Alice Cooper is an American singer, songwriter and actor who is often referred to as the “Godfather of Shock Rock”. He has had a decades-long successful career in the music industry and has built up an impressive net worth.
| Name: | Alice Cooper |
| Net Worth: | $55 Million |
| Salary: | $5 Million + |
| Monthly Income: | $0.5 Million + |
| Profession: | American singer |
| Age: | 76 Yrs |
| Height: | 5′ 9½″ (1.77 m) |
| Nationality: | American |
| Date Of Birth: | 1948-02-04 |
| Gender: | Male |
Early Life and Education
Alice Cooper was born as Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan. His father was a pastor and he grew up in a strict Christian household. He attended Washington Elementary School and later Cortez High School in Phoenix, Arizona. As a teen, he was very active in sports and participated in cross country track.
Career Beginnings with the Alice Cooper Band
After graduating high school in 1966, Furnier formed a band called The Earwigs which later changed their name to The Spiders. The group cultivated a unique dark and theatrical performance style. By 1968, they settled on the name Alice Cooper Band to reflect their gender-blurring frontman. Their edgy glam shock rock style attracted attention and the band moved to Los Angeles to try to get a record deal.
Rise to Fame in the 1970s
The Alice Cooper band released their debut album “Pretties For You” in 1969. While it saw limited success, their second album “Easy Action” began to earn them fame, especially among rock and roll circles in Detroit and Chicago. However, it was their third studio album “Love It to Death” in 1971 that really catapulted the band into the mainstream.
The album included their hit single “I’m Eighteen” which brought them international recognition. They followed it up with even more popular records such as “Killer”, “School’s Out” and “Billion Dollar Babies”. By 1973, the Alice Cooper band was one of the most visible and controversial rock bands in the world, known for their outrageous stage theatrics and dark roots.
Solo Career and Continued Success
By 1975, Alice Cooper decided to launch a solo career and left the band to focus on his personal creative vision. His subsequent albums such as “Welcome to My Nightmare” and “Lace and Whiskey” found commercial success. He also continued to tour extensively, releasing both live albums and concert films.
Over the next few decades, Cooper continued to record both solo albums and albums with other musicians. He also began working on various side projects, including guest appearances on other artists’ albums and even running his own restaurant. By shifting his sound over time, Cooper has maintained his popularity well into the 21st century.
Acting and TV Career
In addition to his legendary music career, Alice Cooper has had a number of memorable acting roles and TV appearances:
- He played the sinister theatrical villain Freddy Krueger’s father in “A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 6: Freddy’s Dead” (1991)
- He appeared as himself in the live-action/animated comedy “Wayne’s World” (1992) which featured characters who idolized Cooper
- Played the murderous father in the horror sequel “Prince of Darkness” (1987)
- Guest starred in episodes of popular shows like “That ’70s Show” and “The Muppets”
- Was a contestant on the reality show “The Celebrity Apprentice” in 2011
Cooper’s fame and over-the-top persona has made him a fixture in both the music and entertainment industries.
Alice Cooper Net Worth
Having sold tens of millions of records both with his band and as a solo artist, toured the world extensively, and appeared in various TV/films over his 50+ year career, Alice Cooper has amassed a considerable net worth. According to sources, Cooper has an estimated net worth of around $50 million as of 2023.
His wealth comes mostly from album sales, touring revenue, merchandise profits and various business ventures and partnerships over the decades. While he has lived through some very lean early years, his music and performances remained popular enough to help him become quite wealthy. He continues to tour and release albums regularly.
Alice Cooper Real Estate
Cooper has invested some of his millions into real estate over the years. He has owned properties in locations like Hawaii, Malibu and Phoenix.
In the late 90s, he owned a home in Paradise Valley, Arizona that had 7 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms along with a guest house and pool on the 10 acre property. He attempted to sell the house for $2.3 million in 1998.
Currently his primary residence is in Phoenix where he lives with his wife Sheryl Goddard and their 3 children.
Height and Weight
Alice Cooper may appear rather tall and slender on stage, but off stage he has the following height and weight measurements:
Height: 5 feet 9 inches or 175 cm Weight: Around 145 lbs or 65 kg
By rock star standards, he has a smaller, leaner build and medium height. His shock rock costumes and messy long hair extensions however can give the illusion of added height and a bulkier frame.
Workout and Diet
To maintain his energetic performing style well into his later years, Cooper keeps healthy and active with the following lifestyle habits:
- He works out 4 to 5 days a week, varying his workouts between cardio, weights and Pilates
- Golfing is his favorite hobby and form of exercise
- His diet avoids alcohol or sugar and focuses on high protein foods like fish and green vegetables
- He has remained sober since the late 1980s after having issues with excessive drinking
- Stays away from illegal substances
This healthy diet and active regimen allows the septuagenarian rocker to keep touring and recording new albums year after year.
Alice Cooper Personal Life
Alice Cooper has been married to his wife Sheryl Goddard since 1976. They met when Goddard was part of his touring ballet troupe. The couple has 3 children together – 2 daughters named Calico and Sonora and a son named Dash.
When not busy with his career, Cooper enjoys time with family, playing golf, watching sports and supporting various charities. Cooper and his family lived in Wisconsin for over 20 years before moving back to Phoenix, Arizona.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Godfather of Shock Rock:
Question: How did Alice Cooper get his stage name?
Answer: He took the name “Alice Cooper” because it had a sweet feminine contrast with the band’s menacing dark stage personas. He legally changed his own name to Alice Cooper as the persona became so tied to his identity.
Question: What was Alice Cooper’s first hit song?
Answer: “I’m Eighteen” from the 1971 album Love It to Death was their first big hit that brought Alice Cooper widespread fame.
Question: How many total albums has he released?
Answer: Starting from 1969’s Pretties for You to his latest album in 2021, Alice Cooper has released 27 studio albums both with his original band and as a solo artist.
Question: Did Alice Cooper have a drinking problem?
Answer: Alice Cooper famously struggled with alcohol addiction and had to get sober in the early 1980s when his drinking was threatening his career and health. He entered rehab and gave up alcohol in 1983.
Question: Is Alice Cooper in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame?
Answer: Yes, Alice Cooper was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Members of his original 1970s band were also inducted with him.
So in summary, Alice Cooper pioneered shock rock and created an indelible legacy over his long career. His net worth allows him to live comfortably after decades of touring success. His height is average but he maintains good health so he can keep actively touring into his elder years.
