What Happened to Anderson Hays Cooper?
Anderson Cooper remains a prominent American broadcast journalist, best known as the anchor of CNN's 'Anderson Cooper 360°'. In 2026, he departed from his nearly two-decade role as a correspondent for CBS's '60 Minutes' to dedicate more time to his two young sons, Wyatt and Sebastian, while continuing his extensive work at CNN and his popular podcast, 'All There Is with Anderson Cooper'.
Quick Answer
Anderson Cooper is currently the anchor of CNN's 'Anderson Cooper 360°' and hosts the podcast 'All There Is with Anderson Cooper'. In May 2026, he concluded his 20-year tenure as a correspondent for CBS's '60 Minutes', citing a desire to spend more time with his two sons, Wyatt and Sebastian, whom he co-parents with his former partner Benjamin Maisani. He continues to be a leading voice in news and current affairs, actively reporting on major global events as of September 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline16 events
Born in New York City
Anderson Hays Cooper was born in Manhattan, New York City, the younger son of writer Wyatt Emory Cooper and artist Gloria Vanderbilt.
Graduated from Yale University
Cooper earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Yale University.
Began career with Channel One News
Cooper started his journalism career as a fact-checker for Channel One News, later becoming its chief international correspondent, self-producing reports from various conflict zones.
Hosted ABC's 'The Mole'
Cooper took a break from news reporting to host the ABC reality game show 'The Mole' for two seasons.
Joined CNN
He left 'The Mole' to return to broadcast news, joining CNN as a correspondent.
Launched 'Anderson Cooper 360°'
Cooper was made the anchor of his own prime-time news program, 'Anderson Cooper 360°', on CNN.
Gained prominence for Hurricane Katrina coverage
His passionate on-the-ground reporting of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina significantly increased his national popularity.
Became a correspondent for '60 Minutes'
Cooper joined the CBS News program '60 Minutes' as a correspondent, a role he held concurrently with his CNN duties.
Came out as gay
Cooper publicly announced he was gay, becoming one of the most prominent openly gay journalists on American television.
Welcomed first son, Wyatt Morgan
Cooper announced the birth of his son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, via surrogate, whom he co-parents with Benjamin Maisani.
Published 'Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty'
Co-authored with Katherine Howe, this book explores his maternal family's history and became a New York Times bestseller.
Welcomed second son, Sebastian Luke
Cooper announced the birth of his second son, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, also via surrogate, with Benjamin Maisani as co-parent.
Published 'Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune'
Another collaboration with Katherine Howe, this book delves into the history of the Astor family.
Announced departure from '60 Minutes'
Cooper announced he would not renew his contract with CBS's '60 Minutes' after nearly two decades, citing a desire to spend more time with his children. His final broadcast was in May 2026.
Co-hosted 'Independence Eve Live' for CNN
Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen continued their tradition, co-hosting CNN's 'Independence Eve Live with Anderson & Andy: Celebrating 250' from Times Square.
Reported on 'Nepal's Deadly Floods' for 'The Whole Story'
Cooper reported from Nepal on the devastating floods for an episode of 'The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper', examining the disaster and growing risks in the Himalayas.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Anderson Cooper, born June 3, 1967, has built a distinguished career as one of America's most recognizable journalists. After graduating from Yale University in 1989, Cooper began his career with Channel One News, self-producing reports from war-torn regions before joining ABC News in 1995. He briefly hosted the reality show 'The Mole' before returning to his passion for news, joining CNN in 2001.
His tenure at CNN saw him rise to prominence, particularly with the launch of 'Anderson Cooper 360°' in September 2003, a program he continues to anchor. Cooper gained significant national attention for his passionate on-the-ground reporting during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, solidifying his reputation as a tenacious field journalist. He also joined CBS's '60 Minutes' as a correspondent in the 2006-2007 season, balancing this role with his CNN duties for nearly two decades.
In his personal life, Cooper publicly came out as gay in 2012, becoming a prominent LGBTQ+ figure in American media. He became a father via surrogacy, welcoming his son Wyatt Morgan in April 2020, and his second son, Sebastian Luke, in February 2022. He co-parents both children with his former partner, Benjamin Maisani. Cooper has also authored several best-selling books, including 'Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty' (2021) and 'Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune' (2023), exploring his family's storied history.
A significant development in 2026 was Cooper's decision to depart from '60 Minutes'. He announced in February 2026 that he would not renew his contract with CBS, with his final appearance occurring in May 2026. Cooper stated that his primary motivation was to spend more time with his young children, acknowledging the challenges of balancing his full-time role at CNN with his '60 Minutes' commitments. Despite speculation about internal turmoil at CBS News, Cooper emphasized his family-centric reasons.
As of September 2026, Anderson Cooper remains fully engaged with CNN, anchoring 'Anderson Cooper 360°' and hosting 'The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper'. He also continues his award-winning podcast, 'All There Is with Anderson Cooper', which explores themes of grief and loss, featuring new episodes in August and September 2026. Most recently, in September 2026, he reported from Nepal on devastating floods for 'The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper'. He also co-hosted CNN's 'Independence Eve Live with Anderson & Andy: Celebrating 250' in July 2026.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Anderson Hays Cooper made different choices?