Trailblazing journalist Barbara Walters, who died December 30, 2022, interviewed the most famous people during her long career, from Barbra Streisand to Fidel Castro, using her skills to give everyday people a glimpse into their lives. In 1976, Walters agreed to a five-year contract with ABC, making her the first woman to co-anchor an evening network news show, earning her $1 million annually.
On Thursday, Oct. 12, Bonhams Los Angeles on Sunset Boulevard hosted an auction preview of jewelry collection, art, furniture, and decorative objects she once owned. Just a few items from her collection include her engagement ring from developer and television producer Merv Adelson; a 13.84-carat Harry Winston diamond ring; art by John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, and Frank W. Benson; and a Belle Époque diamond brooch that she wore to Sir Elton John’s 60th birthday party in 2007.
Caroline Morrissey, director and head of jewelry at Bonhams New York, where the actual auction will be held, spoke about Walters: “She was a very powerful woman who opened many gates that other women before her were unable to, and she never shied away from her big personality, and that was to dress the part and that included not only her clothes but her jewelry as well.”
A section of the gallery in Los Angeles featured a recreation of Walters’ New York apartment with furniture and decorations from her home, including her desk.
The auction will take place on November 6 at Bonhams, New York, with the online auction from October 29 through November 7, 2023. The more than 300 lots are estimated to bring in more than $8 million, with all proceeds going towards charities dear to Walters.
For more information, Barbara Walters: American Icon
