John Oliver's Bob Ross Auction Raises More Than $1.5 Million for PBS

There are no mistakes: Late artist Bob Ross ‘ happy trees are about to once again help out public broadcasting. On last week’s 2025 finale of “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” the host convinced the Bob Ross estate to auction another of the PBS TV stars’ paintings to support public media. And it has paid off: Ross’ “Cabin at Sunset,” which he painted on a Season 10 episode of PBS’ “The Joy of Painting” in 1986, had fetched around $1,044,000 after 35 bids.

As bids closed on Monday night at midnight ET, this represented a new auction record for a Bob Ross painting. Earlier this month, Bonhams Los Angeles auctioned off three more of Ross’ “Joy of Painting” works, to support American Public Television — the company that continues to distribute “Joy of Painting.” On Nov. 11, “Winter’