Vanilla Ice Biography: Age, Net Worth, Movies, Pictures, Wikipedia, Spouse, Parents, Height

Robert Matthew Van Winkle, professionally known as Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, actor, and television host.

He rose to fame in the early 1990s with his groundbreaking hit single “Ice Ice Baby,” becoming the first rapper to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

His debut album, To The Extreme, was a commercial success, selling over 15 million copies globally. After experiencing a decline in popularity and struggles with substance abuse, Vanilla Ice reinvented his music in the late 1990s, releasing albums such as Hard to Swallow and Bi-Polar.

Beyond music, he has appeared in films and successfully transitioned into television, hosting various shows.

Profile

• Full Name: Robert Matthew Van Winkle
• Stage Name: Vanilla Ice
• Born: October 31, 1967
• Age: 57 years old
• Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American rapper, actor, and television host
• Height: 1.83 m
• Parent: Beth Mino
• Siblings: Alisha Beth Mino ,James Kipley Hins
• Spouse: Laura Giaritta (m.1997–2019)
• Children: KeeLee Breeze Van Winkle, Dusti Rain Van Winkle ,Priscilla Love VanWinkle
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $20 million

Early Life And Education

Robert Matthew Van Winkle, known professionally as Vanilla Ice, was born on October 31, 1967, in Dallas, Texas, United States.

He is the son of Beth Mino, a music teacher and classical pianist. His biological father left the family when he was four years old, and he was raised by his mother and several stepfathers, including William Van Winkle, whose surname he adopted.

Vanilla Ice has two siblings: Alisha Beth Mino and James Kipley Hins. He attended R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton, Texas, but left before graduating.

His family background is diverse, reflecting English, German, and Choctaw Native American ancestry. Throughout his upbringing, he practised Christianity, which shaped his values.

Career

Vanilla Ice began his career in the mid-1980s as a motocross enthusiast before transitioning to music. Starting as a street performer in Dallas, he gained local attention, leading to the release of his first single, “Play That Funky Music,” in 1989.

His debut album, Hooked, initially distributed independently, gained traction after he signed with SBK Records. Renamed To the Extreme, the album, featuring the chart-topping hit “Ice Ice Baby,” became a cultural phenomenon and the fastest-selling hip-hop album of all time.

His rapid success brought widespread fame but also controversies. Critics questioned his authenticity within the hip-hop community and raised concerns over fabricated elements in his biography, reportedly created by SBK Records without his knowledge.

In 1991, he released Extremely Live and made a notable cameo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, performing “Ninja Rap.” However, his starring role in Cool as Ice (1991) was a box-office failure.

Vanilla Ice attempted to rebrand with his second studio album, Mind Blowin’ (1994), adopting a new image but failed commercially.

Shifting his style, he explored rap-rock and nu-metal, releasing Hard to Swallow (1998), Bi-Polar (2001), and Platinum Underground (2005).

These works showcased a darker tone and were embraced by underground music circles but did not achieve mainstream success.

In the 2000s, Vanilla Ice ventured into reality television, gaining renewed attention through appearances on The Surreal Life.

In 2010, he launched The Vanilla Ice Project on the DIY Network, focusing on home renovation and real estate, which ran for nine seasons until 2019. This pivot to television helped him regain a niche following, even as his music career waned.

Beyond entertainment, Vanilla Ice diversified his interests. He remained active in motocross racing and real estate ventures while exploring new opportunities in media.

In 2022, he began hosting The Vanilla Ice Home Show, further cementing his status as a reality TV personality.

His enduring public presence also included unique projects like narrating a BBC podcast on the theft of racehorse Shergar in 2021, showcasing his versatility beyond music and television.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @vanillaiceofficial
• Facebook handle: Vanilla Ice
• Twitter handle: @vanillaice

Personal Life

Vanilla Ice was married to Laura Giaritta from 1997 until their divorce was finalized in 2019. The couple met in 1995 and had two daughters, Dusti Rain and KeeLee Breeze.

Despite their long marriage, the relationship faced significant challenges, including allegations of domestic violence and a lengthy separation before the divorce.

Before his marriage, Vanilla Ice had a brief high-profile relationship with pop icon Madonna in the early 1990s, which garnered media attention. As of now, Vanilla Ice is reportedly single.

Discography

• To the Extreme (1990)
• Mind Blowin’ (1994)
• Hard to Swallow (1998)
• Bi-Polar (2001)
• Platinum Underground (2005)
• W.T.F. (Wisdom, Tenacity and Focus) (2011)

Filmography

• Cool as Ice (1991)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)
• The New Guy (2002)
• That’s My Boy (2012)
• The Wrong Missy (2020)
• Da Hip Hop Witch (2000)
• The Helix…Loaded (2005)
• The Bros. (2007)
• Big Money Rustlas (2010)
• Sandy Wexler (2017)
• Booking Sounds (2022)

Net Worth

Vanilla Ice’s estimated net worth is $20 million. While initially known for his hit “Ice Ice Baby,” most of his wealth comes from real estate investments.

He expanded his portfolio and showcased his renovation projects on the reality show The Vanilla Ice Project.