When a homeless man named Eddie saw Oprah Winfrey eating dinner on the patio of Scarpetta in Beverly Hills, he did what any sensible person would do—ask for a simple gesture of humanity. According to the New York Post's spies, the down-on-his-luck chap asked the media mogul for a bowl of soup, but she ended up doing him one better. "Please, can we get him some money, get him a meal?" asked Oprah. As Scarpetta staff brought him a "feast," one of Oprah's dinner companions handed over a bunch of cash.

Winfrey's "pay it forward" lifestyle is a reminder of how we all should be when extending a helping hand.