Anderson Cooper's long run at60 Minutesis coming to a close, with the veteran journalist confirming he will not renew his contract with CBS after nearly two decades as a correspondent. Thedecisionends a rare dual-network tenure that saw him balance high-profile roles at both CBS and CNN for years.
While not signalling any retreat from television journalism, the move reflects a narrowing of commitments shaped largely by personal priorities. Cooper, 57, said the shift comes down to family, explaining that with two young sons he wants to spend more time at home while they are still growing up.
Hesharessons Wyatt and Sebastian with ex-partner Benjamin Maisani and has spoken previously about their co-parenting routine and the demands of working nights in news. Those pressures, he suggested, have become harder to balance alongside the long-form reporting schedule required for60 Minutes.
Rather than marking a sudden departure from the programme, Cooper's exit follows nearly 20 years of intermittent but high-impact contributions since joining60 Minutesin 2007 while continuing to anchor CNN'sAnderson Cooper 360°.
That dual role was unusual even by US broadcast standards. Cooper regularly moved between nightly cable news coverage and long-form investigative reporting for CBS, interviewing major political figures and covering global crises during his tenure.
CBS Newsacknowledgedhis work in a statement, noting that he had taken viewers 'on journeys to faraway places' and delivered consequential investigations over the years, while expressing understanding for his wish to prioritise family time.
Instead of representing a break from broadcasting altogether, the departure leaves Cooper firmly positioned at CNN, where he renewed his contract in late 2025 and continues to anchor Anderson Cooper 360° as well as host major live events such as the network's New Year's Eve special.
Cooper's decision arrives at a stage in his career where he has already spent more than three decades in broadcast journalism. Born on 3 June 1967, he began as a fact-checker beforebuilding a reputationas an international correspondent and eventually becoming one of the most recognisable anchors in American news.
Although he was born into the prominent Vanderbilt family, much of his wealth stems from his ownbroadcasting career, particularly his long-running role at CNN, which he has held since 200.
Estimates of his net worth vary, with figures often cited around $60 million, though some outlets suggest it could be closer to $200 million depending on calculations of his earnings and assets His annual CNN salary alone has been reported at roughly $20 million, placing him among the highest-paid news anchors in the United States.
Source: International Business Times UK
