Alex Cooper looks like she’s living the perfect life.
The “Call Her Daddy” host now runs a growing media empire with a production company, a creative agency and a three-year podcast deal with SiriusXM worth around $125 million.
She interviews big names like Victoria Beckham And Kamala Harris and is one of the most successful women in podcasting. However, his rise was not as simple as it seemed.
Behind her fame are stories of lost friendships, business drama and the people who secretly helped her succeed.
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Alex Cooper’s journey from podcast talks to big business
Before becoming one of the most recognized voices in podcasting, Cooper was known for sharing bold, adult-themed dating advice on “Call Her Daddy.”
She started the series in 2018 with her roommate Sofia Franklyn, and the first episode, “Sext Me So I Know It’s Real,” quickly gained attention for its raw honesty and humor.
In two months, downloads went from 12,000 to two million.
Their style of “female locker room talk” attracted Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who signed them to a contract with a salary of $70,000.
As the podcast’s popularity grew, Cooper built it into a powerful brand.
When her contract with Barstool Sports ended, she signed a $60 million deal with Spotify in 2021, followed by a three-year, $125 million deal with SiriusXM in 2024.
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Cooper’s hidden partner who contributed to his success
Alex Cooper’s success isn’t just down to solo work. Her childhood best friend, Laren McMullen, quietly helped her create the “Call Her Daddy” brand.
McMullen, who was studying at Columbia University, began helping behind the scenes in 2020, booking guests, preparing questions and managing schedules.
She had planned to become a therapist, but Cooper’s full-time offer made her change her mind. McMullen later revealed his role during an appearance on the podcast.
Recently, a source told Daily Mail that both women are “grateful that the secret is out” and no longer need to hide McMullen’s involvement.
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Alex Cooper’s fallout with Sofia Franklyn changed everything
The biggest turning point in Cooper’s career occurred in 2020 when she and Franklyn attempted to renegotiate their contracts with Barstool Sports.
Both women reportedly wanted $1 million each a year, but Portnoy said the company could only offer $500,000 plus bonuses.
Cooper accepted the offer, but Franklyn did not, and the disagreement ended their friendship and partnership.
Cooper later told listeners that she did most of the work and accused Franklyn’s boyfriend at the time, HBO Sports executive Peter Nelson, of getting too involved in the deal.
For her part, Franklyn said she felt betrayed, saying she found out Cooper and Portnoy had made a separate deal behind her back.
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“I found out later that Cooper and Portnoy 1000 percent had this relationship that I wasn’t aware of and wasn’t a part of. I thought Cooper was my best friend, my sister, and we didn’t hide anything,” she said. rolling stone in 2023.
“There’s no way I’d talk to our boss without you, that would be really crazy, and I don’t think it was either way.”
Fans were divided, but the fallout allowed Cooper to take full control of “Call Her Daddy” and turn it into his own growing company.
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Cooper’s Marriage and the Power Couple’s Empire
After taking full control of “Call Her Daddy,” Cooper moved to Los Angeles and began dating film producer Matt Kaplan, known for the hit “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” films.
They later married and insiders told the Daily Mail the two have become a true “power couple”.
In 2023, Cooper and Kaplan launched Trending, a media company that owns “Call Her Daddy” and Unwell Network, which features Internet stars like Alix Earle and Madeline Argy as hosts.
The couple’s next big step came in 2024 when Cooper signed a new three-year deal with SiriusXM, worth an estimated $125 million.
Since then, the lovebirds have focused on growing their brand.
“Their plans are to simply continue to grow and grow the Call Her Daddy brand,” an insider explained. “They want to become the number one podcast and be known for having the best interviews.”
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Alex Cooper faces backlash over his interview style
Despite his huge success, not everyone likes Cooper’s interview approach.
Some fans on social media have called his questions “too scripted” or “boring,” saying his celebrity interviews feel more like PR moments than real conversations.
However, a source close to Cooper defended his method, telling the Daily Mail“If Alex became such a tough interviewer, she might exhaust the number of people who come, which is the opposite of what she is known for.”
Cooper herself said she never claimed to be a journalist, adding: “I have a podcast and I happen to ask questions that are a little hard-hitting sometimes.”
Cooper’s Humble Beginnings and What’s Next
Although some have called Alex Cooper a “nepo baby,” insiders say that’s far from true.
“Alex is not a nepo baby where everything was handed to him,” a source revealed. “But the thing is, when you become the greatest woman of all time in podcasting, those doors open.”
Born in Pennsylvania, Cooper’s father worked for the NHL and his mother was a school therapist.
After college, she lost her job in ad sales and survived on unemployment checks, even joining Seeking Arrangements to make ends meet. From this struggle was born the idea of “Call Her Daddy”.
In just seven years, she went from recording in her apartment to building a multi-million dollar brand with global reach.
As one insider summed it up: “Their plans are to continue to grow and develop the Call Her Daddy brand. »
