Vanilla Ice Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Vanilla Ice’s net worth?

With a net worth of $20 million, Vanilla Ice is recognized as an American rapper, actor, and television host. Rising to prominence in the early 1990s due to his hit single “Ice Ice Baby,” he became 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 a significant figure in the music industry. However, despite his rapid success, Vanilla Ice encountered criticism and controversy concerning his authenticity and role in hip-hop culture.

After enjoying initial fame, Vanilla Ice’s popularity began to decline, but he remained active in music, experimenting with various genres including hard rock and nu-metal, as evidenced in albums like “Hard to Swallow.” In addition to music, he entered the realm of reality television with “The Vanilla Ice Project,” which highlighted his home renovation and real estate talents. This shift in career allowed the public to see a different aspect of the artist, resulting in renewed recognition.

Ice Ice Baby Royalties

During Vanilla’s 2018 divorce proceedings, his ex-wife Laura disclosed that he was still generating approximately $400,000 annually from royalties associated with “Ice Ice Baby.”

2018 Divorce and Finances

In November 2018, documents related to Vanilla Ice’s divorce from Laura, his wife of 21 years, revealed several intriguing details about his finances. The filings indicated that Ice’s worth was at least $10 million at that time. His average monthly earnings were highlighted as $68,000, totaling roughly $800,000 for the year. Interestingly, it was reported that around half of his income—approximately $400,000 each year—stemmed from royalties of “Ice Ice Baby.” Additionally, the documents disclosed that Ice possessed $3 million in liquid assets alongside 15 properties, eight cars, and a boat with a cumulative value nearing $5 million. Depending on market conditions, his real estate portfolio could have been worth considerably more. Following this revelation, a judge mandated Ice to pay $121,000 in back support payments and $10,000 monthly until a final settlement was achieved.

Early Life

Born Robert Matthew Van Winkle on October 31, 1967, in Dallas, Texas, Vanilla Ice’s surname comes from his mother’s former husband. His mother divorced when he was four years old, and he never met his biological father. Van Winkle spent his childhood alternating between Dallas and Miami due to his stepfather’s career as a car salesman. At the age of 13, he discovered breakdancing and became immersed in the fledgling hip-hop scene. Nicknamed Vanilla Ice by his friends because he was the sole white boy in breakdancing, he initially disliked the name but later embraced it. He began participating in rap battles at parties under the stage name MC Vanilla. At 16, Van Winkle formed a breakdancing collective known as The Vanilla Ice Posse and wrote “Ice Ice Baby.”

After graduating from high school in 1985, Ice also pursued motocross, earning three championships and contemplating it as a potential career.

In the sport, he lost enthusiasm after sustaining an ankle injury during a race. While his ankle healed, he took the opportunity to refine his dance skills. He began street performing as a beatboxer and breakdancer in shopping malls. One evening, at a nightclub named City Lights, a friend challenged him to perform during open-mic night. The audience loved him, leading the club’s manager to invite Ice to become a regular performer. Accepting the offer, Ice opened for well-known acts like N.W.A., Public Enemy, 2 Live Crew, Tone Loc, and Paula Abdul during his time at City Lights.

In early 1987, Ice was involved in a fight outside the nightclub where he was stabbed five times, resulting in a ten-day hospital stay. Two years later, he opened for various artists including Ice-T and Sir Mix-A-Lot as part of the Stop the Violence Tour.

Career

Seeing great potential in Ice during the Stop the Violence Tour, his manager collaborated with him to create a demo tape. In 1989, Ichiban Records released “Play That Funky Music” as the single’s A-side and “Ice Ice Baby” as the B-side. A DJ at a Georgia radio station mistakenly played “Ice Ice Baby,” intending to play “Play That Funky Music,” and the audience reacted wildly to the accidental hit.

“Ice Ice Baby” quickly rose to prominence. One fateful night at a West Hollywood restaurant, rapper Suge Knight and his bodyguards joined Van Winkle at his table. Later that evening, Knight appeared at Van Winkle’s hotel room on the 15th floor of the former Bel Age Hotel (now the London Hotel) on Sunset Boulevard. Recalling the incident, Ice stated that Knight dragged him onto the balcony, threatening to throw him off unless he signed away the rights to “Ice, Ice Baby.” Van Winkle agreed and signed the rights. Knight then utilized the proceeds to fund Death Row Records.

Van Winkle’s debut album, “To the Extreme,” became the fastest-selling hip-hop album ever, dominating the album charts for 16 weeks. He followed up with five additional studio 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. In 2008, he also released a cover songs album titled “Vanilla Ice is Back.”

He contributed the track “Ninja Rap” to the soundtrack of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze,” which he performed in the movie. In 1991, he famously received $1 million to star in the poorly received film “Cool As Ice.” Years later, he appeared on the second season of the reality series “The Surreal Life.” Since 2010, Ice has been featured in the DIY Network show “The Vanilla Ice Project,” showcasing his house-flipping ventures in Florida. The series concluded in 2019 after airing 105 episodes over nine seasons.

Personal Life

From 1991 to 1992, Vanilla Ice was in a relationship with Madonna for eight months. He wed Laura Giaritta in 1997, and together they had two daughters: Dusti Rain (born 1998) and KeeLee Breeze (born 2000). Laura initiated divorce proceedings in 2016. In 2018, Vanilla Ice welcomed his third child with his new spouse.

On July 4, 1994, Ice took a heroin overdose in a suicide attempt but was saved by his friends. The following year, he paused his music career to concentrate on motocross and jet skiing in Florida. By summer, he had become the world’s No. 6-ranked sit-down jet ski racer, competing almost every weekend and securing a sponsorship from Kawasaki.

Star Island Mansion

In May 1997, Vanilla sold the Star Island property to Venezuelan businessman Claudio Osorio for $2.7 million. During Osorio’s ownership, he hosted notable figures such as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama for fundraising events. In 211, Osorio and his wife filed for bankruptcy. Later, in December 2012, he was arrested and charged with being part of a $40 million fraud scheme. Federal prosecutors accused Osorio and others of misleading investors about their company’s finances between 2007 and 2010, resulting in millions taken to support an extravagant lifestyle. He was convicted and sentenced in 2013 to 12.5 years in prison. Amid these developments, 15 Star Island was auctioned off for $12.7 million in November 2011, and today, the estate’s value exceeds $50 million. Below is a video tour:

Other Real Estate

Vanilla Ice listed his waterfront estate in Melbourne Beach, Florida for $4.8 million in 2018. This residence, featured on The Vanilla Ice Project, offers four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

In April 2004, Vanilla Ice acquired a home in Wellington, Florida for $716,000. He transferred ownership of this property to his ex-wife for $10 in October 2019. She then listed it for sale in August 2020 for $909,000 and ultimately accepted $770,000 by December 2020.

Car Collection

In December 2023, Vanilla Ice provided YouTuber DJ Vlad with a tour of his car collection. Among the vehicles is the original Ford Mustang 5.0 featured in the “Ice Ice Baby” music video, which the video claims is valued at $3 million. Below is the video tour: