Anderson Cooper Will Not Pass His Fortune to Sons — He’s Grateful to Late Mom Who Did the Same

Anderson Cooper surprisingly admitted that he won't be leaving an inheritance to his son, despite his multi-million fortune. It turned out that Cooper's decision not to leave an inheritance for his son is driven by the desire to break the family “curse”. The CNN anchor himself is enormously grateful his late mom did the same.

Anderson Cooper's words in announcing the birth of his son Wyatt resonated deeply with those who have faced similar struggles. "As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child," he said. The CNN anchor's journey to fatherhood was not an easy one, but it was certainly worth it.

On April 27, 2020, Cooper's lifelong dream of becoming a father finally came true. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he took to Instagram to express his heartfelt thanks to the surrogate who made it all possible. "It is an extraordinary blessing—what she and all surrogates give to families who can't have children," wrote the TV host.

However, the path to parenthood was not without its challenges. In 2018, Cooper and his partner of 10 years, Ben Maysani, ended their relationship. Maysani was uncertain about having children, but Cooper knew he couldn't let that stop him from fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a father.

Despite not having a partner to raise a child with, Cooper made the courageous decision to become a father. Today, Maysani is helping him raise his beloved sons, but Cooper made it clear that they are no longer in a romantic relationship and are just "the best of friends."

The bond they share as they raise their sons together is a testament to the strength of their friendship and their shared commitment to the boys' well-being.

Cooper's lifelong dream was fulfilled with the birth of his first son. The 53-year-old anchor even started waking up at 7 a.m. just to be there when his son, Wyatt, woke up at 8:45 a.m. He gushed:

”This is a new level of love.”

Cooper has found a new meaning in his life since becoming a father and is now more mindful of his and the future in general. "I just love every aspect of it. It's truly the greatest thing ever," he admitted.

Anderson Cooper’s Sons Will Not Get an Inheritance

Cooper's love for his sons is undeniable, but surprisingly, the broadcaster admitted that he won't be leaving them an inheritance despite his multi-million dollar fortune.

His mother. Gloria Vanderbilt did the same when she only left him a small inheritance from what was believed to be a $200 million fortune, and Cooper is grateful for that.

Cooper has always admired his mother and has called her "amazing as a mom." During one of his appearances on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” he shared a touching and "ludicrous" story that highlighted the lengths his mother was willing to go for him.

When Cooper's mother was 85 years old, she told him about a visit to the gynecologist where she was told she could still have children. A stunned Cooper didn't know how to gently tell his mother that having children at her age was a bad idea. In the end, it was an extraordinary proposal. Vanderbilt suggested that she would carry her son's child. She said:

“‘Honey, I’m not talking about having a child of my own. I mean, that’s crazy — I’m 85 ... Well, what I was thinking, you get an egg and fertilize it with a sperm, and I’ll carry your child.”

“Sometimes people wonder how, during interviews, I stay stone-faced and listen to people say crazy things... I grew up with Gloria Vanderbilt,” Cooper jokingly remarked.

Cooper's childhood was not always easy. At a young age, his mother confronted him with the fact that he would have to earn his living on his own. “My mom made clear to me that there’s no trust fund, there’s none of that,” the host recalled.

Despite being born into a wealthy family, Cooper's life has not been a bed of roses. He has had his fair share of struggles, including the loss of his father, Wyatt Emory Cooper—who was an author, screenwriter, and actor, at the age of 10—and the suicide of his brother, Carter, at the age of 23.

“I'm not that interested in money, but I don't intend to have some sort of pot of gold for my son."

Recalling the experience of loss, Cooper noted that since then, his life had become about survival, and the world a "difficult and scary place" to live in.

Despite these personal tragedies, Cooper was determined to succeed in life, and he did so with flying colors. He graduated from Yale University in 1989 and started his journalism career. Cooper shared that his mother agreed to support his college and then he was on his own. This is also what he intends for his children.

Cooper's decision not to leave an inheritance for his son is not driven by a lack of love, but rather by the desire to break the “curse” of money that destroyed his family in the past. He said:

"I think it's a curse...If I felt that there was some, like, pot of gold waiting for me, I don't know that I would've been so motivated."

“I'm not that interested in money, but I don't intend to have some sort of pot of gold for my son," the anchor explained. He believes that an inheritance could bring more harm than good.

Inside Anderson Cooper’s Legendary Roots

Cooper's family history is nothing short of extraordinary. In fact, he was so fascinated by his family's legacy that he even conducted extensive research in collaboration with the acclaimed historian and novelist Katherine Howe. As it turns out, his mother is the heiress of Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the richest men in American history.

One of his ancestors, Colbert Vanderbilt, came from humble beginnings and started working on his father's boat when he was only 11 years old. He went on to build two empires —maritime and railroad—that made him one of the wealthiest men in the country. However, despite their immense wealth, Cooper revealed his family's history was not without its dark moments.

Cooper spoke candidly about his great-great-great-grandfather's ruthless pursuit of money and how it ultimately led to the downfall of their family. After Colbert's death, his vast estates were left abandoned and the family was burdened with heavy land taxes. It was a stark reminder that money and power can bring as much tragedy as they do triumph.

Despite the family's wealth and fame, Copper's mother kept their family history a secret for a long time. It was a painful topic for her, and Cooper only learned about his famous ancestors later in life. Nonetheless, his journey to uncover his family's history is a testament to the importance of understanding where we come from, and the impact our ancestors can have on our lives.

“I don’t know what I’ll have,” Cooper adds of his mother’s estimated $200 million fortune. But while researching his family's history, he learned a life lesson. The CNN reporter does not believe in inheritance.

“I don’t believe in passing on huge amounts of money,” he admitted. The thing he and his mother always believed in was "work."

The famous CNN broadcaster prefers intangibles. According to him, the time he spends with his son Wyatt is priceless. “It feels like my life has actually begun,” he gushed. “And I sort of wonder, what was I waiting for? It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced, and yet it’s also very familiar and incredibly special and intimate. It’s really extraordinary.”

Like most new parents, at the time he welcomed his first child, Cooper was always tired. “I’m more tired than I’ve ever been, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” he had said. Asked during a live appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” whether he planned to have more children, the TV anchor said he hadn't ruled out the possibility, as his son Wyatt would love to meet a sibling.

In February 2022, Cooper welcomed his second child, son Sebastian Luke, and announced the little boy's arrival on live TV.

As a dad of 2, the journalist has been trying to help his children bond based on his own experience with his older brother. “Wyatt helped us put together Sebastian’s crib and calls his little brother by his middle name, Luke,” the anchor gushed.

Now baby Sebastian is already one and according to Cooper, "He loves listening to an old music box that belonged to my mom. Sebastian is sweet and strong and smart and loves his big brother Wyatt a lot. They fill my heart with joy and love in a way I never imagined possible."