The story that CNN anchor Anderson Cooper "didn't inherit" his mother Gloria Vanderbilt's money is a slight misunderstanding of the situation. Gloria Vanderbilt, the great-great-granddaughter of shipping tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt, famously told Anderson from a young age that there was "no trust fund" waiting for him. Her intention was to encourage his personal and professional drive, ensuring he didn't become a "trust fund baby." However, when she passed away in 2019, probate documents revealed that she did leave almost her entire estate to him. The catch was the value: while the public imagined a $200 million fortune, her estate was actually worth less than $1.5 million. Gloria had spent much of her wealth on a lavish lifestyle, and she had also lost millions in the 1990s due to swindling by her lawyer and psychiatrist. Anderson Cooper, already wealthy through his own successful career, has stated that he never expected an inheritance and values the self-reliance his parents instilled in him.