Anderson Cooper and his ex-boyfriend, Benjamin Maisani, co-parent two children who live with Cooper in a converted firehouse. The journalist says they work together to provide a stable, loving environment, sharing parenting responsibilities while maintaining separate romantic lives. Their arrangement prioritizes the children’s wellbeing, consistency, support, and family connection daily.
On February 10, 2022, Anderson Cooper announced the birth of his second child on the “Anderson Cooper 360” program. The CNN anchor shares the boy with his former longtime partner and best friend, Benjamin Maisani.
Benjamin Maisani and Anderson Cooper became parents for the first time in 2020 with the arrival of their eldest son, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Although the couple later ended their romantic relationship, they have remained close friends and committed co-parents, working together to raise their children in a supportive and loving environment.
Before becoming widely known through his relationship with Cooper, Maisani built a successful career as a businessman in New York City’s nightlife industry. After working at Eastern Bloc, a well-known bar in the East Village, he eventually purchased the establishment and helped turn it into one of the neighborhood’s most recognizable venues. His work at the bar introduced him to a diverse clientele, including artists, entertainers, media personalities, and other public figures, allowing him to develop lasting relationships within the city’s social scene.
Maisani has generally maintained a private profile despite his connection to one of television’s most recognizable journalists. He has focused on both his business ventures and his role as a father, sharing parenting responsibilities with Cooper. Together, they have prioritized providing their children with a stable, caring home, demonstrating that family can thrive through mutual respect, friendship, and a shared commitment to their sons’ well-being.
Anderson Cooper at the AOL Build Speaker Series to discuss “Nothing Left Unsaid” in New York on April 15, 2016. | Source: Getty Images
Although it is unclear whether Anderson Cooper was a regular visitor to Eastern Bloc, the bar owned by Benjamin Maisani, his longtime friend Andy Cohen was reportedly a frequent customer. Cooper and Maisani were in a long-term relationship before deciding to part ways romantically, but they have remained close and continue to co-parent their children together. In 2022, they welcomed their second son, expanding the family they had begun with the birth of their first child in 2020.
When announcing the arrival of his newborn, Cooper expressed immense gratitude and happiness, sharing that fatherhood has transformed his life in profound ways. He introduced his son with heartfelt words, thanking everyone who helped make his growing family possible and acknowledging the love and support surrounding them. Cooper has often said that becoming a father is the greatest joy of his life, and he continues to prioritize creating a loving, stable home for both of his sons.
“This is Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper. He was 6.8 pounds at birth, and he’s healthy and happy, even his occasional hiccups are to me adorable. He mostly just sleeps, and eats and poops, but he already seems like a wise and thoughtful little champ.”
The co-parent also took the time to thank the nurses and doctors who helped bring the little boy into the world. Anderson also showed gratitude to the surrogate who carried his second son.
He thanked the woman and her family for their sacrifices and the love they gave Sebastian over the past year. It wasn’t the first time the television personality announced the birth of his children on air.
After welcoming his first son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, Anderson took to CNN to reveal he had become a father. On February 25, 2022, Anderson was interviewed on “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” where he updated viewers about how Wyatt was bonding with Sebastian, saying:
“They seem to be getting along really well. I mean, ‘Getting along well’ — Sebastian sleeps. He can’t say Sebastian yet, he calls him Luke. So every morning he wants to go say ‘Good morning, Luke.'”
After Sebastian’s birth, Anderson took three weeks off to be with his newborn son by taking paternity leave. Speaking with Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Ripa before taking the break, he shared how he was enjoying the time with his boys, noting:
“It’s great to be able to come home and decompress.”
The father of two also revealed his nightly bonding routine with Wyatt, saying, “And every night to be able to feed Wyatt and give him his milk, he falls asleep on my chest, and there’s nothing better.”
Anderson Cooper has embraced fatherhood by creating simple, meaningful routines that give his sons, Wyatt and Sebastian, a sense of stability and joy. Their mornings often begin with a trip to a favorite neighborhood diner, where they enjoy breakfast together before starting the day. Both boys also love spending time in the water, making swimming one of their favorite shared activities.
As the day winds down, Cooper treasures quieter moments with his children. Before their afternoon nap, he sits with Wyatt and Sebastian, reading stories until they gradually drift off to sleep in his arms. These peaceful routines have become some of his favorite parts of being a father, allowing him to slow down and enjoy time with his sons despite his demanding career.
The brothers also share a close bond, delighting in playing together with toys that once belonged to Cooper during his own childhood. Some of those cherished playthings were originally enjoyed with his late brother, Carter Cooper, giving them new life with the next generation. Watching Wyatt and Sebastian laugh, explore, and grow together has been especially meaningful for Cooper. He has described witnessing their relationship develop as “incredible,” appreciating the affection and companionship they naturally share. For him, these everyday family moments are among the greatest rewards of parenthood, creating memories that he hopes his sons will treasure for years to come.
Benjamin, a property and nightclub owner, started co-parenting with Anderson when Wyatt was born. The news anchor explained that he would co-parent with his ex even though they weren’t dating anymore, adding, “We’re a family.”
He revealed in an interview that their co-parenting relationship is effortless. When he goes to work at night, Benjamin looks after the kids. They both wake up right before the boys do, get them their milk, and then spend the first few hours of the day with them. According to Anderson, Benjamin speaks French with their sons.
Anderson clarified that he and Benjamin would bring up little Sebastian, saying, “We’re co-parents. We’re a family.” Benjamin was already legally adopting their first child, who calls him “papa.”
The older boy gave the television personality the title of “daddy.” When the adoption is finalized, Wyatt’s last name will be changed to incorporate both parents, Maisani-Cooper, like Sebastian’s.
In a September 2023 interview, the 59-year-old famed broadcaster gushed about being a father, saying, “This is the best time in my life. There is no doubt about it.”
Benjamin Maisani and Anderson Cooper at Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 14th Annual An Enduring Vision Benefit on November 2, 2015, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Anderson’s Relationship & Co-parenting with Benjamin Maisani
Anderson and Benjamin started seeing each other in 2009, went public with the relationship in 2015, and revealed they’d broken up in 2018. The couple might not be in a relationship anymore, but they were so well bonded that the star announced:
“Maisani is going to be a co-parent to Wyatt even though we’re not together anymore. He’s my family, and I want him to be Wyatt’s family as well.”
In September 2021, Anderson got candid about the strange co-parenting arrangement between him and his ex. He confessed that it worked for them and Wyatt, noting:
“It’s probably an unusual setup, but I knew he would be a great dad, and he is. We’re exes, but we’re family to each other, and we love each other as family and as co-parents.”
The author regularly shares updates on his older son and once revealed his frustration when he missed Wyatt’s first steps. However, Benjamin rarely updates but once said his ex changed when Wyatt was born, and Anderson explained their co-parenting arrangement, stating:
“I’ve always believed that if you’ve been with somebody and that ends, in terms of an intimate relationship, if you love somebody, there’s no reason why that love shouldn’t continue.”
Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani at Kathy Griffin’s Carnegie Hall Performance official afterparty on November 8, 2013, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
In February 2021, during a “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” interview, Anderson confessed to host Ellen DeGeneres that he and Benjamin once wanted different things to start a family. The star elaborated:
“It’s interesting, because he wasn’t really sure he wanted to have a kid—which is one of the reasons we probably broke up—but then, he came around to the idea. Now he is such a great parent.”
Inside Anderson’s Firehouse, Where He Lives with His Kids
On June 9, 2020, Anderson gave People a tour of the home that he converted from a fire station. Viewers saw his first son’s nursery, with its central theme, blue, featuring throughout the space.
Anderson Cooper shows off the changing area in the nursery | Source: YouTube/PeopleTV
At the time, the nursery was still a work in progress, with several photographs and decorative pieces yet to be hung on the walls. Even so, the room already reflected Anderson Cooper’s commitment to honoring his family’s history. One of its most meaningful features was a painting created by his late mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, depicting herself alongside Cooper’s late father. The artwork held special significance because Cooper named his eldest son, Wyatt, after his father. By including the painting in the nursery, he created a heartfelt connection between past and present, celebrating family across generations.
Kevin Hart and David Beckham shooting an H&M advert in Anderson Cooper’s West Village home uploaded on September 28, 2015. | Source: Facebook/Kevin Hart
Another photograph highlighted a cherished childhood keepsake—Anderson Cooper’s handprint from when he was a young boy. The nursery also featured a collection of stuffed animals that had once belonged to him, adding a personal touch and connecting the room to family memories. Blue wallpaper decorated with an intricate beetle pattern gave the space a playful yet sophisticated feel. Above the baby’s white crib, a delicate paper-mâché cupid hung as a whimsical decorative accent. Together, these thoughtful details created a warm, inviting nursery that blended treasured family mementos with timeless design for the newest generation.
Anderson Cooper showing off a paper mache cupid in his son’s nursery | Source: YouTube/PeopleTV
Anderson explained that he wanted all the items in his son’s room to have personal history and significance. A changing area and a picture of Benjamin and his sister, when they were younger, were added to the room.
Anderson bought the 8,240 square feet Greenwich Village, New York firehouse in September 2010 for $4.3 million. It had its original brass fire poles, dry hoses, spiral staircases, and walls with murals showing off the fire station’s history.
In 2015, David Beckham and Kevin Hart shot an H&M campaign in Anderson’s home.
In September 2018, the “60 Minutes” correspondent indirectly showed his house off to The Hollywood Reporter while spending three days with the publication. The star lived with Lilly, his Welsh springer spaniel, and he and Benjamin had broken up earlier that year.
Kevin Hart and David Beckham shooting an H&M advert in Anderson Cooper’s West Village home uploaded on September 28, 2015. | Source: Facebook/Kevin Hart
Anderson Cooper spent years carefully restoring the historic firehouse, modernizing the property while preserving its original character. He added an elevator and designed the second floor as an elegant salon featuring taxidermy, Old Master paintings, and hand-painted signs collected during travels to Cuba and Africa. The home also includes a spacious kitchen with a central island and a thoughtfully curated living room. Among its most meaningful pieces is a Victorian calendar Cooper discovered in his mother’s bedroom, still displaying July 22, 1988—the date his brother, Carter Cooper, died at age 23 in their mother’s apartment.
After the death of her son, Gloria Vanderbilt moved several times, bringing with her a cherished calendar that held deep sentimental value. The keepsake remained with her through the years, serving as a quiet reminder of her family’s history and the loved ones she had lost. Following Gloria’s death, Anderson Cooper faced the difficult task of clearing out her apartment. While many belongings were donated or discarded, he felt it was important to preserve certain meaningful items that reflected his family’s story and personal memories.
Today, those treasured artifacts are displayed throughout the historic firehouse Cooper transformed into his home. Among the most significant is the Civil War commissioning notice belonging to his great-great-grandfather, a document that connects him to generations of family history. The home also features personal photographs and mementos collected over the years, each carrying its own emotional significance.
One especially meaningful piece is a photograph taken by Cooper’s late friend, acclaimed photojournalist Tim Hetherington. The image captures a younger Cooper during an assignment in Afghanistan, reflecting a period of his career spent reporting from conflict zones. Together, these carefully preserved items create a home filled with history, remembrance, and personal connections, honoring both his family’s legacy and the friendships that have shaped his life.
Kevin Hart and David Beckham shooting an H&M advert in Anderson Cooper’s West Village home uploaded on September 28, 2015. | Source: Facebook/Kevin Hart
Another item that stood out in his home was an 18th-century Italian marble, Memento Mori. The firehouse, built in 1906, was renovated by architect Cary Tamarkin with the 20th-century Beaux-Arts building’s interiors.
In 2015, David Beckham and Kevin Hart shot an H&M campaign in Anderson’s home. The advert allowed fans to view Anderson’s beautiful home, showing off its living room, gym, roof terrace, and one of his bedrooms.
Anderson Cooper has experienced profound personal loss throughout his life. In 2019, he lost his mother at the age of 95, marking the end of a remarkable chapter in his family’s history. Her passing came after years of navigating earlier heartbreak, including the death of his father, who suffered a fatal heart attack in 1978. A decade later, Cooper endured another devastating tragedy when his brother died, leaving the family to cope with unimaginable grief.
For many years, Cooper immersed himself in his work and avoided fully confronting the emotional impact of those losses. As an award-winning journalist, he spent much of his career covering wars, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises around the world, often focusing on the stories of others rather than examining his own pain. Over time, however, he recognized that unresolved grief continued to shape his life in ways he could no longer ignore.
That realization inspired him to launch his podcast, “All There Is With Anderson Cooper,” a series dedicated to exploring grief, healing, and the lasting effects of losing loved ones. Through candid conversations with guests from different backgrounds, Cooper examines how people process loss and find ways to move forward while honoring those they have lost.
One memorable episode featured actress Molly Shannon, who reflected on the tragic loss of her mother, younger sister, and cousin in a car accident during her childhood. Shannon spoke openly about carrying grief throughout her life and the importance of acknowledging painful emotions rather than suppressing them. Her honesty resonated deeply with Cooper, who has increasingly shared his own experiences with listeners.
Reflecting on the impact of the podcast, Cooper said the conversations have helped him feel less isolated in his own grief. By creating a space for honest discussions about loss, he has not only found comfort for himself but has also encouraged others to recognize that grief is a universal experience. The podcast has become both a personal journey and a source of connection for countless listeners navigating their own losses.
