They call him "the smiling preacher," and Osteen has a lot to smile about. He's the head of the largest church in America, the author of a best-selling book, and the religious leader for a following of faithful, often frenzied fans.
He's achieved all that with an approach critics call "Christianity lite" -- no sin, no suffering, no sacrifice, replacing fire and brimstone with a motivational message.
Barbara Walters asked Osteen why that message strikes such a chord with people. "My message is that God is a good God," said Osteen. "And if we all … have the right attitude, he'll take us places that we've never dreamed of."
Certainly Osteen is in a place he never dreamed of: Houston's Lakewood Church collects more than $75 million a year. The congregation is so large that Osteen had to move his church into a former pro basketball arena.
"We're just amazed to be here," Osteen said. "I grew up coming to watch basketball games here. … This is where the Rockets used to play. Every time I come in here, I just feel humbled, and it's been an amazing journey."
That journey started modestly, when Osteen's father began the church in the back of a Houston feed store. For the six Osteen siblings, it was a family affair. Never interested in preaching, Osteen worked on the television and marketing side. But when his father passed away, stepped up to the pulpit and began to spread a unifying message that avoids a number of polarizing issues. Walters asked Osteen why he stayed away from controversial subjects like gay marriage, abortion or politics.
"Sometimes, I think if you get away from what you're called to do, it's more of a distraction," he said.
Osteen has been criticized for focusing too much on the almighty dollar. Walters asked him about preaching what is called "the prosperity gospel."
"I think the word rich is all relative," Osteen said. "I think down and deep in our hearts, we believe that God does want us to live the abundant life that we can. To me, prosperity is health, good relationships … and money, of course, is part of it."
Speaking of prosperity, rapper Jay-Z knows all about material success. His new album, "Kingdom Come," is at the top of the charts. It's the latest addition to a vast empire that includes Def Jam records, a clothing line, a stake in an NBA team.
Jay-Z was born Shawn Carter, and grew up in the Brooklyn projects. His father left the family when Jay-Z was 12, and he told Walters that it had a "tremendous" impact on his life.
"I would never let anyone get close to me because of that feeling that I had when my pops left," he said. "I never wanted anyone to get that close to me again."
Jay-Z was a drug dealer as a teenager in the 1980s but gave it up when he discovered what he calls a God-given talent for writing songs.
"I would sit at the kitchen table," he said, "And I would bang on the table these generic beats, and I would write, write, write … write every single day."
He made a demo tape, and after being turned away from every label, he formed his own, Roc-A-Fella records. He released his first album in 1996 and went on to produce an unrivaled string of multiplatinum hits, making hip-hop history.
In his personal life, he's been involved for three years with superstar Beyoncé. He doesn't discuss their relationship but told Walters that she's a "great person."
And when asked if he thought Beyoncé was "bootylicious," he said "yeah, yeah, yeah." The secret to his success? Jay-Z says it's "truth."
"That transcends race, age, anything. People understand truth ... and you can see that in my music."
Generally, the list of most-fascinating people excludes those who have died, but this year an exception was made for the "Crocodile Hunter," through his remarkable and fascinating widow, Terri Irwin.
When Terri visited Australia in 1991, fate stepped in. She described the moment when she first saw Steve Irwin in a reptile park, catching a crocodile, as "amazing."
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