what happened to bob ross paintings

Bob Ross’s paintings mostly ended up owned and controlled by Bob Ross, Inc., not sold off to the public. A large number have been stored in the company’s Virginia headquarters for years, while a smaller group has recently been auctioned to raise money for public television.

What happened

Ross made an enormous number of paintings during his career, including roughly 1,143 shown on The Joy of Painting , and the company tied to his business retained many of them after his death in 1995. Reports say about 1,165 originals have been kept in storage at Bob Ross Inc.’s Herndon, Virginia headquarters, and the works there are not generally for sale.

Recent auctions

In late 2025 and early 2026, some Bob Ross paintings were auctioned to support public television after funding cuts. One auction of three works brought in over $600,000, and a later sale raised about $1.27 million.

Why they are hard to find

Original Bob Ross paintings are uncommon on the market because the company that owns them has largely kept them stored rather than actively selling them. That is why fans often hear about them through auctions, museum donations, or news stories instead of regular gallery sales.

Quick scoop

• Many Ross paintings are still in storage.

• A few have been donated to the Smithsonian.

• Some were auctioned in 2025–2026 to benefit public TV.

If you want, I can also give you a shorter “one-paragraph version” or explain who legally owns Bob Ross’s paintings.