What Is David Cook's Net Worth?
David Cook is an American singer-songwriter and actor who has a net worth of $2 million. David Cook is best known for winning the seventh season of the Fox singing competition "American Idol" in 2008. Cook has released the albums "Analog Heart" (2006), "David Cook" (2008), "This Loud Morning" (2011), and "Digital Vein" (2015) and the EPs "This Quiet Night" (2011), "Chromance" (2018), and "The Looking Glass" (2021). His first single, "The Time of My Life," reached #3 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart and was certified Platinum in the U.S. According to David's official website, he broke "several 'Billboard' chart records when 14 of his songs debuted on the Hot Digital Songs chart and 11 of his songs debuted on the Hot 100." Cook has also performed on Broadway, playing Charlie Price in an Al Hirschfeld Theatre production of "Kinky Boots" in 2018. In 2009, he signed an endorsement deal with the footwear company Skechers.
Early Life
David Cook was born David Roland Cook on December 20, 1982, in Houston, Texas. He grew up in Blue Springs, Missouri, with father Stanley Cook, mother Beth Foraker, and brothers Adam and Andrew. Sadly, Adam was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1998, and he passed away in May 2009 at the age of 37. David became interested in music at an early age, and after he started singing in the second grade, he performed in numerous school PTA and holiday programs. When Cook was 13 years old, he was given a Fender Stratocaster guitar. He took part in middle and high school drama and choir programs, and while attending Blue Springs South High School, he starred in musicals such as "West Side Story" and "The Music Man." David was a member of the Blue Springs South High School National Forensics League, and twice he qualified for the national tournament in the Duo Interpretation event. As a teenager, Cook played baseball, but after suffering an injury, he decided to focus more on music. After graduating from high school in 2001, David attended the University of Central Missouri on a theater scholarship, but he only studied theater for two semesters and earned a graphic design degree in 2006. As a college student, Cook joined the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, and after earning his degree, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to pursue a music career.
Career
In high school, David formed the band Red Eye with his friend Bobby Kerr. The band name was later changed to Axium, and Cook wrote his first song at the age of 15. Evan Sula-Goff of the band 8stops7 encouraged David to record an album when he visited Blue Springs South High School to judge a contest in which Cook's band performed the Guns N' Roses hit "Paradise City." Axium found some success when their song "Hold" was chosen to be played in movie theaters nationwide, and a "Got Milk?" contest named them one of the country's 15 best independent bands. In 2004, Axium was named the best band in Kansas City. The band released the albums "Matter of Time" (2002), "Blindsided" (2003), and "The Story Thus Far" (2004) as well as several live albums, and they disbanded in 2006. Cook relocated to Tulsa and joined the band Midwest Kings, playing bass on their 2006 EP "Incoherent With Desire to Move On." David self-released his debut solo album, "Analog Heart," in May 2006.
Though Cook initially went to "American Idol" auditions just to support his brother, he caught the attention of a producer and ended up auditioning with the Bon Jovi song "Livin' On a Prayer." He ended up winning the seventh season on May 21, 2008, with 56% of the vote and 12 million more votes than runner-up David Archuleta. In the next week, Cook had 11 songs debut on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart, and his debut single, "The Time of My Life," reached #3 on that chart and #1 on the "Billboard" Adult Contemporary chart. The single went Platinum, as did his follow-up, "Light On," which was released a few months later.
David released his self-titled second album on RCA Records in November 2008, and it reached #3 on the "Billboard" 200 chart and #2 on the "Billboard" Top Rock Albums chart. The album was certified Platinum in the U.S. and Gold in Canada. Cook's third album, "This Loud Morning," was released in June 2011, and it reached #7 on the "Billboard" 200 chart and featured the singles "The Last Goodbye" and "Fade into Me." Cook followed it with 2015's "Digital Vein," which he released on his own label, Analog Heart Music. "Digital Vein" reached #8 on the "Billboard" Independent Albums chart, and his 2018 EP, "Chromance," peaked at #5 on that chart. In April 2021, David released the EP "The Looking Glass." He has also co-written songs for other artists, such as Frankie Negrón's "No Reply" (2010), James Durbin's "Screaming" (2011), and David Nail's "Kiss You Tonight" (2014).
Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Personal Life
In May 2008, David asked "TV Guide" Network correspondent/"American Idol" alum Kimberly Caldwell on a date when she was interviewing him on the red carpet before the show's season seven finale. Caldwell accepted Cook's invitation, and the two dated until December of that year.
David married Racheal Stump, on June 20, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee.
The day after his older brother Adam's death in May 2009, Cook ran in the "Race for Hope" in Washington, D.C. in his honor, finishing the 5k in 28 minutes and raising more than $135,000 for the cause. On the season eight finale of "American Idol," David performed his song "Permanent" in Adam's honor, and proceeds from sales of the track on iTunes were donated to organizations dedicated to brain cancer research.
Awards and Nominations
Cook has been nominated for four Teen Choice Awards, winning Choice TV Male Reality/Variety Star for "American Idol" in 2008. His other nominations were for Best Presenter (Post Show) in 2008 and Choice Music Breakout Artist and Choice Music Album: Male for "David Cook" in 2009. David has won two New Music Awards for Top 40 Male Artist of the Year (2008 and 2009), and in 2009, "Time of My Life" was named Song of the Year at the Nashville Music Awards. In 2013, he earned a Dahsyatnya Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Star.
Real Estate
In March 2010, David paid $1.318 million for a home in LA's Beachwood Canyon neighborhood. David sold this home in December 2012 for $1.365 million.
