What is Vanilla Ice’s net worth?
Valued at $20 million, Vanilla Ice, an American rapper, actor, and television host, came into prominence in the early 1990s with his chart-topping single “Ice Ice Baby.” Born Robert Van Winkle, he achieved the milestone of being the first hip-hop artist to reach the top of the Billboard charts. His debut album, “To the Extreme,” sold over 15 million copies, establishing him as an iconic figure within the music realm. However, after gaining such fame, Vanilla Ice encountered criticism and controversy regarding his authenticity and role in hip-hop culture.
Following his initial rise to fame, Vanilla Ice’s popularity declined, yet he persisted in making music while experimenting with various genres including hard rock and nu-metal with albums such as “Hard to Swallow.” In addition to his musical endeavors, Vanilla Ice transitioned into reality television, featuring in “The Vanilla Ice Project,” where he demonstrated his talents in home renovation and real estate, introducing a new facet of himself to audiences and gaining fresh recognition.
Ice Ice Baby Royalties
During the divorce proceedings in 2018, Vanilla Ice’s ex-wife Laura disclosed that he was still earning approximately $400,000 annually in royalties from “Ice Ice Baby.”
2018 Divorce and Finances
In November 2018, documents related to the divorce filed by Vanilla Ice’s wife of 21 years, Laura, revealed intriguing details about his financial situation. At the time, they asserted that Ice’s worth was at least $10 million, with an average monthly income of $68,000 (around $800,000 yearly). Interestingly, the documents also indicated that nearly half of his income derived from “Ice Ice Baby” royalties, roughly amounting to $400,000 annual income. Furthermore, it was disclosed that Ice possessed $3 million in liquid assets and held ownership of 15 properties, eight cars, and a boat, with a combined estimated value of about $5 million. The actual worth of his real estate holdings could be significantly higher, influenced by market conditions and appraisals. Following this revelation, a judge mandated Ice to pay $121,000 in overdue support payments along with $10,000 monthly until a final settlement is achieved.
Early Life
Born on October 31, 1967, in Dallas, Texas, Vanilla Ice was named Robert Matthew Van Winkle. His last name comes from his mother’s marriage at the time of his birth. After his mother divorced when he was four, he grew up without knowing his biological dad. His mother later remarried a car salesman, leading to his childhood spent oscillating between Dallas and Miami, where his stepfather was employed. At the age of 13, Van Winkle learned breakdancing and became involved in the early hip-hop scene. Friends nicknamed him Vanilla Ice, a name he disliked but ultimately had to embrace. He soon began participating in rap battles at parties under the alias MC Vanilla. In Texas, he established a breakdancing group called The Vanilla Ice Posse, and he was 16 when he wrote “Ice Ice Baby.”
(Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
After graduating high school in 1985, Ice began competing in motocross, where he secured three championships. However, a broken ankle during a race led him to lose interest in the sport. During his recovery, he focused on honing his dance skills and took to street performing in malls, showcasing his beatboxing and breakdancing talents. A friend’s challenge to participate in an open-mic night at a nightclub named City Lights turned out to be a turning point when he captivated the audience. Following that night, the club manager invited Ice to become a regular performer. While at City Lights, Ice opened for several notable acts including N.W.A., Public Enemy, and Paula Abdul.
Unfortunately, in early 1987, Ice became a victim of violence when he was stabbed five times outside the nightclub, leading to a ten-day hospital stay. Two years later, he found himself performing as an opener for Ice-T and Sir Mix-A-Lot during the Stop the Violence Tour.
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Career
During the Stop the Violence Tour, Ice’s manager recognized his potential, prompting them to collaborate on a demo tape. In 1989, the independent label Ichiban Records released the single with “Play That Funky Music” as the A-side and “Ice Ice Baby” as the B-side. A DJ mistakenly played “Ice Ice Baby” instead of its intended counterpart at a Georgia station, causing an unexpected surge of audience excitement for the track.
“Ice Ice Baby” became a massive success. One night, while dining in West Hollywood, rapper Suge Knight and his bodyguards joined Ice at his table. Later, Knight visited Ice’s hotel room at the former Bel Age Hotel, now known as the London Hotel on Sunset Boulevard. According to Ice, Knight threatened to throw him off the balcony unless he transferred the rights to “Ice, Ice Baby.” Van Winkle ended up signing over the rights, which Knight then used to fund Death Row Records.
Van Winkle’s debut album, “To the Extreme,” achieved the status of the fastest-selling hip-hop album in history, reigning at the top of the charts for 16 weeks. He followed this success with five additional albums: “Mind Blowin'” in 1994, “Hard to Swallow” in 1998, “Bi-Polar” in 2001, “Platinum Underground” in 2005, and “W.T.F. (Wisdom, Tenacity, and Focus)” in 2011. Additionally, he released a cover album, “Vanilla Ice is Back,” in 2008.
Additionally, Vanilla Ice performed “Ninja Rap” for the soundtrack of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze.” In 1991, he earned $1 million for starring in the poorly received film “Cool As Ice.” Years later, he appeared on the second season of the reality show “The Surreal Life.” Since 2010, he has hosted “The Vanilla Ice Project” on DIY Network, a show documenting his house flipping ventures in Florida, which concluded in 2019 after 105 episodes over nine seasons.
Personal Life
In 1991-1992, Vanilla Ice had an eight-month relationship with Madonna. He married Laura Giaritta in 1997 and they share two daughters, Dusti Rain, born in 1998, and KeeLee Breeze, born in 2000. Laura filed for divorce in 2016. With a new wife, Vanilla Ice welcomed his third child in 2018.
On July 4, 1994, Ice experienced a heroin overdose in a suicide attempt, but friends managed to revive him. In 1995, he took a hiatus from music, engaging in motocross and jet skiing in Florida. By summer, Ice had achieved the rank of world’s No. 6 sit-down jet ski racer, competing almost every weekend and securing a sponsorship with Kawasaki.
Star Island Mansion
During the height of his popularity in the 1990s, Vanilla Ice resided on the exclusive Star Island in Miami, near Gloria Estefan. He acquired his 1-acre gated estate on Star Island for $1.8 million in July 1991 and reportedly invested $1 million in renovations for the 9,000-square-foot mansion with 9 bedrooms. In recent interviews, Vanilla Ice has claimed to have hosted drug lord Pablo Escobar at his mansion, stating they often raced speedboats, threw extravagant parties, and that Pablo frequently landed helicopters on his property. However, considering Pablo’s activities between 1990 and 1993, these assertions might not hold accuracy. For much of 1990, Pablo was evading capture by Colombian authorities and spent all of 1991 in prison, escaping in 1992 and remaining on the run until his demise in December 1993.
In May 1997, Vanilla sold his Star Island home to Venezuelan entrepreneur Claudio Osorio for $2.7 million. Osorio later hosted prominent figures such as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama for fundraisers at the property. In 2011, he and his wife filed for bankruptcy, after which he was arrested in December 2012 and charged with involvement in a $40 million fraud scheme. Federal prosecutors alleged that between 2007 and 2010, Osorio and associates misrepresented their company’s finances to investors, misappropriating millions for lavish lifestyles. Following a conviction, he was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in 2013. Amidst these events, the property was sold at auction for $12.7 million in November 2011, and it is currently valued at over $50 million. Watch a video tour here:
Other Real Estate
In 2018, Vanilla Ice listed his waterfront house in Melbourne Beach, Florida for $4.8 million. This property, highlighted on The Vanilla Ice Project, features four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
In April 2004, Vanilla Ice purchased a home in Wellington, Florida for $716,000. The ownership of this property was transferred to his ex-wife for $10 in October 2019. She then listed it for sale in August 2020 for $909,000, ultimately accepting an offer of $770,000 in December 2020.
Car Collection
In December 2023, Vanilla Ice showcased his car collection to YouTuber DJ Vlad. Among the notable vehicles is the original Ford Mustang 5.0 from the “Ice Ice Baby” music video, which the video asserts is valued at $3 million. Check out the video tour here: