Alex Cooper – Net Worth, Husband, and the Vanity Fair Controversy

Who Is Alex Cooper? Biography and Career

Key Insights from Her Rise

• Cooper transitioned from a niche Barstool podcast to a mainstream media powerhouse, but recent reports suggest growing pains.
• The Call Her Daddy brand relies heavily on her personal authenticity; any controversy could affect audience trust.
• Her net worth is difficult to pin down due to private company structures, but public deals indicate nine‑figure revenues.
• The departure of Alix Earle from the Unwell network in February 2025 remains a point of speculation and reflects shifting alliances in podcasting.
• Cooper’s political views are not openly declared, though the show has hosted figures such as then‑Vice President Kamala Harris.
• Her business model (podcast + merchandise + beverage + network) is diversified, but audience erosion could affect all streams.

Snapshot Facts

Alex Cooper’s Net Worth and Business Ventures

The financial scale of Cooper’s career is extraordinary. After the public split with co‑host Sofia Franklyn in 2020, Cooper retained the rights to Call Her Daddy and signed a three‑year exclusive deal with Spotify in June 2021 valued at $60 million. That contract made her Spotify’s highest‑earning female podcaster at the time.

How Much Does Alex Cooper Earn?

Under the Spotify deal she earned roughly $20 million per year, second only to Joe Rogan in total podcaster earnings. In August 2024 she signed a landmark deal with SiriusXM reportedly worth $125 million, replacing Spotify as her primary distribution and advertising partner. The Time magazine profile from 2021 called her “arguably the most successful woman in podcasting,” and in 2025 she was named to Time’s “TIME100 Creators” list in the Titans category. For context on how other podcasters have scaled, you can read more about Joe Rogan’s career and net worth.

What Is the Unwell Network?

Launched in September 2023, the Unwell Network is a podcast platform created in partnership with Spotify’s Megaphone. It initially signed Alix Earle (Hot Mess with Alix Earle) and Madeline Argy (Pretty Lonesome with Madeline Argy). In February 2025 Earle left the network, a move that generated significant discussion in the podcast community. Cooper also operates Unwell Hydration, a drink brand that runs parallel to her media ventures.

Tour and Live Events

The Unwell Tour began in 2023–2024 with a sold‑out show in Boston on November 3, 2023, featuring guests such as Alix Earle, Chelsea Handler, and Kelsea Ballerini. Additional tour dates followed, though future plans may be affected by the recent controversy.

Alex Cooper’s Personal Life: Husband and Age

Who Is Alex Cooper’s Husband?

Cooper married Matt Kaplan, a film producer and CEO of Ace Entertainment, on April 6, 2024, in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The couple met on a Zoom business call in 2020 and became engaged in September 2023. They co‑founded the media company Trending in 2023, focusing on Gen Z‑oriented films, TV, and podcasts, and serve as co‑CEOs.

Does Alex Cooper Have Children?

In May 2026 Cooper announced that she and Kaplan are expecting their first child. No other children are known.

How Old Is Alex Cooper?

Born August 21, 1994, in Newtown, Pennsylvania, Cooper is 31 as of mid‑2026 and will turn 32 in August. She grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs as the youngest of three siblings. Her father, Bryan Cooper, worked as a TV sports producer for the Philadelphia Flyers, and her mother, Laurie Cooper, is a psychologist. She graduated from Boston University in 2017, where she was a co‑captain of the soccer team.

Alex Cooper’s Controversies and Political Views

What Is the Vanity Fair Investigation?

In June 2026, Vanity Fair published an investigative article that described internal tensions at the Unwell network, alleging a “mean girl” culture and raising questions about Cooper’s management style. The article relied on interviews with current and former employees. It has become a central topic of discussion on platforms like Reddit, where the r/CallHerDaddySnark subreddit frequently analyzes Cooper’s behavior and business moves.

What Happened With Alix Earle?

Alix Earle, one of the first signings to the Unwell Network, left the network in February 2025. The reasons for her departure have not been officially clarified, leading to speculation about a rift between the two creators. Earle’s podcast Hot Mess with Alix Earle continues independently.

Sexual Harassment Allegations

In the 2025 documentary Call Her Alex, Cooper publicly alleged that she experienced sexual harassment from her former Boston University soccer coach, Nancy Feldman, between 2013 and 2015. According to Cooper, Feldman made inappropriate comments about her physique, intrusive inquiries about her personal life, attempted to isolate her, and occasionally touched her thigh. The allegations have not been independently corroborated and remain Cooper’s account.

Political Guests and Personal Views

Call Her Daddy has hosted high‑profile political figures, including then‑Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Monica Lewinsky. Cooper herself has not publicly declared a political affiliation or voting record. Her interview choices suggest an openness to a range of perspectives, but her own views remain private. For more on how creators navigate public scrutiny, see Amelia Dimoldenberg’s approach to building an authentic brand.

Key Milestones in Alex Cooper’s Career

1. 2018 – Launches Call Her Daddy with Sofia Franklyn on October 3 under Barstool Sports.
2. 2020 – Public dispute with Barstool founder Dave Portnoy; Franklyn exits. Cooper becomes sole host and retains the intellectual property.
3. 2021 – Signs a $60 million, three‑year exclusive deal with Spotify, making her the platform’s highest‑earning female podcaster.
4. 2023 – Launches the Unwell Network and the Unwell Hydration drink brand.
5. 2024 – Marries Matt Kaplan in April; signs a $125 million SiriusXM deal in August.
6. 2025–2026 – Releases documentary Call Her Alex; Vanity Fair investigation published; announces pregnancy.

What Do We Know for Certain—and What Remains Unclear?

Understanding the Context: How Alex Cooper Built a Media Empire

Alex Cooper represents a new generation of independent podcasters who built massive audiences outside traditional media. Her success relies on a raw, conversational style and a deep connection with young women listeners. In 2023, Call Her Daddy was the most‑listened‑to podcast among women and the second‑most‑popular globally on Spotify.

Cooper’s ability to monetize that loyalty—through a Spotify deal, a SiriusXM contract, merchandise, the Unwell network, and a hydration drink—shows a level of business acumen rare in the podcast industry. The June 2026 Vanity Fair article, however, highlights the challenges of scaling a personality‑driven brand and maintaining workplace culture. Comparisons to other podcast empires, such as Joe Rogan – Biography, Net Worth, Podcast & UFC Career, are common, though Cooper’s audience is predominantly young women.

The controversy could either damage her reputation or be weathered if she addresses it transparently. Her diversified business model provides some protection, but any erosion of listener trust could affect every revenue stream.

Sources and Key Quotes

“Arguably the most successful woman in podcasting.”

— Time magazine, 2021 (cited by Wikipedia)

“Her show became an increasingly common forum for celebrity interviews and the leading archetype in the relationship/advice podcast ecosystem.”

— Vanity Fair, as reported by Wikipedia

The core biographical data comes from Alex Cooper’s Wikipedia entry and Britannica. The documentary Call Her Alex is listed on IMDb. For Cooper’s own public statements, her Instagram and TikTok are the primary channels. The Vanity Fair article is the key source for workplace culture allegations.

What’s Next for Alex Cooper?

Cooper has an upcoming tour that may be affected by the negative press. Many observers expect her to address the Vanity Fair claims on an episode of Call Her Daddy. The Unwell network’s expansion could face hurdles if investor confidence wanes, and media scrutiny of her management style is likely to increase. For a look at another creator who built a loyal audience through authenticity, see Amelia Dimoldenberg – Creator of Chicken Shop Date.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alex Cooper