The Cost of Chaos: Did Internal Drama Just Tank the Value of The Unwell Network?
As of late 2025, podcast mogul Alex Cooper's media business is valued by major distribution deals, including a landmark $125 million contract with SiriusXM for her Call Her Daddy show and The Unwell Network. However, recent, high-profile talent departures, such as Alix Earle's Hot Mess podcast, signal growing pains and financial risk within Cooper's ambitious creator empire. The article dissects how internal stability now impacts the multi-million-dollar valuation of creator-led media.
Alex Cooper is more than just the voice behind the global phenomenon Call Her Daddy; she is one of the most powerful media entrepreneurs in the world, having parlayed her cheeky, unfiltered podcast into a financial behemoth. Her crowning achievement: a stunning $125 million deal with SiriusXM in August 2024, which secured distribution rights for her flagship show and her expanding umbrella company, The Unwell Network.
Yet, the current headlines about internal tensions and the abrupt exit of TikTok megastar Alix Earle's Hot Mess podcast have shifted the spotlight from Cooper's financial victories to a potential business disaster. For consumer readers, this isn't just gossip—it's a high-stakes drama that reveals the treacherous nature of the multi-million-dollar creator-media model. The key question for the market is clear: How much is a media empire worth if it can't hold onto its biggest stars?
Alex Cooper on the red carpet — the media mogul and podcaster whose influence extends far beyond the microphone.
Financial Spotlight: Where Podcasts Translate into $125 Million
Cooper’s financial trajectory exemplifies the shift from simple content creator to corporate IP owner. Her net worth is estimated at around $60 million, a figure largely anchored by two mammoth deals:
- The Spotify Era: Her first major solo contract in 2021 was a three-year deal with Spotify reportedly worth US$60 million.
- The SiriusXM Behemoth: Fast-forward to 2024, and Cooper inked a new contract with SiriusXM valued at approximately US$125 million over three years. This staggering figure encompasses her main podcast, all advertising rights, and her entire network.
This $125 million contract isn't just payment for her voice; it's a massive premium paid for exclusive distribution rights, her ability to capture a massive Gen Z audience, and the licensing of her intellectual property (IP). This strategic move makes her one of the highest-paid female podcasters globally, cementing her status as a media mogul who dictates terms to corporate giants.
Inside the Brand: From "Daddy Gang" to Business Mogul
Cooper has expertly moved from the "Daddy Gang" origins to the executive suite by building diversified revenue streams beyond basic ad reads:
| Business Lever | Description | Financial Impact & Scale |
| Distribution & Licensing | The $125 million SiriusXM deal for platform exclusivity and ad rights. | Guarantees massive, high-margin, long-term revenue stability. |
| Network & Talent Leverage | The Unwell Network multiplies revenue by adding shows like Alix Earle's Hot Mess (until recently) and lifestyle creators. | Converts her personal brand into a scalable media company with multiple income streams. |
| Merchandise & IP Assets | Branded merchandise sales, famously moving a reported US$800,000 of merch in just three days. | High-margin, direct-to-consumer revenue that strengthens brand loyalty and control. |
| Strategic Sponsorships | Highly selective brand partnerships, including famously turning down a low-value US$8 million deal to protect her brand credibility. | Ensures premium ad rates and maintains the authentic relationship with her core audience. |
The Current Moment: The High Cost of Internal Tension
While the SiriusXM money flows, recent events around The Unwell Network signal significant growing pains, raising concerns among advertisers and investors.
The sudden and very public exit of Alix Earle’s Hot Mess podcast from the network, amidst rumours of business disagreements, is the key point of friction. Reports indicate that Unwell renounced all rights to Hot Mess, effectively making Earle a free agent and SiriusXM no longer selling ads for her show. This unusual public unwinding of a major creator-network relationship led to intense fan speculation about a feud between Alex Cooper and Alix Earle.
While Cooper has publicly stated that Hot Mess was not paused due to Unwell, the optics are disastrous:
- Risk Erosion: Talent defections and adverse public perception around internal culture immediately erodes brand trust, which is the core driver of her $125 million valuation.
- Advertiser Jitters: SiriusXM signed the massive deal to capture the entire Unwell Network’s audience. The loss of a star like Earle puts pressure on the overall growth projections and may raise risk premiums from sponsors.
- IP Control: Although Cooper stated Earle retains ownership of her IP, the logistical headaches involved in reclaiming a show—which Earle herself cryptically referenced—highlight the complexity and instability in the creator-network business model.
In short, the drama isn’t just personal gossip; it is a business red-flag indicator that could negatively impact the valuation multiples of Cooper's entire media entity.
Alex Cooper and Alix Earle — two influential figures in podcasting, showcasing both partnership and the business dynamics that shape their media empire.
People Also Ask About Alex Cooper
Why did Alix Earle's Hot Mess podcast leave Alex Cooper's Unwell Network?
The departure of Alix Earle’s Hot Mess podcast from The Unwell Network was sudden and public, sparking intense speculation about a feud between Earle and Alex Cooper. While Cooper publicly denied the exit was due to internal conflict and stated that Earle retains full ownership of her IP, Earle herself referred to the process of separating the show's assets as "a little bit of a hot mess" behind the scenes. The official reason cited was Earle’s decision to pause the podcast for the foreseeable future, though the event highlighted the fragility of talent relationships in creator-led media businesses.
Who legally owns the Intellectual Property (IP) for the Call Her Daddy podcast?
Alex Cooper legally owns the Intellectual Property (IP) for the Call Her Daddy podcast. After a highly publicized dispute with her original co-host and Barstool Sports in 2020, Cooper successfully negotiated to acquire the full IP and brand rights for the show before signing her exclusive deal with Spotify in 2021. This ownership is crucial, as it allows her to control the brand's destiny and maximize profits from merchandising, licensing, and subsequent distribution deals, including the recent $125 million contract with SiriusXM.
What is the financial scope of The Unwell Network's new partnership with Google?
Alex Cooper recently launched the Unwell Creative Agency, securing a major multi-year creative and media partnership with Google. The financial scope involves the agency creating social media campaigns, original content (like a recent ad for the Google Pixel and T-Mobile), and live event activations for Google. This deal signifies a critical expansion for The Unwell Network beyond audio, establishing Cooper's business as a formidable competitor in the full-service Gen Z advertising and production market.
Closing the Loop: The Road Ahead
Alex Cooper’s success lies in her pioneering model of monetizing audience, owning IP, and scaling distribution. The $125 million deal is proof that she is dictating the terms of the new media landscape.
However, the recent network tensions serve as a powerful reminder: even with multi-million-dollar war chests, growth must be supported by stable infrastructure and credible talent management. As Cooper signals expansion into new verticals like short-form video, lifestyle brands, and her new Unwell Creative Agency partnership with Google, the key to her future success will be proving she can manage her relationships just as effectively as she manages her bottom line. For investors, advertisers, and competitors, the key takeaway is clear: monetize the audience, but protect the ecosystem.
