Betty White passed away in December 2022, just short of her 100th birthday and a legion of fans mourned her death. Now, just short of one year late, the American icon’s Los Angeles home has been demolished following its sale over the summer. An image shared on White’s Instagram account by the actress’ assistant Kiersten Mikelas showed only the fireplace of the house still standing with the rest of the house in rumble around it. This led to a number of White’s fans slamming the decision to allow the property to be destroyed, although it was something that was already planned before White’s death. The post read:
"Hello all! I owe a post (or two) I know. This is such a busy time of year and coming up on the anniversary of Betty's passing is hitting in ways I hadn't anticipated. Her Brentwood home is no more (save the fireplaces which will be gone in short order). I promise a wonderful tribute to our most wonderful lady very soon!!!!"
Fans of The Golden Girls star jumped on the post, horrified that the house purchased by White and her husband Allen Ludden in the 1960s had been knocked down. “Unless this is being rebuilt into an animal rescue of some sort in honor of our Queen White ... WE DONT WANT IT! This is such a sad and disheartening thing to post in her "honor",” one wrote. Another said, “Why in the world would they tear it down?” A third said, “They tore it down?!!! I just can’t.”
Betty White Was Aware of What Would Happen To Her House
Despite some fans not being happy with the destruction of the house, Betty White was well aware of exactly what would happen to the property after she passed. When the property was sold in June 2022 it was as a “tear down” sale. White ensured that the money made from the sale of the property after her death would be donated to charities she was close to, including many animal charities. This resulted in almost $11 million being raised from the sale.
This was not the only money from White’s legacy that has been donated to good causes. An auction of the star’s personal belongings was carried out in September, along with the sale of her LA and Carmel homes provided a large donation to charities. Also in September a substantial amount of White’s memorabilia from her time in television, including clothing, annotated scripts and some of her Emmy Awards were donated by her estate to the National Comedy Centre in her memory.
Prior to her death, Betty White had a number of special programs and a theatrical special event planned to celebrate her 100th birthday. Although the star passed away before the magic milestone, the tributes all went ahead as planned, becoming a way for fans to celebrate her life and career. Even though some of those fans would have loved her Los Angeles home to have been kept standing in her memory, a lot of good has come from the sale of the property, and that is something she clearly wanted over the preservation of her home.