The late socialite and fashion icon Gloria
Vanderbilt had a reported net worth of $200
million prior to her passing on Monday, June
17th, 2019 — leaving her son, CNN's own
Anderson Cooper, an heir to a giant fortune…
well, sort of.
As of June 19th, it's uncertain what exactly
will happen with Vanderbilt's accumulated
wealth.
However, it seems more likely than not that
the heiress didn't actually leave an inheritance
behind for the famed reporter.
But thankfully, there's no drama or bad blood
to see here between the famous mother-son
duo, because inheriting a trust fund was never
actually part of the plan.
Entertainment Tonight notes that while Vanderbilt
herself had received an inheritance of $5
million from her late father back in 1925,
she told The New York Times sixty years later,
"I'm not knocking inherited money, but the
money I've made has a reality to me that inherited
money doesn't have."
This line of thinking had trickled its way
down to Cooper himself, who opened up about
the matter during his 2014 appearance on The
Howard Stern Show.
"My mom's made it clear to me that, like,
there's no trust fund.
There's none of that…
But why is that?...
I think it's an initiative-sucker."
Calling the notion of inheriting money a "curse,"
he went on to say that he and his mother instead,
quote, "believe in working."
"I don't believe in inheriting money…
That doesn't mean somebody's not gonna leave
you some... if your mom leaves you 100 million
dollars… that's a total fantasy."
Cooper explained that he doesn't think there
are many inspiring stories about people who
simply inherited their money and didn't work
hard.
"From the time I was growing up, if I felt
that there was some like pot of gold waiting
for me, I don't know that I would have been
so motivated."
It's fair to say both mom and son make some
pretty solid points.
Plus, Cooper apparently banks $12 million
a year at CNN while boasting an alleged net
worth of $110 million.
So, if this lack of an inheritance proves
to be true, let's just say he'll be fine financially.
Gloria Vanderbilt passed away at 95 years
old, following a battle with stomach cancer.
While breaking the news of his mother's death
on CNN, Cooper shared a touching tribute.
"I always thought of her as a visitor from
another world, a traveler stranded here who'd
come from a distant star that burned out long
ago."
Soon after Cooper shared the news, a number
of fans and celebs alike took to social media
to express their condolences — including
longtime pal Andy Cohen, who wrote on instagram,
"Gloria Vanderbilt was an amazing woman who
lived a life filled with incredible peaks
and impossible obstacles.
Through it all she remained eternally optimistic
with a wicked sense of humor.
In fact, Anderson's iconic and infectious
giggle comes from his mom."
"We are all sending Anderson all of our love
as we honor a great, great woman tonight,
and may Gloria Vanderbilt rest in peace."
After receiving an outpouring of love and
support, Cooper tweeted on Tuesday, June 18th,
"Thank you for all the lovely messages about
my mom.
I was lucky to have her for so long.
She was the coolest lady i ever met, funny,
loving, so talented, and modern.
She joins my father, and brother, and I will
carry their memories with me forever."
Our thoughts remain with Anderson Cooper and
Gloria Vanderbilt's loved ones during this
difficult time.
"What an extraordinary life.
What an extraordinary mom.
What an incredible woman."
