughter, Alex, remains stronger than ever. As Alex followed in her famous mother’s acting footsteps, Whoopi’s eldest granddaughter also rose to fame, stepping into the limelight herself.
Amara Dean shares a special bond with her grandmother, Whoopi Goldberg. The two have a close relationship, with Amara often seeking advice and guidance from Whoopi, who has been a strong influence in her life. Their connection is one of deep love and mutual respect, with Amara following in her grandmother’s footsteps in the entertainment industry.
Amara Dean grew up in a close-knit family, describing it as “all we’ve got.” Reflecting on their strong bonds, she explained, “We’ve created that connection. There’s only five of us in our family… so we take each other real close.” This tight family dynamic was important when Amara decided to join the reality series Claim to Fame. Before making her decision, she sought her grandmother Whoopi Goldberg’s approval, saying, “Her approval always matters to me.”
Amara Dean shared that Whoopi Goldberg supported her decision to join Claim to Fame wholeheartedly. Despite her grandmother’s immense fame, Amara managed to carve out her own space in the limelight, competing on the show while navigating the inevitable comparisons to Whoopi.
Amara Dean’s admiration for her grandmother, Whoopi Goldberg, remained steadfast despite the challenges of living up to her legacy. She admitted, “It gets frustrating because it’s like, how am I going to compete with that? But I’m lucky enough to have that.” Amara also mentioned Whoopi’s role as a great-grandmother to her daughter, Charli Rose, whom she had in 2014. On Claim to Fame, Amara was one of several celebrity relatives competing for a $100,000 prize.
On the August 1, 2022, episode of Claim to Fame, Amara Dean revealed some surprising details about her grandmother Whoopi Goldberg’s love life. Amara claimed that Whoopi, the EGOT-winning actress, had a secret relationship with a 90-year-old billionaire named John. While talking to fellow contestant L.C., Amara also shared quirky details about Whoopi, saying, “My grandma, she likes to play Diablo, the video game. She has her purse and everything.”
As the conversation continued on Claim to Fame, Amara Dean shared some startling details about her grandmother Whoopi Goldberg’s love life, even discussing her sex life. She revealed, “She had a boyfriend that was like 90 years old, and she used to go hang out with him. Some old white man named John […] and he was like a billionaire. She used to sneak off and get her sex appointments randomly,” leaving viewers shocked by the unexpected revelations.
L.C. was taken aback by Amara’s revelations and burst out laughing. Amara responded with humor, saying, “I love that for granny,” and added, “She is out here living her best life.” At the time, it appeared that Whoopi had taken a break from The View, as her social media posts indicated she was in Los Angeles.
Whoopi Goldberg shared a now-deleted photo of herself with University of Chicago professor Jacqueline Stewart at the “Academy Museum of Motion Pictures,” encouraging her followers to visit the museum. In response to the post, one fan complimented the comedian, writing, “You’re so lovely.”
Whoopi Goldberg currently lives in a $3 million mansion in West Orange, New Jersey. The property, which she purchased in 2009 for $2.8 million, is a Georgian Colonial-style home spanning 12,713 square feet. It features a pool, gym, and is located in a gated community covering 425 acres. Whoopi commutes daily to Manhattan to film The View.
Whoopi Goldberg’s New Jersey home includes eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The kitchen is equipped with granite countertops, beige cabinets, an island, and a window that brings in natural light. One of the bathrooms features white, yellow, and black tiles on the walls, while the living room is furnished with gray and beige couches, complemented by a matching rug. Throughout the house, hardwood floors add to its elegant design.
To make her home feel more personal, Whoopi Goldberg adorned the walls of her 23-room mansion with artwork and family portraits. The property also boasts an inground pool and a gym. Recently turning 69, Whoopi once shared why she enjoys living in New Jersey, noting the calmer atmosphere compared to city life. She explained, “I lived in the city and had no way of sitting outside. Because every time I go sit outside, 50 people would come and hang out.”
Whoopi Goldberg explained that while she enjoys being around people and spending time outdoors, she also values her alone time. She said, “I like people, but I just wanted a place where I could go outside and sit, and so I started looking.” She admitted that she hadn’t known much about New Jersey until a colleague suggested she consider moving there. He offered to help her scout the area whenever she had free time, which eventually led to her decision to relocate.
Whoopi Goldberg recounted, “My work partner said, ‘How about New Jersey?’ I said, ‘I don’t know anything about it.’ He said, ‘When you’re ready, let’s go explore.’” This conversation led her to eventually explore the area and make New Jersey her home.
