Barbara has made an enduring impression on the media landscape as an American broadcast journalist, author, and television personality with over three decades of experience. Her interviews are taught in journalism courses to aspiring journalists. In this write-up, we will discuss barbara walters net worth and more information about her life.
Full Name | Barbara Jill Walters |
Birth | 1929 |
Death | 2022 |
Net Worth | $170 million |
Profession | Journalist, Actor, Author, Producer and Screenwriter |
Partner | 1)Robert Henry Katz (1955-1957) 2)Lee Guber (1963-1976) 3)Merv Adelson (1981-1984 & 1986-1992) |
Barbara Walters Net Worth
As one of the most successful and highest paid journalists in television history, Barbara Walters accumulated immense wealth. barbara walters net worth was $170 million at the time of her death in 2022. Over the course of more than 50 years on network television, she has earned a lot of money.
Her fortune came from lucrative contracts with ABC News as well as her ownership stakes in television programs which mostly contributed to barbara walters net worth. When Walters retired in 2014, her astounding net worth reflected her groundbreaking career as a broadcast pioneer who transcended gender barriers.
Early Life And Education
Barbara Walters was born in 1929 in Boston, Massachusetts to entertainment industry parents. Her father Lou Walters worked as a Broadway producer and nightclub owner. She attended Fieldston School in New York City for high school before enrolling at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. Walters graduated in 1953 with a bachelor's degree in English. Walters landed her first television writing job shortly after graduating from Sarah Lawrence.
Career
Barbara Walters had an illustrious career in broadcast journalism spanning over 50 years. She started as a writer and segment producer for NBC's Today show in the early 1960s. Walters later became a co-host of Today, making history as the first female anchor on an American news program. She joined ABC News in 1976 as the first female evening news anchor.
Walters went on to host various programs including 20/20 and The View. Walters won 12 Emmy Awards and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989.
Net Worth Over The Years
Year | Net Worth |
2005 | $90 million |
2010 | $120 million |
2015 | $135 million |
2020 | $155 million |
2022 | $170 million |
Source Of Income
As one of the most prominent and groundbreaking broadcast journalists, Barbara Walters earned a high salary and amassed a considerable net worth from various sources throughout her prolific career.
In 1976, Walters became the first female anchor of a network evening news program when she joined ABC News as co-anchor of the ABC Evening News. Walters went on to host popular ABC programs like 20/20 and The View, negotiating ever-higher salaries that reached $12 million per year at her peak which helped build the humongous barbara walters net worth.
In 1988, Walters earned a $5 million advance to publish her bestselling autobiography Audition. She received substantial royalties as it sold over a million copies.
Real Estate
In addition to her prolific journalism career, Barbara Walters invested extensively in prestigious real estate holdings. She owned lavish apartments in New York City and homes in the Hamptons.
In 1976, Walters purchased a sprawling 5,300 square foot apartment on Park Avenue in Manhattan. She sold it in 2008 for $19.3 million. In 2002, she bought another Park Avenue apartment, paying over $10 million which reflected the barbara walters net worth.
Walters also owned a home in the Hamptons that she purchased in 1979. The 12,000 square foot oceanfront estate on Long Island featured 7 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, a tennis court, and guest house.
Car Collection
Barbara Walters owned an impressive array of upscale vehicles. Her car collection reflected her lavish lifestyle and wealth. Walters was frequently seen being chauffeured around New York City in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury sedan.
She also owned a Bentley Continental coupe, valued around $200,000. The powerful yet refined British car provided sports car performance with opulent amenities.
Beyond European imports, Walters' collection included American classics like a Ford Thunderbird convertible. Walters added a Cadillac Escalade SUV to handle trips between New York City and her mansion in the Hamptons.
Endorsements
Throughout her career, Barbara Walters leveraged her celebrity status to earn lucrative endorsement and partnership deals which also contributed a lot to barbara walters net worth. In the 1980s, she signed a $2 million contract to appear in advertisements for Overstock.com. Walters was also the brand ambassador and part owner of the Latin American fashion line MacandJac for several years.
Philanthropic Activities
Barbara Walters was a generous supporter of several charitable causes. She served on the board of directors for organisations like the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Walters also made substantial donations over the years to New York University, Sarah Lawrence College, American Ballet Theatre, and the New York Botanical Garden.
Appearance
Barbara Walters was known for her poised, glamorous appearance. She was around 5 feet 5 inches tall and maintained a slim figure. Walters' hairstyle evolved from dark pinned curls in the 1960s to a sleek blonde bob with bangs in later decades.
Personal Life
Barbara Walters married four times throughout her life. Her first marriage was to Robert Henry Katz in 1955, which ended in divorce in 1957. In 1963, she married Lee Guber, which also ended in divorce in 1976. Walters then married Merv Adelson in 1981 and divorced in 1984. Then she again married her in 1986 which lasted till 1992