Richard Simmons' First Death Anniversary Honored With Memorabilia Auction
By Afouda Bamidele on July 8, 2025 at 10:30 AM EDT
Richard Simmons' fans have been given another opportunity to win some of the late fitness guru's memorabilia in honor of his first death anniversary.
The media personality, who took his final breath on July 13, 2024, left several items linked to his fitness empire.These personal belongings will reportedly hit the auction block from July 12 to 24, an outcome many thought would never happen.
The auctioning of Richard Simmons' items comes months after his family and house manager clashed over his estate. His brother accused the longtime companion of theft and greed while she claimed he refused to honor the deceased's final wishes.
Richard Simmons' Personal Items Hitting The Auction Block
According to new reports, Bonhams Auction House in Los Angeles will auction off over 200 personal items belonging to Richard. The list included his signature bedazzled tank tops and workout clothes alongside branded VHS tapes and more nostalgic merchandise.
The Auction House honored Richards with its strategic planning as the bidding starts on Saturday, July 12, what would have been the deceased's 77th birthday. It also coincides with the first anniversary of his tragic passing, allowing fans to pay tribute to his memory by purchasing his belongings.
Additionally, collectors can score big during the auction as some of Richard's iconic items will be up for grabs. TMZshared that the late fitness enthusiast's "Sweatin' to the Oldies" outfit from a 2012 Slimmons class and the bedazzled "Hummingbird" tank top he wore at the 2013 MTV VMAs made the auction list.
The Auction Follows Months Of Drama Over The Fitness Guru's Estate
The auctioning of Richard's personal items comes after months of drama between the Simmons family and his longtime companion and house manager, Teresa Reveles. The Blast covered the story, reporting that Teresa and Richard's brother, Leonard Simmons, did not see eye to eye.
Teresa accused Leonard of tricking her into giving up her rights as a co-trustee of Richard's estate, while the other claimed her motion was fueled by greed. During their back-and-forth accusations, the late media personality's 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged was auctioned off last December.
The car was reportedly sold for $30,750 with Bring A Trailer Auction House claiming the price was worth every penny because the Range Rover had around 18,000 miles and a luxurious interior.
The vehicle featured leather seats, a wood-trimmed steering wheel, a sunroof, a touchscreen infotainment system, and more.
Inside The Issues Between The Simmons Family And The House Manager
The car's sale was shocking as it came days after Leonard had filed a report for several missing items.
He did not outrightly blame Teresa for the theft, but claimed that the "song lyrics that Richard wrote for a Broadway play he was working on and other handwritten notes for social media to be posted the following week," had gone missing.
Leonard changed his tune about the missing items early this year when he declared they were stolen and named Teresa the culprit. The Blast reported that he filed a lawsuit against his late brother's longtime companion, accusing her of stealing over $1 million worth of jewelry, the Broadway musical lyrics, and more.
The media personality's brother explained that these items had disappeared after he told Teresa to leave Richard's home.
He sued for damages, emphasizing that the belongings the former house manager had taken were part of the estate. However, she shared a different story, arguing that she never took anything that did not belong to her.
The Late Entertainer's Employee Claimed She Was Gifted The Jewelry
Teresa slammed Leonard's theft lawsuit as false, claiming the jewelry in her possession rightfully belonged to her. She alleged Richard gifted her these items on Thanksgiving Day in 2014, recounting the moment in detail in her rebuttal.
According to Richard's former employee, he came into the kitchen wearing several pieces of jewelry and placed a pink diamond ring on her finger. Teresa claimed he wanted to gift her the gem and gave the rest of the accessories during dinner.
Teresa noted Richard wanted her to have his jewelry because he would no longer wear them, and she accepted the gifts with gratitude.
The house manager emphasized that the items had remained in her possession for years, noting that she kept them in her room until she left Richard's home on September 26, 2024.
Richard Simmons' Longtime Companion Earned A Small Victory
Teresa's legal battle against Richard's brother reached a favorable outcome last December, with The Blast sharing that she final had a seat at the table. A judge ruled that the late wellness expert's longtime companion could become an interim co-trustee.
The appointment meant Teresa would not be left out of the decisions made about Richard's estate, including the auctioning of his personal belongings. At the time, she had accused Leonard of not obeying his late brother's final wishes by attempting to "dispose of numerous of Richard's personal effects."
Teresa claimed Leonard's one-sided actions went against the plan Richard made when he named her co-trustee of his estate. As stated, she lost the position when she stepped down; however, she alleged her late employer's brother had deceived her into signing away her rights.
Does the upcoming auction of Richard Simmons' items mean his brother and house manager have resolved their differences?
