Vanilla Ice is one of the most well-known white rappers in the world. He first gained fame in the early 1990s with his hit song “Ice Ice Baby.” Since then, he has released several albums and starred in his own reality TV show.
He has also dabbled in acting, real estate, and entrepreneurship. In this article, we take a look at Vanilla Ice’s net worth and how he has made his money.
Early Life
Vanilla Ice was born Robert Matthew Van Winkle on October 31, 1967, in Dallas, Texas. His mother, Diane, was a schoolteacher and his father, Donald, was a journalist. He had a troubled childhood and often got into trouble with the law. When he was 16, he dropped out of school and left home.
He began his music career in the hip-hop group Vanilla Ice & DJ Earthquake. The group released their first album, Hooked, in 1989. The album was a commercial failure.
When he was a child, all he wanted to do was rap. He would often sneak into clubs to watch other rappers perform. After a while, he developed his own style and started writing his own songs.
In 1990, Vanilla Ice released his debut studio album, To the Extreme. The album’s lead single, “Ice Ice Baby,” was a massive hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song made Vanilla Ice the first white rapper to top the chart.
To the Extreme was a commercial success, selling more than 15 million copies worldwide. It propelled Vanilla Ice to international fame.
Career
Vanilla Ice’s music career began in the late 1980s when he started performing at clubs in Dallas. He caught the attention of a local record producer, who helped him release his first single, “Play That Funky Music.” The song became a hit, peaking at number one on the Billboard charts.
Vanilla Ice’s debut album, To the Extreme, was released in 1990 and featured the hit single “Ice Ice Baby.” The album was a commercial success, selling over seven million copies in the United States.
In 1991, Vanilla Ice starred in his own feature film, Cool as Ice. The film was a critical and commercial failure, but Vanilla Ice’s career continued to be successful. He released his second album, Extremely Live, in 1992. The album featured the hit single “Ninja Rap.”
Vanilla Ice has released several albums over the years, including Hard to Swallow (1998), Platinum Underground (2005), and WTF – Wisdom, Tenacity & Focus (2011). He has also appeared on television shows such as Dancing with the Stars and The Masked Singer.
Vanilla Ice has had a successful career in music and entertainment. As of 2021, he has an estimated net worth of $12 million.
Personal Life
Vanilla Ice was born Rob Van Winkle on October 31, 1967, in Dallas, Texas. He began skating and playing hockey at a young age. He dropped out of high school in the ninth grade to focus on his music career. Vanilla Ice married Laura Giaritta in 1997. The couple has two daughters together.
In 2009, Vanilla Ice was arrested for assaulting his wife. He pled guilty to the charges and was placed on probation. He even tried committing suicide in 2014 by overdose but was revived and taken to the hospital.
In 2016, Vanilla Ice opened up about his addiction and mental health struggles. He has been sober since 2008. But he fought all the difficulties and has an estimated net worth of $12 million. He continues to tour and perform around the world.
Divorce
After 18 years of marriage, Vanilla Ice and his wife Laura announced their divorce in 2016. The couple had been separated for two years before the announcement. Laura cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the divorce.
The divorce was finalized in 2017. Under the terms of the settlement, Vanilla Ice agreed to pay Laura $7 million. He also gave her their Florida home and agreed to pay her $11,100 per month in child support. Since the divorce, Vanilla Ice has been dating model Maddie Jo Landers. The couple welcomed a son together in 2019.
