Philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, known for her work in the arts and wildlife conservation and who served as president of the Annenberg Foundation for over 20 years, passed away this Monday. The news of her death was confirmed by both her family and the foundation through its official website. Here’s everything we know about her passing.
How did Wallis Annenberg die?
The Annenberg Foundation’s website currently displays a black image with the inscription “Wallis H. Annenberg 1939 – 2025.” However, the family revealed that Wallis passed away at her home in Los Angeles due to complications related to lung cancer.
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How old was Wallis Annenberg?
At the time of her death, the philanthropist was 86 years old.
What was Wallis Annenberg’s net worth?
Wallis Annenberg’s personal net worth was estimated at a minimum of $200 million. In addition, the assets of the Annenberg Foundation, which she chaired, are valued at over $1.4 billion, placing it among the 50 largest private foundations in the United States.
Who Was Wallis Annenberg?
Wallis Annenberg, born in Philadelphia in 1939, was a central figure in American philanthropy and a tireless advocate for the arts, culture, and education. The daughter of media magnate Walter Hubert Annenberg and Bernice Veronica Dunkelman, she spent her early years between her mother’s home in Washington, D.C., and her father’s estate near Philadelphia.
In 1959, she graduated with honors from Pine Manor Junior College in Massachusetts and had planned to attend Columbia University. However, a celebratory trip to Europe changed her life path: in Venice, she met Seth Weingarten, a future Yale-educated physician. They married a year later, had four children, and settled in California. Their marriage ended in 1975.
Wallis’s philanthropic legacy grew after the death of her father, who had sold his media empire to Rupert Murdoch in 1988 for $3 billion. With a portion of the proceeds, he established the Annenberg Foundation. After her stepmother’s passing in 2009, Wallis took over as president of the foundation, which went on to donate over $5 billion to more than 2,700 nonprofit organizations under her leadership.
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She spearheaded projects like the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, which revitalized a historic Beverly Hills post office, and the Wallis Annenberg Department of Photography at LACMA, which preserves iconic photographic works. Her legacy also includes the Annenberg Community Beach House, GenSpace senior center, and educational platforms like Learner.org.
Passionate about photography and firmly believing in the transformative power of art and education, Wallis Annenberg dedicated her life to creating a legacy of access, equity, and lasting social impact.
What Is the Annenberg Foundation?
Founded in 1989 by philanthropist Walter H. Annenberg, the Annenberg Foundation has become one of the most influential organizations supporting arts, education, and social and animal welfare in the United States. Under the leadership of Wallis Annenberg (who passed away on Monday, July 28, 2025) and her children, the foundation pursued bold, transformational initiatives promoting access and equity.
Community spaces like the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica and the Annenberg Space for Photography embody its commitment to inclusion. Through platforms like Annenberg Learner, the foundation also provides educational tools to strengthen teaching nationwide.
