Who Is Vanilla Ice? Age, Biography and Wiki
Vanilla Ice, born Robert Matthew Van Winkle on October 31, 1967, is a renowned American rapper, actor, and television host. He gained fame in the early 1990s with his hit single "Ice Ice Baby," which made him the first hip-hop artist to top the Billboard charts. As of 2025, Vanilla Ice is 57 years old and continues to embrace his legacy in the music industry and beyond.
| Occupation | Metal Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 31, 1967 |
| Age | 57 Years |
| Birth Place | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Vanilla Ice's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
In 2025, Vanilla Ice stands tall at approximately 6 feet (183 cm) and weighs around 175 lbs (79 kg). Known for his athletic build, his body measurements are often discussed among fans, demonstrating a well-maintained physique even as he ages.
Robert Matthew Van Winkle (born October 31, 1967), known professionally as Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, actor, and television host. Born in Dallas, raised in Miami, he was the first solo white rapper to achieve commercial success following the 1990 release of his best-known hit "Ice Ice Baby".
He is credited with breaking down racial barriers in rap and hip-hop for future white rappers, most notably Eminem.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Over the years, Vanilla Ice has had his fair share of relationships. As of 2025, he is reportedly dating a prominent figure from the entertainment industry, captivating fans with their public appearances and shared moments on social media. Vanilla Ice has two daughters, whom he co-parents with his ex-wife, Laura G. Despite the challenges of fame, he maintains a close-knit relationship with his family.
Van Winkle has never known his biological father; he was given the family name of the man his mother was married to at the time of his birth. When Van Winkle was four, his mother divorced. Afterward, he grew up moving between Dallas and Miami, where his new stepfather worked at a car dealership.
Van Winkle was affected by hip hop at an early age, saying "It's a very big passion of mine because I love poetry.
I was just heavily influenced by that whole movement and it's molded me into who I am today." Between the ages of 13 and 14, Van Winkle practiced breakdancing, which led to his friends nicknaming him "Vanilla", as he was the only one in the group who was not black. Although he disliked the nickname, it stuck.
Shortly afterward, Van Winkle started battle rapping at parties and because of his rhymes, his friends started calling him "MC Vanilla". However, when he became a member of a breakdance troupe, Van Winkle's stage name was "Vanilla Ice" combining his nickname "Vanilla" with one of his breakdance moves, "The Ice".
When Ice's stepfather was offered a better job in Carrollton, Texas, he moved back to Texas with his mother. When Ice was not learning to ride motorbikes, he was dancing as a street performer with his breakdancing group, now called The Vanilla Ice Posse.
Ice wrote "Ice Ice Baby" at the age of 16, basing its lyrics on a weekend he had with friend and disc jockey D-Shay in South Florida. The lyrics describe Ice and Shay on a drug run that ends in a drive-by shooting while praising Ice's rhyming skills. He attended R. L. Turner High School.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Vanilla Ice's net worth is estimated to be around $18 million. His earnings stem from various revenue streams, including music sales, touring, and television appearances. In recent years, he has also seen a resurgence in income through reality television and appearances that highlight his unique personality and lifestyle.
In January 1987, Ice was stabbed five times during a scuffle outside of City Lights. After spending ten days in the hospital, Ice signed a contract with the owner of City Lights, Tommy Quon, and his management company, Ultrax. Two years later, Ice would open for EPMD, Ice-T, Stetsasonic, and Sir Mix-A-Lot on the Stop the Violence Tour.
Quon saw commercial potential in Ice's rapping and dancing skills. Buying studio time with Quon's earnings from City Lights, they recorded songs that had been perfected on stage by Ice and his acquaintances with various producers, including Khayree.
The two year production was distributed by an independent record company called Ichiban Records in 1989. "Play That Funky Music" was released as the album's first single, with "Ice Ice Baby" appearing as the B-side.
Tommy Quon personally sent out the single to various radio stations around the U.S., but the single was seldom played and when it was, it did not get the reaction Quon was hoping for. When disc jockey Darrell Jaye in Georgia played "Ice Ice Baby" instead of the single's A-side, the song gained a quick fanbase and other radio stations followed suit.
Quon financed $8,000 for the production of a music video for "Ice Ice Baby", which received heavy airplay by The Box, increasing public interest in the song.
Career, Business and Investments
Vanilla Ice's career has evolved significantly since the peak of his music career in the 90s. In 2025, he remains an active performer while also venturing into home renovation and real estate. His popular television series showcasing his renovation projects has garnered a significant following, leading to lucrative business opportunities and endorsements. His diversified investments include partnerships in various entertainment projects, further solidifying his status as a multifaceted entrepreneur.
In the 2000s, Ice began appearing on television reality shows including The Surreal Life. In 2010, Ice began hosting The Vanilla Ice Project on DIY Network which ran for nine seasons until 2019. In 2022, he started another home improvement television program, The Vanilla Ice Home Show. He is also involved in motocross racing and real estate.
Social Network
Vanilla Ice maintains an active presence on various social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. He frequently engages with his fans, sharing updates about his music, television ventures, and personal life. His online persona reflects a mix of nostalgia, showmanship, and relatability, allowing him to connect with both old fans and a new generation.
Ice's second major release was the live album Extremely Live, released in March 1991. The album was a live recording during Vanilla Ice's performance in Miami during his To The Extreme World Tour.
Premiering new songs like "Rollin' in My 5.0", "Road To My Riches" and "Satisfaction", the album peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200, but it received mainly negative reviews.
Entertainment Weekly reviewer David Browne called it "one of the most ridiculous albums ever released", comparing it to The Best of Marcel Marceau, an album which consisted of two sides of silence opened by brief applause.
According to Browne, Extremely Live "affords you the chance to hear inane stage patter [...] and unaccompanied drumming, during which, one assumes, Ice and his posse are onstage dancing." Monte Lipman later stated that SBK only released the live disc to make more money from Ice's fame.
In April 1991, Ice began to film the SBK produced Cool as Ice, in which he played a leading role.
Education
While specific details about Vanilla Ice's formal education are limited, he has often spoken about the importance of self-education and learning through experience. His early interests in music and dance drove him to pursue a career that would eventually lead him to significant heights in the entertainment landscape.
