Bob Ross Death Cause: How Did Bob Ross Pass Away? What Was Bob Ross Worth When He Died?

American painter, Bob Ross, died of lymphoma at age 52. Lymphoma is a cancerous growth most often found in lymph nodes.

Bob had a net worth of approximately $1 million at the time of his demise.

Interest in Ross had a resurgence in the 21st century with the availability of The Joy of Painting on such streaming platforms as YouTube.

Bob doubled as an art instructor and television host. He was the creator and host of The Joy of Painting, an instructional television program that aired from 1983 to 1994 on PBS in the United States, CBC in Canada, and similar channels in Latin America, Europe, and elsewhere.

Bob subsequently became widely known via his posthumous internet presence.

It was during his 20-year Air Force career that Bob developed an interest in painting after attending an art class at the Anchorage U.S.O. club.

He found himself frequently at odds with many of his painting instructors, who were more interested in abstract painting. Ross said, “They’d tell you what makes a tree, but they wouldn’t tell you how to paint a tree.”