Last Updated on September 13, 2024
Who is Vanilla Ice?
Robert Matthew VanWinkle, popularly known as Vanilla Ice, is a professional rapper, record producer, and presenter who came into the spotlight thanks to his 1990s hit song, “Ice Ice Baby.” He was born on the 31st of October, 1967 in Dallas, Texas. At age 14, he learned how to breakdance, and he started getting involved in the early hip-hop scene.
In his entire career, he has released six studio albums, two compilation albums, one live album, one remix album, and 13 singles. Vanilla Ice has also acted in some movies, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secret of the Ooze and Cool as Ice. He appeared in season 2 of The Surreal Life, a reality TV show.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Robert Matthew VanWinkle |
| Popular Name: | Vanilla Ice |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | October 31, 1967 |
| Age: | 55 years |
| Parents: | Camilla Beth Dickerson (mother) |
| Siblings: | N/A |
| Birth Place: | Dallas, Texas |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | American |
| Education: | Robert Leon Turner High School |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | Laura Giaritta |
| Children: | Dusti Rain VanWinkle, KeeLee Breeze VanWinkle, Priscilla Love VanWinkle |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | $12 Million |
| Source of Wealth: | Professional rapper, record producer, actor, presenter |
| Height: | 6ft 2in (1.88m) |
| Weight: | 76 kg (167.55 lb) |
Early Life and Career Information
Robert Matthew VanWinkle, alias Vanilla Ice, was born in Dallas, Texas, to his mother, Camilla Beth Dickerson, and an unknown father. The name VanWinkle was his stepfather’s name, given to him by his mother. At 13, Robert had begun to breakdance and get involved in the early hip-hop scene.
His friends named him Vanilla Ice because he was the only white boy who was breakdancing. The name stuck, and he started performing at nightclubs and parties under the name MC Vanilla.
After finishing high school in 1985, he started a career in motocross riding, where he won three championships. Unfortunately, his motocross career ended when he broke an ankle during a race. Robert wrote his first hit song, Ice Ice Baby when he was 16. Subsequently, in 1988, he created his dancing group, The Vanilla Ice Posse.
In 1989, VanWinkle’s music career turned for the better when he was signed by Ichiban Records, who released Ice Ice Baby together with his cover of Play That Funky Music. Ice Ice Baby went viral, together with his debut album, To The Extreme, the fastest-selling hip-hop album of all time.
In the same year, Robert attempted suicide with a heroin overdose, but he was resuscitated by his friends. To clear his head, he took a break from music and decided to go back to motocross riding and jet skiing.
In 1991, he released his first live album titled Extremely Live. His next album, Mind Blowin’, was released in 1994.
He took a break from music to pursue his other passions, but he released another album, Hard to Swallow, in 1998. Unfortunately for Vanilla Ice, his music career started to spiral downwards, and his album was met with little enthusiasm and lots of criticism.
Subsequently, his other albums, Bi-Polar (2001) and Platinum Underground (2009), did not make waves.
In 2009, he began to host the show, The Vanilla Ice Project, on DIY Network. His last album, W.T.F. (Wisdom, Tenacity & Focus), was released sometime in 2011.
Robert has had some experience with being an on-screen personality. He performed the song Ninja Rap in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secret of the Ooze. In 1991, he starred as the protagonist of the movie, Cool as Ice.
He has also starred in several movies, like Vanilla Ice Goes Amish, The Ridiculous 6, Cool as Ice, Da Hip Hop Watch, and The New Guy.
Ice Ice Baby once dated Madonna for about eight months between 1991 and 1992. However, he got married to Laura Giaritta in 1997, and they have two daughters: Dusti Rain VanWinkle and KeeLee Breeze VanWinkle.
His youngest daughter, Priscilla Love VanWinkle, was born out of wedlock. Her mother is still unknown.
Vanilla Ice’s Net Worth
Vanilla Ice is currently worth about $12 million. He earns about $68,000 per month, which totals an estimated $800,000 per year. He also earns an estimated $400,000 per year in royalties from his hit song, Ice Ice Baby. This alone contributes to half of his yearly income.
Also, VanWinkle has $3 million worth of liquid assets and possesses fifteen real estate properties, eight cars, and a boat — all of which have a combined worth of around $5 million.
Lessons from the life of Vanilla Ice
Money Cannot Buy Happiness.
“One thing I didn’t understand in life was that I had $100,000 in the bank but I couldn’t buy happiness. I had everything — mansions, yachts, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, but I was depressed. I didn’t know where I fitted in. But then, I found family and friends and I learned the value of life.” — Vanilla Ice.
Money is not everything. Even if you have all the money in the world, it cannot buy happiness. True happiness comes from cultivating good relationships with your loved ones. When life’s challenges come, they’ll be there to help you stay afloat.
Shoot for the Stars.
“Listen, if you don’t talk the big game, you’ll never get anywhere. If you don’t think big, you won’t get big. Some people call it egotistical, some people call it high hopes, and some people call it confidence. It’s all in how you want to dissect it.” — Vanilla Ice.
Dream big! Your dreams and aspirations might seem out of reach, but believe in them and keep working hard. Keep reaching towards them, and you just might make it. Disregard what people might say about your dreams. They’re yours, and only you can make them come true.
