American retired broadcast journalist and television personality, Barbara Walters, has a net worth of approximately $170 million.
She has hosted several television shows, including “20/20,” “The View” (which she also created and produced), and the “ABC Evening News.”
Though Barbara Walters was born to wealth, it did not remain in the family for her to inherit.
By her early twenties her brother passed away, and she also had a sister born with mental illness who also eventually developed ovarian cancer.
The stress in the family took a toll on both of her parents and they eventually lost the entire fortune.
By this time, Barbara was already starting to make a career for herself, but did not yet have the wealth that she has today to help her parents.
Walters began her career as a writer and researcher for “The Today Show” in 1961 and became the show’s co-host in 1974.
Her popularity with viewers resulted in Walters receiving more airtime, and in 1974, she became co-host of the program, the first woman to hold such a title on an American news program.
In 1976, she continued to be a pioneer for women in broadcasting by becoming the first female co-anchor of a network evening news program, alongside Harry Reasoner on the ABC Evening News.