Introduction

You have probably seen Anderson Cooper on your TV screen during some of the biggest news moments in history. But behind the silver-haired anchor is a personal life just as compelling as the stories he covers. The topic of Anderson Cooper husband has sparked curiosity for years, and honestly, it is easy to understand why.

Anderson Cooper is not just a CNN legend. He is a father, a man who has loved deeply, lost profoundly, and rebuilt his life in the most human way possible. Whether you follow him for the news or just want to know more about the man himself, this article gives you the full picture. You will learn about his past relationships, his journey to becoming a father, and what his personal life looks like today.

Let us get into all of it.

Who Is Anderson Cooper?

Before diving into his love life, it helps to know a little about the man himself.

Anderson Cooper was born on June 3, 1967, in New York City. He is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt, the iconic fashion designer and socialite, and Wyatt Emory Cooper, a writer and filmmaker. He grew up in privilege but also in grief. His father died when Anderson was just ten years old. His brother, Carter Cooper, died by suicide in 1988. These losses shaped him profoundly.

He went on to graduate from Yale University with a degree in political science. He joined CNN in 2001 and became one of the most recognized journalists in America. He anchors “Anderson Cooper 360°” and has covered everything from Hurricane Katrina to the fall of foreign governments.

He came out publicly as gay in 2012, making him one of the most prominent media figures to do so at that time.

Anderson Cooper Husband: Benjamin Maisani

The name most closely associated with Anderson Cooper husband is Benjamin Maisani.

Benjamin Maisani is a French-born entrepreneur. He is best known as a bar owner in New York City. He is also a former go-go dancer and has a degree from Hunter College in New York. The two began dating around 2009, though they kept the relationship relatively private for years.

Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani were never legally married during their relationship. Despite being together for nearly a decade, they broke up in 2018. Anderson confirmed the split himself in an interview with People magazine.

However, here is where the story takes a genuinely surprising turn.

A Break-Up That Did Not Break the Bond

Most celebrity relationships end and the two people go their separate ways. That is not what happened with Anderson and Benjamin.

Even after their romantic relationship ended, the two remained deeply connected. When Anderson adopted his first son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, in April 2020, Benjamin became a co-parent. Yes, you read that right. His ex-partner stepped up and became a co-dad.

Anderson has spoken openly about this arrangement. In a 2021 interview, he said that Benjamin is an incredible father and that Wyatt is lucky to have him in his life. It is an unconventional setup, but it clearly works for their family.

Then in April 2022, Anderson welcomed his second son, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper. This time, Sebastian carried both of their last names. That choice says a lot about how seriously they both take their role as co-parents.

The Adoption of Wyatt Morgan Cooper

Anderson Cooper announced the birth of his first son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, on his CNN broadcast in April 2020. The moment was emotional and very public. He named his son after his late father, Wyatt Emory Cooper, as a tribute.

Here are some key facts about Wyatt’s birth and adoption:

• He was born on April 27, 2020, via surrogate
• Anderson announced the news live on CNN
• He shared photos on Instagram that quickly went viral
• Benjamin Maisani was named as a co-parent shortly after

Anderson has spoken about fatherhood changing his entire perspective on life. He has said that becoming a dad made him reconsider what truly matters. For someone who has spent his career in war zones and disaster zones, that is a meaningful shift.

Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper: The Second Son

Two years after Wyatt’s arrival, Anderson welcomed a second child.

Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper was born on February 10, 2022. Anderson announced the news on his Instagram page with photos showing him cradling his newborn son. The hyphenated last name, Maisani-Cooper, made it crystal clear that Benjamin was part of this child’s identity from the very start.

Anderson wrote in his Instagram post that Sebastian is named partly in honor of his beloved mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, who passed away in 2019. He wanted his son to carry something of her spirit.

The post was met with an outpouring of support and congratulations. Fans loved seeing this side of the normally serious news anchor.

Who Is Benjamin Maisani? A Closer Look

You keep seeing the name Benjamin Maisani, so let us look at him more closely.

Benjamin Maisani was born on September 27, 1973, in France. He moved to the United States and settled in New York City. He studied at Hunter College, which is part of the City University of New York system. After college, he worked as a go-go dancer before pivoting into the hospitality business.

He became the owner of several bars in New York City, including the well-known Eastern Bloc and The Atlas Social Club. These venues made him a recognizable figure in New York’s LGBTQ+ nightlife community.

What makes Benjamin notable beyond his business success is how he has handled his personal life with dignity. He has stayed out of the public eye as much as possible while still being a fully present co-parent to both Wyatt and Sebastian.

Anderson Cooper’s Journey to Coming Out

Understanding Anderson Cooper’s personal life also means understanding the courage it took to come out publicly.

In July 2012, Anderson Cooper publicly came out as gay in an email to journalist Andrew Sullivan, who published it on his blog The Daily Beast. Anderson wrote, in part, that he wants to live openly, that he is gay, and that it has always seemed strange to him that professional obligations had made him hesitant to discuss his personal life.

The response was largely positive. At the time, Anderson was already one of the most prominent journalists in America. His coming out was seen as a meaningful moment for LGBTQ+ visibility in media.

He later said he had long been private about his personal life because he believed journalists should remain as neutral and invisible as possible. But he ultimately decided that living openly was more important.

What Anderson Has Said About Love and Loss

Anderson Cooper does not just report on grief. He has lived it in very personal ways.

He lost his father at ten. He lost his brother Carter to suicide. He lost his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, in 2019. These experiences have shaped how he talks about love, loss, and family.

In his podcast “All There Is,” which he launched after his mother’s death, Anderson explores grief in a deeply personal way. He interviews guests about how they have dealt with loss. He also opens up about his own pain, including how losing his mother made him think about the legacy he wants to leave for his sons.

He has said that having Wyatt and Sebastian gave him something to hold on to after his mother died. Becoming a parent gave grief a new context.

Anderson Cooper and His Family Today

So what does Anderson Cooper’s life look like right now?

• He is the primary parent to Wyatt (age 5) and Sebastian (age 3)
• Benjamin Maisani remains an active co-parent in both boys’ lives
• Anderson continues to anchor CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360°”
• He hosts “AC2” with Andy Cohen on CNN on New Year’s Eve
• He continues to work on his podcast exploring grief and loss

By all accounts, he has built a stable and loving family life. It does not look like what most people picture when they think of a traditional family, but it clearly works for everyone involved.

Is Anderson Cooper Currently in a Relationship?

This is one of the most common questions people search for. As of 2025, Anderson Cooper has not publicly confirmed a new romantic relationship. He keeps his private life very private when it comes to romance.

He has focused most of his public personal narrative on fatherhood and co-parenting with Benjamin. Whether he is dating someone privately is something only he knows.

What he has made clear is that his boys are the center of his world right now. In interview after interview, he comes back to how much they mean to him.

What You Can Learn from Anderson Cooper’s Love Story

Anderson Cooper’s personal life teaches a few things worth thinking about.

First, love does not have to follow a script. He and Benjamin were not married. They broke up. And yet they built a beautiful co-parenting relationship that clearly serves their children well. That takes maturity and genuine care for someone beyond your own feelings.

Second, visibility matters. When Anderson came out in 2012, he was one of the most prominent journalists in America. His openness gave millions of people a moment of recognition and representation.

Third, grief and love are deeply connected. Anderson has built his most recent public work around exploring both. His willingness to be vulnerable about loss, whether on his podcast or in interviews, has made him even more relatable to the people who follow him.

Conclusion

The story of Anderson Cooper and his husband, or more accurately his co-parent and former partner Benjamin Maisani, is one of the more interesting love stories in American public life. It is not a fairy tale. It is real, complicated, loving, and human.

From their decade-long relationship to their surprise co-parenting arrangement, from Anderson’s public coming out to his deeply personal journey through grief and fatherhood, this is a man who has lived fully and openly.

If you are a fan of Anderson Cooper, you now know the full picture. And if you are just discovering him, you are going to find a lot more to admire beyond the silver hair and the calm delivery.

Do you have a favorite Anderson Cooper moment, on air or off? Drop it in the comments. Or share this article with someone who loves a good real-life story.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Anderson Cooper’s husband? Anderson Cooper has never been legally married. His most significant long-term partner was Benjamin Maisani, a French entrepreneur and bar owner. They dated for nearly a decade before splitting in 2018. Despite the breakup, Benjamin serves as co-parent to Anderson’s two sons.

2. Did Anderson Cooper get married? No, Anderson Cooper has not been legally married. He and Benjamin Maisani were in a long-term relationship but never wed. After their breakup, they transitioned into a co-parenting partnership.

3. Who is Benjamin Maisani? Benjamin Maisani is a French-born entrepreneur based in New York City. He owns several bars and nightlife venues in the city. He was Anderson Cooper’s partner from around 2009 to 2018 and is now the co-parent of Anderson’s sons, Wyatt and Sebastian.

4. How many children does Anderson Cooper have? Anderson Cooper has two sons. Wyatt Morgan Cooper was born via surrogate on April 27, 2020. Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper was born on February 10, 2022. Both boys have Benjamin Maisani as a co-parent.

5. When did Anderson Cooper come out as gay? Anderson Cooper publicly came out as gay in July 2012. He did so through a published email to journalist Andrew Sullivan on The Daily Beast. He explained that he wanted to live openly and that being gay has always been a central part of who he is.

6. Who is the mother of Anderson Cooper’s children? Anderson Cooper’s children were born via surrogate. He has not publicly disclosed the identity of the surrogate or the egg donor. Both boys were conceived with the help of a surrogate mother.

7. Is Anderson Cooper in a relationship right now? As of 2025, Anderson Cooper has not publicly confirmed any new romantic relationship. He has remained focused on his role as a father and co-parent to his two sons with Benjamin Maisani.

8. What is Anderson Cooper’s podcast about? Anderson Cooper’s podcast is called “All There Is.” He launched it after the death of his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, in 2019. The podcast explores grief through personal stories and interviews with guests who have experienced significant loss.

9. What is Anderson Cooper’s net worth? Anderson Cooper’s net worth is estimated at around $200 million, according to multiple financial reporting outlets. He earned much of this through his long career at CNN and also inherited a portion from his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt.

10. Who is Anderson Cooper’s mother? Anderson Cooper’s mother was Gloria Vanderbilt, the famous fashion designer, artist, and socialite. She passed away on June 17, 2019, at the age of 95. Anderson has spoken extensively about the impact her death had on him and how it shaped his perspective on grief and legacy.

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Author Name: James Whitfield

About the Author : James Whitfield is a lifestyle and culture writer with over eight years of experience covering celebrity news, human interest stories, and LGBTQ+ culture. He has contributed to several digital publications and specializes in turning complex personal narratives into clear, reader-friendly content. When he is not writing, James enjoys documentary films and long-distance running.