Meet Model Barbara Minty a woman whose life story reads like something straight out of Hollywood. She went from a small-town Oregon girl to a top fashion model, then became the wife of one of cinema’s biggest legends. But here’s what’s fascinating: decades after Steve McQueen’s death, Barbara has built her own impressive fortune and carved out a meaningful life beyond the shadow of her famous husband.
Model Barbara Minty net worth 2025 sits at an estimated $5-15 million, depending on various sources. That’s no small feat for someone who stepped away from the spotlight years ago. So how did she do it? And what’s she up to now?
Who Is Barbara Minty? A Quick Bio Snapshot
Barbara Minty (born June 11, 1953) is a former fashion model who became the third wife and widow of American film star Steve McQueen. Today, she’s 71 years old and living a quieter life, but her journey to get here is anything but ordinary.
Here are the key facts about Barbara Minty:
| Personal Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Barbara Minty McQueen |
| Date of Birth | June 11, 1953 |
| Age (2025) | 71 years old |
| Height | 5’9″ (180 cm) |
| Weight | 171 lbs (78 kg) |
| Birthplace | Seattle, Washington |
| Current Husband | David Brunsvold |
| Net Worth (2025) | $5-15 million (estimated) |
Barbara spent several years growing up in Corvallis, Oregon, graduating from Corvallis High School in 1971. Her early life was far from the glitz and glamour she’d later experience she grew up in a regular American family, though specific details about her family background remain private.
The Steve McQueen Love Story: Meeting the King of Cool
The story of how Barbara Minty met Steve McQueen sounds like something out of a romantic movie. McQueen saw Minty’s photo in an advertisement and had his agent arrange a meeting with her. Talk about love at first sight at least from his perspective!
This wasn’t just any casual Hollywood romance. Steve McQueen was at the height of his fame, known as the “King of Cool” for iconic roles in films like “Bullitt” and “The Great Escape.” When they met in the late 1970s, Barbara was a successful model in her own right, but she was about to become part of one of Hollywood’s most talked-about relationships.
Their Marriage and McQueen’s Final Days
Barbara Minty became Steve McQueen’s last wife when they married in 1980. Unfortunately, their happiness was short-lived. At the time of his death his net worth was estimated at $30 million, and tragically, Steve died just months after their wedding from cancer.
The loss was devastating for Barbara, who had not only lost her husband but also found herself thrust into the role of guardian of his legacy. This experience would shape much of her later life and career choices.
Barbara Minty’s Pre-McQueen Professional Journey
Before she became known as Steve McQueen’s wife, Barbara Minty had already established herself as a successful model. Her modeling career began in the early 1970s and quickly took off.
Rise to Modeling Stardom
Minty was signed with power modeling agents Eileen Ford and Nina Blanchard and became an in-demand model, gracing the covers of dozens of magazines as well as advertisements in the 1970s. The Eileen Ford model agency was legendary in the fashion world if they signed you, you were destined for big things.
Barbara Minty model appeared on covers of major publications during her peak years:
- Glamour Magazine
- Cosmopolitan
- Sports Illustrated
- Various high-end fashion publications
Her success as a 1970s top fashion model wasn’t just about her looks. Standing 5’9″ tall with striking features, she had the perfect combination of height, elegance, and photogenic qualities that made her a favorite among photographers and advertisers.
Peak Earning Years
During her modeling prime, successful models like Barbara could earn substantial amounts. Top models in the 1970s were pulling in six-figure annual incomes serious money back then. This early financial success laid the foundation for her current wealth.
Life After Steve: Reinvention and New Ventures
After Steve McQueen’s death in 1980, Barbara Minty faced a choice: retreat from public life or forge her own path. She chose a combination of both, stepping back from the spotlight while quietly building new ventures.
Remarriage and Current Family Life
She is married to David Brunsvold, though details about their relationship timeline remain private. Barbara Minty’s husband David appears to prefer staying out of the public eye, which suits Barbara’s current lifestyle perfectly.
Unlike her marriage to Steve McQueen, which was very much in the public eye, her relationship with David Brunsvold has been deliberately kept private. This marriage has provided her with stability and companionship as she’s navigated her post-Hollywood life.
Business Ventures and Creative Pursuits
Barbara Minty didn’t just rest on the inheritance from Steve McQueen. She’s actively built her own career and income streams:
Photography Career
She has held exhibitions in London, Liverpool, Tokyo, San Francisco, Phoenix, Nashville, Paris, Hamburg, and Boise. Her photography isn’t just a hobby it’s become a legitimate income source through exhibitions and sales.
Author and Producer
She is a producer, known for Steve McQueen: American Icon (2017), I Am Steve McQueen (2014). Barbara Minty author has also written about her experiences, contributing to books and documentaries about Steve McQueen’s life.
Her memoir work and involvement in Steve McQueen biography projects have provided both income and a way to honor her late husband’s memory.
Advocacy Work
In 2012, she joined the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. This isn’t just volunteer work it’s become a passion project, likely stemming from Steve McQueen’s battle with mesothelioma, which was caused by asbestos exposure.
Barbara Minty Net Worth 2025: Breaking Down Her Wealth
So what exactly is Barbara Minty net worth 2025? The estimates vary significantly depending on the source:
| Source | Estimated Net Worth |
|---|---|
| Recent estimates | $5 million |
| Conservative estimates | $1 million |
| Higher estimates | $15 million |
The truth likely falls somewhere in the middle range around $5-10 million seems most realistic based on her various income sources and lifestyle.
Income Sources and Asset Categories
Barbara Minty’s income comes from several different streams:
Primary Income Sources:
- Photography exhibitions and sales
- Book royalties and media projects
- Investment returns and passive income
- Potential Steve McQueen estate residuals
- Speaking engagements and appearances
Asset Categories:
- Real estate holdings
- Investment portfolio
- Art and photography collection
- Personal property and memorabilia
Monthly and Daily Income Breakdown
Based on her estimated net worth, here’s a rough breakdown of Barbara Minty’s yearly income, monthly income, and daily income:
- Barbara Minty yearly income: $300,000-500,000 (estimated)
- Barbara Minty monthly income: $25,000-42,000 (estimated)
- Barbara Minty daily income: $820-1,370 (estimated)
These figures assume a 4-6% annual return on her assets, which is conservative for a well-managed portfolio.
Current Lifestyle and Spending Patterns
Barbara Minty today lives a significantly quieter life than during her modeling days or marriage to Steve McQueen. She’s not flashy with her wealth, preferring a more understated lifestyle focused on her art and advocacy work.
Where She Lives Now
While specific details about her current residence aren’t public, she appears to split time between different locations for her photography exhibitions and personal life. Her social media presence is minimal she’s not active on platforms like Barbara Minty Facebook or Instagram in any significant way.
Philanthropic Activities
Her involvement with the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization shows she’s using her platform and resources for meaningful causes. This type of advocacy work often involves financial contributions as well as time and effort.
Barbara Minty vs. Other Celebrity Widows: A Comparison
How does Barbara Minty net worth compare to other celebrity widows? Here’s an interesting comparison:
| Celebrity Widow | Estimated Net Worth | Source of Wealth |
|---|---|---|
| Barbara Minty | $5-15 million | Modeling, photography, investments |
| Yoko Ono | $700 million | John Lennon estate, art |
| Linda McCartney (before death) | $200+ million | Paul McCartney, photography |
| Priscilla Presley | $50 million | Elvis estate, business ventures |
Barbara’s wealth is modest compared to some, but impressive considering she built much of it independently after Steve’s death.
The Legacy Question: More Than Just Steve McQueen’s Wife
Here’s what makes Barbara Minty truly interesting: she’s created her own legacy that goes beyond being Steve McQueen’s wife. Sure, that relationship defined a significant part of her life, but she’s spent the last 40+ years building something entirely her own.
Her Artistic Vision
Her photography work isn’t just amateur dabbling she’s had international exhibitions and built a reputation as a serious artist. This takes dedication, skill, and business acumen.
Preserving McQueen’s Memory
Through her work on documentaries and books about Steve, she’s become the primary guardian of his authentic story. This isn’t just about sentiment it’s about ensuring accuracy and preserving cultural history.
Personal Resilience
Perhaps most impressively, she’s managed to build a fulfilling life after tremendous loss. Losing a spouse so early in marriage, especially under such public scrutiny, could have derailed anyone. Instead, she used it as a foundation for growth.
Future Financial Outlook for Barbara Minty
At 71, Barbara Minty is likely focused on estate planning and legacy preservation rather than wealth building. However, her diverse income streams suggest she’s financially secure for the future.
Growth Potential Areas:
- Continued photography sales and exhibitions
- Potential book deals or documentary projects
- Steve McQueen memorabilia and estate appreciation
- Investment portfolio growth
Estate Planning Considerations:
As she ages, Barbara will need to consider how to preserve both her own legacy and continue protecting Steve McQueen’s memory. This might involve:
- Setting up foundations or trusts
- Donating art collections to museums
- Ensuring proper succession for McQueen-related projects
What We Can Learn from Barbara Minty’s Journey
Barbara Minty’s biography offers several valuable lessons:
Financial Independence Matters
Even after marrying a wealthy celebrity, she continued building her own career and income sources. This foresight served her well when she became widowed.
Reinvention Is Possible
From model to photographer to author to advocate she’s successfully reinvented herself multiple times while staying true to her core interests.
Privacy Has Value
In an age of social media oversharing, Barbara has maintained her privacy while still pursuing meaningful work. She proves you don’t need constant publicity to build wealth and influence.
Purpose Beyond Profit
Her advocacy work and careful stewardship of Steve McQueen’s legacy show she’s motivated by more than just financial gain.
Conclusion
When we talk about Barbara Minty net worth 2025, we’re really talking about much more than dollars and cents. Her estimated $5-15 million represents decades of smart choices, creative pursuits, and careful financial management.
But the real story isn’t the money it’s how she built a meaningful life after incredible loss and scrutiny. She took the foundation of her modeling success, the brief but intense experience of being married to a Hollywood legend, and the devastating loss that followed, and built something entirely her own.
Model Barbara Minty today is an artist, an advocate, a wife, and a guardian of cultural history. She’s living proof that your net worth isn’t just about what you accumulate it’s about what you create and contribute along the way.
Her journey from small-town Oregon girl to international fashion model to Hollywood wife to independent artist and advocate shows remarkable adaptability and strength. And with her professional life still active in her 70s, she’s not done writing her story yet.
That’s perhaps the most valuable lesson from Model Barbara Minty life: true wealth comes not just from what you earn, but from how you choose to live with purpose, dignity, and grace regardless of what life throws your way.
James is a seasoned fashion blogger with over a decade of experience in the industry. His keen eye for trends and insightful commentary make him a trusted voice in fashion. Passionate about style evolution, James combines his extensive knowledge with a unique perspective, offering readers fresh and engaging content. Follow his journey as he navigates the ever-changing world of fashion on Fashion Vib.
