Though Ross lived his life with positivity, he didn't get to live his last months in peace.
In the light of his deteriorating health, his business partners, Walt Kowalski and his wife, Annette Kowalski, demanded complete ownership of his then-15-million worth empire Bob Ross, Inc.
To prevent such a scenario from happening, Ross handed the right of his name over from Annette to his only son Steve Ross and married his third wife Lynda from his deathbed, giving her the right to inherit his property.
But after his death, the battle over his estate worsened, and the Kowalski family won the exclusive right to the property for being the force that introduced Ross to television.
Over the years, Steve has filed multiple cases against the surviving parties to reassert control of the estate but hasn't succeeded.
And focusing on the endless anger and never-ending financial battle created by Ross' legacy, filmmaker Joshua Rofé directed a documentary titled Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal, and Greed for Netflix.
The feature that started streaming on August 24, 2021, introduces Ross through a never-known perspective, focusing on his married life and bringing forward the accusations of bad behavior and disrespect.
