How Much is Barbara Walters Worth? Barbara Walters's Assets & Salary - Is the Star a Billionaire? Net Worth 2026: Career Earnings & Assets

As one of the most talked-about figures, Barbara Walters has built a significant fortune. In this article, we dive deep into the assets and career highlights.

What was Barbara Walters' Net Worth and Salary?

Barbara Walters was an American broadcast journalist, author, and television personality who had a net worth of $170 million at the time of her death. Barbara Walters died on December 30, 2022, at the age of 93. During her multi-decade career, Walters hosted several television shows, including "20/20," "The View" (which she also created and produced), and the "ABC Evening News." Walters began her career as a writer and researcher for "The Today Show" in 1961 and became the show's co-host in 1974. She was the first woman to co-host an American news program, and in 1976, she became the first woman to co-anchor a network evening news program. Barbara is also known for her annual "Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People" special and has published two books, "How to Talk with Practically Anybody about Practically Anything" (1970) and "Audition: A Memoir" (2008).

Early Career in Television

In 1961, Walters joined NBC's "The Today Show," first as a writer and researcher. She later appeared on camera as the program's "Today Girl," covering weather and lighter stories. Her skills as a reporter-at-large allowed her to develop, write, and edit her own segments. In 1974, after the death of co-host Frank McGee, Walters broke barriers by becoming the first female co-host of "The Today Show." She also hosted "Not for Women Only" from 1971 to 1976 on a local NBC affiliate.

After college, Walters spent a year working at a small advertising agency before moving into television. She began at NBC affiliate WNBT-TV, where she wrote press releases and produced a children's program called "Ask the Camera." She later produced the "Eloise McElhone Show" on WPIX until its cancellation in 1954, then joined CBS to write for "The Morning Show."

Barbara Jill Walters was born on September 25, 1929, in Boston, Massachusetts. Her parents, Dena and Louis, were both Jewish, and Lou managed the Latin Quarter nightclub in Boston before expanding into a chain of nightclubs in 1937. He later became a Broadway producer and Entertainment Director for the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, which meant Barbara grew up surrounded by celebrities. Walters had an older sister, Jacqueline, who was mentally disabled and passed away in 1985, and a brother, Burton, who died of pneumonia when Barbara was very young.

Breaking Ground at ABC News

In 1976, Walters made headlines again when she became the first female co-anchor of the "ABC Evening News." Her on-air relationship with co-anchor Harry Reasoner was famously tense, as he often displayed his discomfort with her presence. Walters transitioned to "20/20" in 1979, reuniting with former "Today" colleagueHugh Downs. She became co-anchor in 1984 and remained a leading voice on the program until her retirement in 2004.

The family moved several times, and Barbara attended Lawrence School in Brookline, Massachusetts, Ethical Culture Fieldston School and Birch Wathen School in New York City, and Miami Beach High School in Florida, graduating in 1947. She went on to Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1951.

Ultimately, Barbara Walters's financial journey is a testament to their success.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.