Barbara Walters Net Worth, Early Life, Career

Barbara Walters, a household name in American television, has captivated audiences with her remarkable career in the media industry. From her early beginnings to her towering success, let’s delve into the life and achievements of this iconic figure. And uncover Barbara Walters net worth that she accumulated along the way.

Who is Barbara Walters?

Barbara Jill Walters was a broadcast journalist from America. She was also a popular television personality, appearing on several TV shows and interviewing major figures. Starting her journal career in 1951, Walters had been in the industry for over six decades.

During her career, she worked mostly for Today, the ABC Evening News, and The View. Suffering from dementia, Today’s journalist Barbara Walters died at age 93 on 3rd December 2022.

Short Bio of Barbara Walters

How Much Was Barbara Walters Net Worth?

As of 2022, at the time of her death, Barbara Walters owned around $170 million in net worth. This substantial fortune is mostly from her remarkable career, during which she achieved great success as a journalist and TV host.

Early Life

Born in September 1929,  Barbara Jill Walters hailed from Boston. Her mom, Dena, and dad, Lou Walters, came from Russia. Her grandpa, Abraham Isaac Waremwasser, was originally from Poland and moved to England, where he changed his last name to Warmwater.

Barbara’s dad had a job where he made money sometimes but lost it other times. He was a booking agent, and his job wasn’t always steady. At one point, her dad lost his nightclubs, and they had to leave their fancy home in New York City. The government even took their house, cars, and furniture.

For school, Barbara went to Lawrence School, which was a regular public school in Brookline, Massachusetts. When her family moved to Miami Beach in 1939, she kept going to public school there. Barbara spent the eighth grade at a private school called Ethical Culture Fieldston School. Then, they went back to Miami Beach again.

Finally, Barbara returned to New York City after the tenth grade, and she went to another private school called Birch Wathen School. She got her degree in English from Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York.

Facts Behind Barbara Walters Net Worth

Broadcast Journalism Career

Barbara began her career at a tiny advertising agency in New York City. After that, she joined a TV station called WNBT-TV, which is now called WNBC. Her job was to handle publicity and write news releases. In 1953, she produced a kids’ show called “Ask the Camera.” It was directed by Roone Arledge.

She also worked with a TV host named Igor Cassini (also known as Cholly Knickerbocker), but she left that job when he wanted her to marry him and got into a fight with someone she liked. She then moved to WPIX, where she produced a show called the Eloise McElhone Show. Unfortunately, it got canceled in 1954.

Writing and Researching

In 1955, Barbara started working at CBS. She began as a writer on “The Morning Show.” Back then, people thought that women couldn’t report serious news. But Barbara wanted to prove them wrong. She worked hard and eventually became a reporter, creating her own reports and interviews.

She made some interesting films like “A Day in the Life of a Nun” and showed what life was like for Playboy Bunnies.

Major Shows

In 1971, Barbara began hosting her own show on NBC called “Not for Women Only.” It came on after “The Today Show” in the mornings. At first, she worked well with Hugh Downs. But when Frank McGee became the host in 1971, he insisted on getting the first three questions in interviews.

This caused problems between them. But when McGee passed away in 1974, NBC finally recognized Barbara as the program’s first female co-host. This was a big deal because she became the first female co-host of a U.S. news program.

Barbara signed a big contract with ABC, making her the highest-paid news anchor at the time. She co-anchored the ABC Evening News with Harry Reasoner from 1976 to 1978. This made her the first female network news anchor in the U.S. Although she and Reasoner had some tension, it wasn’t because they didn’t like each other. Reasoner just didn’t like having a co-anchor.

Afterward, Barbara joined “20/20” in 1979. She later became Downs’ co-host in 1984 and stayed until she retired in 2004. During this time, she covered important news events and even moderated presidential debates.

Barbara co-hosted “The View,” a daytime talk show that started in 1997. She was also an executive producer for 25 years. On “The View,” Barbara brought together women of different ages and backgrounds to share their views. She won awards for the show.

Retirement and Continuing Contributions

Walters retired from being a co-host in 2014 but made guest appearances later. Even in retirement, her impact remained strong.

Barbara came out of retirement for special interviews, like one with Peter Rodger, whose son was involved in a tragic event. She also interviewed people like Mary Kay Letourneau and Donald and Melania Trump. She hosted “10 Most Fascinating People” on ABC in 2014 and 2015. Her last on-air interview was with Donald Trump in December 2015.

Personal Life

Barbara married four times, but her first marriage was super short, lasting only eleven months. Her second husband was into theater, and they adopted a baby girl named Jacqueline. The third time around, she married a TV CEO, and they did it twice but later divorced.

In college, she had a boyfriend named Roy Cohn. They were close, but she said no to his marriage proposal. Barbara also dated some pretty important people, including Alan Greenspan and John Warner. She even had a secret affair with a married senator named Edward Brooke, but they ended it to avoid causing a scandal.

In 2013, Barbara said something surprising. She wished she had more children.

FAQs

What illness did Barbara Walters have when she died?

In her later years, Walters suffered from dementia for a long time.

When was the last time Barbara Walters was seen in public?

Barbara’s last public appearance was in 2016.

Who inherits Barbara Walters’s wealth?

The late journalist Barbara Walters’s wealth will reportedly be inherited by her family.

Final Thoughts

Barbara Walters net worth mirrors her extraordinary career in journalism and television. Her legacy will undoubtedly inspire generations to come, and her contributions to journalism remain priceless.