The $200 Million Heiress: 7 Shocking Truths About Anderson Cooper’s Mom, Gloria Vanderbilt

As of December 2025, the legacy of Gloria Vanderbilt, the mother of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, continues to fascinate the public, not just for her extraordinary life as an artist, author, and fashion icon, but for the dramatic twists of her personal story and the surprise surrounding her vast fortune. Born into one of America's wealthiest and most famous dynasties, the great-great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt, she lived a life that was constantly under the spotlight, earning her the title of "poor little rich girl" early on. Her son, Anderson Cooper, has worked tirelessly to preserve and chronicle her complex history, most recently through his 2021 book, *Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty*, co-written with Katherine Howe. This renewed interest ensures that the incredible details of her ninety-five years—from a scandalous custody trial to building a $100 million empire—remain fresh and relevant.

Gloria Vanderbilt: A Full Biographical Profile

The woman known simply as "Anderson Cooper's mom" was, in fact, a multi-talented force of nature who defied the expectations of her social class. She was an accomplished artist, a successful businesswoman, a prolific author, and one of the world's most enduring socialites.

• Full Name: Gloria Laura Vanderbilt
• Born: February 20, 1924, in New York City, New York, U.S.
• Died: June 17, 2019, in New York City, New York, U.S. (Age 95)
• Cause of Death: Advanced Stomach Cancer
• Parents: Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt and Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt
• Spouses:
  • Pasquale "Pat" DiCicco (m. 1941; div. 1945)
  • Leopold Stokowski (m. 1945; div. 1950)
  • Sidney Lumet (m. 1956; div. 1963)
  • Wyatt Cooper (m. 1963; d. 1978)
• Children: Leopold Stanislaus "Stan" Stokowski, Christopher Stokowski, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, and Anderson Cooper
• Notable Careers: Heiress, Socialite, Fashion Designer, Artist (Oil, Watercolor, Pastel), Author, Actress
• Famous Works: Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans, *The Rainbow Comes and Goes* (memoir with Anderson Cooper), *It Seemed Important at the Time* (memoir)

The Custody Battle That Rocked the 1930s

Gloria Vanderbilt’s life began with a scandal that earned her immediate, unwanted fame. In 1934, at the age of just 10, she became the central figure in what the press dubbed the "Custody Battle of the Century."

Following the death of her father, Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt, a dispute arose over her guardianship. Her paternal aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney—a prominent sculptor and founder of the Whitney Museum of American Art—sued Gloria's mother, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, for custody.

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The trial was sensationalized, with shocking allegations of an unfit and "debauched" lifestyle leveled against her mother in open court. The court ultimately removed Gloria from her mother's care and placed her under the guardianship of her Aunt Gertrude. This traumatic event shaped Gloria's entire perspective on wealth and public scrutiny, a theme she would explore in her later writing and art.

From 'Poor Little Rich Girl' to Denim Queen

Despite being born into the ultimate American aristocracy, Gloria Vanderbilt understood the necessity of forging her own path and creating her own wealth. She famously declared that inheritance was "a burden" and that she believed in working for a living.

Her biggest professional triumph came in the mid-1970s when she launched a fashion empire. Recognizing a gap in the market, she partnered with Mohan Murjani to create a line of designer denim. The *Gloria Vanderbilt by Murjani* jeans, featuring her signature swan logo, were an instant, massive success.

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The brand is often credited with pioneering the concept of designer jeans—denim that was sexy, comfortable, and flattering, with inclusive sizing, making them a hit with American women. This venture transformed her into a serious businesswoman, building a fashion and lifestyle brand estimated to be worth over $100 million at its peak.

The Truth Behind the Vanderbilt Fortune and Inheritance

One of the most persistent and shocking questions following Gloria Vanderbilt's death was about the size of her estate. For decades, the Vanderbilt name was synonymous with unimaginable wealth, and Gloria herself was a multi-millionaire designer.

Rumors pegged her net worth at an astonishing $200 million at the time of her passing. However, the reality of the inheritance was a major surprise to the public and served as a powerful final lesson from the heiress.

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In line with her philosophy about not leaving a massive inheritance, Anderson Cooper confirmed a significant disparity. While the total value of her estate was far below the estimated $200 million, the amount he received was a modest $1.5 million. Cooper has always been vocal about his mother's belief that a large inheritance can be a burden, stating that he never expected or wanted a vast fortune, choosing to make his own way as a journalist.

This final act reinforced the narrative that Gloria Vanderbilt was a self-made woman who, despite her lineage, valued work and personal achievement over inherited wealth.

A Mother-Son Bond Forged in Tragedy

The relationship between Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper was intensely close, particularly after the devastating loss of Anderson’s older brother, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, who died by suicide in 1988.

Their shared grief and love became the foundation of their later collaboration, the *New York Times* bestseller, *The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss*. The book is a collection of intimate email correspondences that began when Gloria was 91, offering a raw, honest look at their lives.

Cooper frequently spoke about his mother's unique spirit, noting that the public perception of the glamorous heiress was vastly different from the private, resilient, and deeply creative woman he knew. Their bond was not defined by the Vanderbilt name but by their shared experiences of love, loss, and the pursuit of creative expression.

The enduring relevance of Gloria Vanderbilt lies in her ability to reinvent herself repeatedly—from a child pawn in a high-society court case to a celebrated artist and a retail powerhouse. Her life, meticulously detailed by her son in his recent book, remains a captivating study of American aristocracy, entrepreneurship, and personal resilience in the face of public scrutiny.