Modeled for Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Ford Models and Macy's from age 10 to 13

Begins working as a fact checker for Channel One, a news program made to air in classrooms

Moves to Vietnam to study Vietnamese at the University of Hanoi

Filmed stories from a variety of war-torn regions around the globe, including Somalia, Bosnia and Rwanda

At the age of 28, signs with “ABC News,” becoming their youngest correspondent

Becomes permanent co-anchor of ABC’s “World News Now”

Switched career paths, taking a job as the host of ABC's reality show “The Mole”

Returned to broadcast news to anchor alongside Paula Zahn on “American Morning” (CNN)

Became CNN's weekend prime time anchor

Became a contributing Editor of Details magazine

CNN launches “Anderson Cooper 360”

Temporarily added as co-anchor to Aaron Brown to help distribute some of the increased workload when CNN's “NewsNight” was changed from 60 to 120 minutes to cover the unusually violent hurricane season

“Anderson Cooper 360” is expanded to 2 hours and shifted into the 10pm slot formerly held by “NewsNight”

Signed a $1 million book deal with HarperCollins to publish his memoir

Announced he will moonlight for “60 Minutes” (CBS)

Signed a new contract with CNN, guaranteeing him $4 million a year