What is Maximillion Cooper's Net Worth?
Maximillion Cooper, also known as Maximillion Fife Alexander Cooper, is an accomplished entrepreneur, skateboarder, and race car driver with an impressive net worth of $60 million. He is perhaps most renowned for founding the Gumball 3000, a celebrity motor rally established in 1999. Initially an underground event, the Gumball 3000 has since grown into a conglomerate encompassing clothing lines and a registered charity.
Outside his work with the Gumball 3000, Cooper has made a name for himself as a skateboarder and all-around business entrepreneur. He has also competed as a racecar driver. His personal life has also captured attention, particularly his marriage to rapper Eve in 2014. Together, they have attended many racing and charity events.
Early Life
Maximillion Fife Alexander Cooper was born on July 13th, 1974, in England. He initially pursued a career in fashion design, studying at Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design.
Gumball 3000
Maximillion Cooper founded the Gumball 3000 in 1999. The event, which usually spans 3,000 miles on public roads, often involves London and features a mix of fashion, cars, music, and entertainment. Initially a road trip with friends, it has evolved into an exclusive event with an entry fee of around $8,700, requiring participants to bring their own vehicles. The name is rumored to have origins from 1930s races where the prize was a gumball machine.
The first Gumball 3000 rally journeyed from London to Rimini, Italy, featuring lavish nightly events attended by celebrities like Kate Moss and Guy Ritchie. Media coverage significantly boosted its popularity. From the onset, Cooper emphasized safety by offering no prizes for first place and not timing contestants.
The rally has crossed Europe multiple times, gaining notoriety due to MTV's "Jackass" coverage in 2000. Despite some legal issues with speeding, the event has attracted a growing celebrity following. Celebrities such as Lewis Hamilton, Xzibit, Usher, Deadmau5, David Hasselhoff, and Tinie Tempah have participated.
Despite a tragic incident in 2007 where two people were killed in Macedonia, the rally continued, expanding to include routes like the 2008 path from San Francisco to the Beijing Olympics. The entry fee has now surpassed $100,000 per driver. The 2020 event was postponed due to Covid-19, originally planned from Toronto to Havana.
Controversy
Gumball 3000 has faced several controversies over the years, putting Maximillion in difficult legal situations. Speeding drivers have been pulled over, had their licenses suspended, or had their cars confiscated. The most serious incident occurred in 2007 when two innocent bystanders were killed in Macedonia.
In response, Cooper and the organizers have reiterated that Gumball 3000 is a glorified road trip rather than a race, emphasizing that contestants should always adhere to speed limits.
Philanthropy
Charity plays a significant role in Gumball 3000. Maximillion Cooper founded the Gumball 3000 Foundation to help underprivileged youth in the UK, focusing on educational and environmental projects. Each year, an auction is held with proceeds going to charity.
The foundation collaborates with organizations like Tony Hawk's Stand Up for Skateparks. In 2014, Cooper's charity donated $100,000 to Hawk's organization. Additionally, the Gumball 3000 Foundation funded a trip for terminally ill children through the When You Wish Upon a Star charity, sending them to Lapland before Christmas.
Relationships
Maximillion first married Julie Brangstrup in 2003, with whom he had four children before their divorce in 2010.
In 2010, the rapper Eve participated in the Gumball 3000, sponsored by Puma. They began dating shortly after. Maximillion proposed to Eve three years later, and they married in Ibiza in 2014. The couple remains together and announced they were expecting a child the same year. Both have stated this is their first interracial relationship.
