Alex Cooper is worth an estimated $60 million to $90 million in 2026. That puts her among the richest podcasters in the world, and it is a huge jump from the $10 million to $20 million figures that were common a few years ago. The reason is simple: two of the biggest deals in podcast history, first with Spotify and then with SiriusXM, plus a fast-growing business empire under her Unwell brand.
For context, Forbes estimated she earned $32 million in 2024 alone, the most of any woman on its top-earning creators list. Here is how she got there, and how we land on our range.
Alex Cooper Quick Facts
| Full name | Alexandra Cooper |
| Born | 21 August 1994, Newtown, Pennsylvania |
| Education | Boston University (film and television) |
| Known for | Hosting Call Her Daddy |
| Current deal | SiriusXM, three years, up to $125 million (from 2025) |
| Businesses | Unwell Network, Unwell Hydration, Unwell Creative Agency |
| Estimated net worth (2026) | $60 million to $90 million |
Alex Cooper Net Worth Estimates Compared
| Source type | Figure | Our take |
|---|---|---|
| Older net worth sites (2021-2023) | $10m to $20m | Written around the Spotify deal, before SiriusXM and Unwell |
| Copy-and-paste blogs (2026) | $20m to $50m | Recycled, often missing the SiriusXM deal |
| Almost Fearless estimate | $60m to $90m | Spotify and SiriusXM deals, brand income and Unwell, minus tax and costs |
Deal values are headline numbers. They usually include advertising revenue shares and performance targets, and they are earned over several years before tax. That is why our range sits well below the total value of her contracts, even though those contracts are enormous.
How Alex Cooper Made Her Money
Call Her Daddy and Barstool
Cooper grew up in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and played Division I soccer at Boston University, where she studied film and television. In 2018 she and her then roommate Sofia Franklyn launched Call Her Daddy, a frank, funny podcast about sex and relationships. Barstool Sports picked it up a month after the first episode. After a very public split with Franklyn in 2020, Cooper kept the show, went solo and gradually turned it into an interview format with celebrity guests.
The $60 million Spotify deal
In 2021 she left Barstool for a three-year exclusive deal with Spotify, reported to be worth $60 million, or about $20 million a year. That made her Spotify’s highest-paid female podcaster and second only to Joe Rogan. Spotify’s own boss later credited the show with helping the platform grow among young women.
The $125 million SiriusXM deal
In August 2024 she signed with SiriusXM in a three-year deal worth up to $125 million, starting in 2025. Unlike the Spotify deal, the show is no longer exclusive to one app, so it can reach listeners everywhere, which helps both the advertising and her personal brand. SiriusXM also handles distribution and ad sales for her network.
The Unwell empire
Cooper has been smart about turning one show into a business. Under the Unwell name she has built:
- Unwell Network, launched in September 2023, a podcast network that has hosted shows from creators like Madeline Argy.
- Unwell Hydration, an electrolyte drink made with Nestlé that launched at Target in January 2025.
- Unwell Creative Agency, launched in October 2025 to help brands reach Gen Z through podcasts, live events and original content.
- Film and TV, including producing Let’s Marry Harry for Netflix in 2025.
Equity in these businesses is the hardest part of her wealth to value. If Unwell Hydration keeps growing, it could end up worth more than the podcast deals.
Social media and brand deals
Her audience extends well beyond audio, with a particular focus on Instagram and short-form video, where clips of Call Her Daddy interviews regularly go viral. That reach brings in sponsorships and makes her a valuable partner for brands targeting young women.
What Alex Cooper Earns in a Year
Here is a rough picture of where her money comes from in a typical year now. These are our estimates based on reported deals, not confirmed figures.
| Income stream | Estimated yearly value |
|---|---|
| SiriusXM deal (averaged) | Up to about $40 million |
| Unwell Network and agency | Several million and growing |
| Unwell Hydration | Equity value, not yet clear |
| Live events and brand work | A few million |
Why Advertisers Pay So Much for Call Her Daddy
Podcast deals of this size are not really about downloads. They are about who is listening. Call Her Daddy reaches one of the hardest audiences for brands to find: women in their late teens, twenties and early thirties, who often skip traditional TV and ignore banner ads. A host they trust, reading an ad in her own voice, is worth a lot to companies selling beauty, fashion, dating apps, travel and wellness products.
Her guest list has also grown more mainstream. In October 2024 she interviewed Kamala Harris during the presidential campaign, a sign of how far the show had moved from its Barstool roots. Big-name guests bring new listeners, new listeners bring higher ad rates, and higher ad rates are what justify a nine-figure contract.
Smart Moves Behind the Money
Plenty of creators get a big deal. Fewer turn it into lasting wealth. A few decisions stand out in Cooper’s case:
- Owning the show. After the Barstool split she kept control of Call Her Daddy, so every later deal paid her rather than a parent company.
- Short deals. Three-year contracts let her renegotiate as her audience grew, and she has moved up each time.
- Going non-exclusive. Leaving Spotify’s walled garden for SiriusXM put the show on every app, growing reach and brand value.
- Building beyond audio. A drinks brand, a network and an agency give her income that does not depend on her being at the microphone.
If those businesses keep growing, it is easy to imagine her net worth passing $100 million within a few years.
Alex Cooper Career Timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Born in Newtown, Pennsylvania |
| 2013 | Starts at Boston University |
| 2018 | Launches Call Her Daddy; Barstool picks it up |
| 2020 | Splits with co-host Sofia Franklyn and goes solo |
| 2021 | Signs a $60 million Spotify deal |
| 2023 | Launches the Unwell Network |
| 2024 | Signs with SiriusXM for up to $125 million; marries Matt Kaplan |
| 2025 | Unwell Hydration launches; Hulu docuseries Call Her Alex; Forbes puts her 2024 earnings at $32 million |
| 2026 | Acting debut as herself in the film Verity |
Personal Life
Cooper married film producer Matt Kaplan on 6 April 2024 in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, one of the most popular wedding spots on the Caribbean coast, with white beaches, cenotes and Mayan ruins a short drive from Tulum and Playa del Carmen. The couple announced in May 2026 that they are expecting their first child. Her story, from soccer to podcast fame, is told in the 2025 Hulu docuseries Call Her Alex.
Her show still deals with dating, sex and love interests, but it has broadened to include interviews with actors, musicians and even politicians, which is a big part of why advertisers pay so much to be on it.
How She Compares
Among podcasters, only a handful earn at her level. Joe Rogan’s deals are bigger, but very few women in the medium have ever come close to her income. She also stands out among creators for building real businesses beyond her main show, which is the clearest route from a big income to a big net worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alex Cooper’s net worth in 2026?
We estimate $60 million to $90 million, based on her Spotify and SiriusXM deals, brand income and her Unwell businesses.
How much is Alex Cooper’s SiriusXM deal worth?
Up to $125 million over three years, starting in 2025.
How much did Alex Cooper earn in 2024?
Forbes estimated $32 million, the highest of any woman on its 2025 top-earning creators list.
Who is Alex Cooper married to?
Film producer Matt Kaplan. They married in April 2024 in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.
What is Unwell?
Alex Cooper’s brand, covering a podcast network, an electrolyte drink called Unwell Hydration and a creative agency.
Who started Call Her Daddy?
Alex Cooper and Sofia Franklyn launched it in 2018. Cooper has hosted it alone since 2020.
