Anderson Cooper’s fatherhood journey began after welcoming his first baby in 2020. Since then, a lot has changed about his views on parenting.
Ever since he became a dad, Anderson Cooper hasn’t refrained from sharing bits and pieces of his parenting tactics with the world, leaving fans impressed with his fatherhood journey so far.
And it’s been quite the journey for the political commentator, who first became a dad with the arrival of his son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper in April 2020, via surrogacy.
The baby’s arrival was a fulfilment of the journalist’s biggest dreams, as he always hoped to become a dad someday, despite knowing he was gay.
His happiness knew no bounds when he got an opportunity to relive those dreams again two years later, with the birth of his second baby, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, in February 2022.
The star welcomed his second son with his former partner Benjamin Maisani, also via surrogate. Notably, Anderson and his ex parents the two children together, as Maisani adopted Wyatt years prior despite his split from the journalist.
Since becoming a dad, Anderson has been open about how fatherhood changed him. He has also declared his love for his kids on various occasions, describing becoming a dad as the greatest thing ever.
Over time, Anderson Cooper’s kids have become his motivation to wake up every morning and begin a new day as he once admitted. Despite this immense show of love, the star surprisingly has a lot to hold back when it comes to his kids.
For instance, Anderson Cooper once revealed his intentions to withhold his inheritance from his kids, despite having a fortune. His reasoning shocked a lot of fans, who deemed his kids the center of his world. So what prompted Cooper to take such a rash decision?
Why Won’t Anderson Cooper’s Baby Inherit His Fortune?
Anderson Cooper has been vocal about how he planned to handle his fortune when it came to his kids. Despite having a privileged lifestyle now, the two youngsters may have it tough during their adulthood trying to gain their own footing and make it in the world.
This is because of the star’s decision not to leave anything for his kids. Months after the arrival of Anderson Cooper’s first baby, the star appeared on an episode of “Morning Meeting,” where he reiterated his decision to not leave his son his fortune. Explaining his reasons, he divulged:
“I don’t believe in passing on huge amounts of money. I don’t know what I’ll have.”
Anderson Cooper’s Mom Left Him No Inheritance
The CNN host Anderson Cooper came from a family of wealth and affluence. Born to the infamous heiress and fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt and actor/screenwriter Wyatt Cooper, Anderson Cooper grew up as a privileged kid.
Yet, his parents made it clear from the onset, the importance of working for his own wealth. He shared:
“My mom’s made it clear to me that there’s no trust fund. There’s none of that. And I don’t believe in inheriting money.”
Right from his childhood, Anderson began earning his own money, making his first onscreen appearance at three, on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” alongside his mom.
In his preteens, he began modelling, but quit the career path three years later following a disturbing encounter with a would-be predator. Yet, that did not derail him from seeking out new ways to make money.
He saved up money from lemonade stands and worked as a waiter in high school among other money-making gigs.
Eventually, he pursued his career in journalism, interned with the CIA at some point, and even worked in chaotic regions during his early days as a journalist.
His hard work eventually paid off earning him a spot in his infamous CNN show and making him the most sought-after political commentator, journalist and TV host in the industry.
He would never have achieved so much if he felt he had a stash of wealth awaiting him. The star once divulged:
“Who’s inherited a lot of money that has gone on to do things in their own life? From the time I was growing up, if I felt there was some pot of gold waiting for me, I don’t know that I would’ve been so motivated.”
Anderson Cooper Hopes To Replicate This Upbringing With His kids
Taking a page out of his parent’s books, the CNN host, now a father himself, intends to leave his kids out of his inheritance. During Anderson Cooper’s 2021 appearance on the “Morning Meeting” podcast, he spoke of his plans to not will his fortune to his then-one-year-old baby, Wyatt saying:
“I’m not interested in money, but I don’t intend to have some sort of pot of old for my son. I’ll go with what my parents said… ‘college will be paid for, and then you gotta get on it.’”
During a 2016 interview, Anderson and his mom, Gloria Vanderbilt further explained their aversion to inheritance. According to the broadcast journalist, his parents wanted him to understand how lucky he was to have the privileges his wealthy family availed him.
In the end, he was glad they did just that, making him realize he needed to forge his own path from the onset.
Vanderbilt eventually passed away in June 2019, at the age of 95. True to her words, she did not leave her entire fortune to her son. But the late fashion designer did not leave him out of her will completely either.
Sources reported that the heiress left Anderson a few million, which was only a fraction of her wealth, while his brother Leopold “Stan” Stokowski inherited her Midtown co-op.
He Just Might Have A Rethink
Like his mom, Anderson Cooper might change his mind about what he left his kids. However, this possibility comes with a clause.
Years prior, the author went candid about his views on inheritance, noting that no one who ever inherited anything made it big in life.
Hence, to ensure his kids learned a sense of responsibility and amounted to something great, he hoped to introduce them to the workforce early, and deny them some privileges should he ever become a father. Her divulged:
“I would want them to start working early on and start to have a sense of responsibility. If maybe I felt like they had a good sense of responsibility, maybe I would try to leave some money, I don’t know.”
The icon also described inherited money as an initiative sucker and a curse, praising his mom for denying him her inheritance, ultimately instilling in him great work ethics. Anderson went on to describe the late heiress as the coolest person he knew.
Other Celebrities Who Do Not Believe In Inheritance
Aside from Anderson Cooper’s statement confirming her intention to leave nothing to his baby, other celebs have also made similar assertions.
Famous figures like Ashton Kutcher, Simon Cowell, Marie Osmond, Elton John, Jackie Chan and Dwayne Johnson have all voiced their aversion to inherited wealth.
Many have vowed to donate their fortune to charity or disburse it through other means upon their demise, rather than leave them to their kids.
They believe this would help the kids amount to greatness, as in the case of Anderson Cooper. Little wonder the icon is determined to replicate this approach with his own children.
Despite not wanting to pass down his wealth to his kids, the star has equipped them with the right tools to survive on their own from a young age, just as his parents did with him.
The host chronicled some of these nuggets in his memoir titled, “Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty,” describing it as “a letter to my son.”
As for whether Anderson Cooper would change his mind about the distribution of his wealth, especially after welcoming another baby in 2022, time will tell.