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Life inside the Vanderbilt-legacy household isn't exactly what you’d expect from a descendant of America’s most famous shipping tycoon. Honestly, if you walked into Anderson Cooper’s home on a Tuesday night, you wouldn’t see gold-leafed ceilings or servants in white gloves. You’d probably just see a tired 58-year-old news anchor trying to figure out why his toddler is crying about a specific pair of overalls.
When people search for Anderson Cooper and family, they’re usually looking for a traditional celebrity narrative. But Anderson has spent the last few years completely dismantling the "Dynasty" trope. He’s built something much weirder—and frankly, much more interesting—than a standard nuclear family.
Two Dads, One House, and a Lot of French
The most "wait, what?" aspect of the Cooper household is the living situation. Anderson and his former partner, Benjamin Maisani, split up as boyfriends back in 2018. Usually, that’s where the story ends. But when Anderson decided to have his first son, Wyatt, via surrogate in 2020, Benjamin didn't just stay a friend; he became a full-blown co-parent.
They live together. They raise the kids together. They bicker about swimming lessons.
It’s an unconventional setup that works because of a very specific bond. Benjamin, a French-born nightclub owner, is now the legal father of both boys. He officially adopted Wyatt, and both kids carry the hyphenated last name Maisani-Cooper.
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Anderson has joked in interviews that the kids and Benjamin often speak French to each other, leaving him completely in the dark. "I think they're plotting against me," he told People. It’s a funny image—the world-renowned journalist, famous for grilling world leaders, being outmaneuvered in his own kitchen by a toddler speaking a language he doesn't understand.
Meet Wyatt and Sebastian
The stars of the show are, of course, the boys.
- Wyatt Morgan Maisani-Cooper: Born April 27, 2020. He was named after Anderson’s father, Wyatt Cooper, who died during open-heart surgery when Anderson was just ten. That loss shaped Anderson’s entire worldview, which is why he’s so obsessed with ensuring his own sons have "extra" parents.
- Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper: Arrived February 10, 2022. Anderson announced his birth on Anderson Cooper 360 with the kind of giddy smile he usually reserves for New Year's Eve with Andy Cohen.
Wyatt is now five, and Sebastian is nearly four. They are growing up in a world of "Daddy" (Anderson) and "Papa" (Benjamin).
The Inheritance "Curse" and the Vanderbilt Name
There’s a huge misconception that these kids are sitting on a mountain of Vanderbilt gold. They aren't.
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Anderson has been incredibly vocal about his distaste for inherited wealth. He calls it an "initiative sucker." Following the lead of his mother, the legendary Gloria Vanderbilt, Anderson has no plans to leave a massive "pot of gold" for his sons.
Gloria herself only left Anderson about $1.5 million—a pittance compared to the hundreds of millions the family once held. Most of the Vanderbilt fortune was spent or lost generations ago. Anderson wants his boys to work. He wants them to be motivated by their own ambitions, not by a trust fund.
Essentially, the kids get their college paid for, and after that? They’re on their own. It’s a "sink or swim" mentality that seems at odds with the "poor little rich girl" tragedy of his mother’s childhood. He’s trying to break the cycle of Vanderbilt dysfunction by replacing money with presence.
The Grief Connection
If you listen to Anderson’s podcast, All There Is, you know that his approach to Anderson Cooper and family is rooted in deep-seated grief. He lost his father at ten. He lost his brother, Carter, to suicide in 1988. He lost his mother in 2019.
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He’s the last of his immediate line.
That’s why the co-parenting with Benjamin is so vital to him. He’s terrified of his kids being left alone like he was. By bringing Benjamin into the fold as a legal parent, he’s created a safety net that he never had. It’s a proactive way of managing the "what ifs" that haunt anyone who has experienced sudden family loss.
What This Means for Modern Parenting
Anderson isn't just a celebrity dad; he's a case study in "found family." He shows that:
- Exes can be partners. You don't have to be in a romantic relationship to be a committed, co-habitating parent.
- Legacy isn't money. He’s passing down names and stories, not just stocks and bonds.
- Vulnerability is a strength. Being open about surrogacy and the fears of older fatherhood (he started at 53) has made him a beacon for the LGBTQ+ community.
If you’re looking to apply some of the "Cooper Method" to your own life, start by redefining what "family" looks like for you. It doesn't have to fit a 1950s mold to be healthy. Focus on the "love-to-child ratio" rather than the "relationship-to-partner" status.
To stay updated on the family’s journey, you can follow Anderson’s infrequent but adorable updates on Instagram or catch his reflections on fatherhood during his annual New Year's Eve broadcasts. You'll likely see more of Wyatt and Sebastian as they hit school age, potentially following in the footsteps of their very busy, very tired, and very happy dads.