Anderson Cooper Net Worth 2025: CNN Salary, Vanderbilt Legacy, and Family Life
Anderson Cooper’s net worth is estimated at $60 million in 2025, with an annual CNN salary of $18 million. Despite being born into the legendary Vanderbilt family, Cooper has openly said there was no great fortune waiting for him. Instead, his wealth comes from decades in journalism, bestselling books, and smart real estate investments. Alongside colleagues like Jake Tapper, Erin Burnett, Wolf Blitzer, Kaitlan Collins, and Richard Quest, he remains one of CNN’s most recognizable faces.
What Is Anderson Cooper’s Net Worth and Salary?
Anderson Cooper’s net worth stands at $60 million, according to 2025 estimates. His long-running primetime show Anderson Cooper 360° anchors CNN’s lineup, and his $18 million annual salary puts him among the highest-paid news anchors in the U.S. Beyond television, Cooper has earned from book sales, speaking engagements, and his stage tour AC2 with Andy Cohen.
Busting the Vanderbilt Fortune Myth
For years, people assumed Cooper’s net worth was far higher thanks to the Vanderbilt name. In his 2021 book Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty, he revealed that by the time his mother Gloria Vanderbilt passed away, much of the fortune was long gone. The shipping and railroad empire built by Cornelius Vanderbilt in the 1800s had dwindled through generations of excess. Gloria built her own success as a designer and artist, but she didn’t leave behind a billion-dollar inheritance.
As Cooper has put it, his career and wealth are the result of his own work — not old money.
Journalism Career and CNN
Cooper started out freelancing from dangerous places like Rwanda and Bosnia before landing at ABC News in the ’90s. After a stint hosting The Mole, he joined CNN in 2001. By 2003, he launched Anderson Cooper 360°, the show that remains his calling card. His coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Haiti earthquake in 2010 cemented his reputation as a journalist who pairs empathy with toughness.
At CNN, Cooper has become part of the network’s core identity, alongside Jake Tapper’s sharp political analysis, Erin Burnett’s financial expertise, Wolf Blitzer’s steady presence, Kaitlan Collins’ White House reporting, and Richard Quest’s global business coverage. Together, they form a roster that keeps CNN competitive in the 24-hour news cycle.
Recent News: AC2 Tour with Andy Cohen
In September 2025, Cooper and his longtime friend Andy Cohen announced the return of their live stage show, AC2: An Intimate Evening with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. The duo will headline New York’s Beacon Theatre on January 23–24, 2026, promising unscripted stories and plenty of laughs.
First launched in 2015, AC2 became a fan favorite, offering audiences a candid peek at their friendship beyond the CNN studio or Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live. The show has drawn crowds across the U.S., with past stops in Boston, Seattle, and Miami. Cooper joked in the announcement video that fans should expect to “laugh and cry,” while Cohen teased that “grandpa” Cooper was reluctantly back on tour.
The friendship isn’t just professional. Their kids are close in age and have shared family vacations, with both households spending time together at Disney World and Universal Studios Florida earlier this year.
CNN Rich List: How Jake Tapper Compares
Here’s how Anderson stacks up against some of his CNN colleagues:
| CNN Anchor | Net Worth | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson Cooper | $60 million | $18 million |
| Jake Tapper | $20 million | $7 million |
| Erin Burnett | $22 million | $6 million |
| Wolf Blitzer | $25 million | $5 million |
| Kaitlan Collins | $8 million | $3 million |
Writing and Books
Cooper is also a bestselling author. His memoir Dispatches from the Edge topped the New York Times list, while The Rainbow Comes and Goes, co-written with his mother Gloria Vanderbilt, offered an intimate look at their relationship. His later works, including Vanderbilt and Astor, combine history, biography, and social commentary — proving his influence extends far beyond nightly news.
Bio and Family Life
Though often associated with his Vanderbilt name, Cooper has built a reputation for being grounded. He has said the losses of his father and brother left a mark that drives his empathy in reporting.
He is the proud father of two sons, Wyatt and Sebastian, co-parented with his longtime friend and former partner Benjamin Maisani. Despite his hectic schedule, Cooper has embraced late-in-life fatherhood, sharing that his children give him “a sense of purpose I never knew I needed.”
Outside of work, Cooper’s closest public friendship is with Andy Cohen, though his bond with CNN colleagues like Tapper, Burnett, Blitzer, Collins, and Quest keeps him at the heart of the network.
Real Estate and Lifestyle
Cooper owns a striking converted firehouse in Manhattan, a historic Connecticut estate, and a beach retreat in Brazil. These properties, each reflecting his love of design and privacy, have also been used in ad campaigns and magazine spreads, adding to his media profile.
Anderson Cooper People Also Ask
What religion is Anderson Cooper?
Cooper was raised in the Episcopal tradition but has said he doesn’t identify strongly with any particular faith today.
What happened to Anderson Cooper’s brother?
His older brother Carter tragically died in 1988, a loss that profoundly shaped Anderson’s perspective on life and journalism.
How much does CNN pay Anderson Cooper?
His current CNN salary is reported at $18 million per year.
Did Anderson Cooper inherit the Vanderbilt fortune?
No. Cooper has stated that his mother Gloria Vanderbilt left only a modest estate, and he built his wealth through his own work.
