MR GUMBALL 3000

FOUNDER STORY

“Gumball is about challenging tradition and taking a non conventional approach to exploring and pushing cultural and creative boundaries.”

The son of an artist and musician, Cooper was raised in rural Worcestershire, excelling in sport and art throughout his teenage years; representing national level teams in both football and table tennis, and is avid supporter of Chelsea FC. 

Cooper also embraced street culture through skateboarding, freestyle BMX and graffiti from an early age – interests that have continued to influence his life and career. 

In the early 90s he was represented by the prestigious Elite model agency and appeared in advertising campaigns and in runway shows for menswear brands such as Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Ralph Lauren.

Cooper then studied a Fashion Design BA (Hons) degree at the prestigious Central St. Martins College of Art in London with peers including Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, and became a regular on the London party scene. 

This was immediately followed by a Law and Film Studies BA (Hons) degree at the University of Sussex, whilst pursuing his ambition to become a racing driver. 

By the late 90s, after several successful years racing for privateer McLaren and Porsche teams, Cooper's vision was to create an aspirational lifestyle brand that combined automobiles, art and popular culture. 

In May 1999, he invited his influential friends to join him on a 'road-trip' adventure across Europe, hosting glamorous parties attended by Kate Moss, Jamiroquai, Kylie Minogue, Tony Hawk and Johnny Knoxville - this first 'Gumball 3000' tour immediately gained notoriety gracing the pages of GQ, Esquire and Vanity Fair, as one of "Cool Britannia's" must do events.

Over the following decade the event evolved into a popular brand and global entertainment company attracting licensing collaborations and official partnerships from blue chip corporations including Nike, Intel, Sony Playstation, Hasbro, MTV, T-Mobile, Nissan, Google and Fiat. 

The Gumball 3000 Group was recently valued at over $300 million (cit. Forbes) and includes entertainment, apparel, music and licensing divisions, retailing products in over 3000 retail stores. Cooper remains hands on overseeing the Gumball 3000 Group as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and leads by his creative direction and audacious approach to business. 

Over the past decade Cooper has acted as guest Creative Director for multiple brands within the automotive and fashion sectors, including Puma, adidas Originals, the Morgan Motor Company and Fiat Abarth; and in 2014 was voted into the 'Top 50 Most Influential People in the Automotive Industry' by US lifestyle publication Complex magazine.

In 2013 Cooper launched The Gumball 3000 Foundation, a registered charity, established to utilise the wealth and influence of the Gumball alumni to support youth based projects in low income areas, giving underprivileged youth opportunities in life – through investment into recreation, education and infrastructure. Through the Foundation, Cooper is currently working closely with Laureus Sport for Good, the Skatepark Project (formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation), Project Wreckless, The Prince's Trust, Football Beyond Borders and Fair Shot Cafe.

Cooper is regularly invited as a VIP Guest Speaker to a number of prestigious events in the automotive space and beyond, most recently by Caffeine & Machine as a special guest for their 'I Love You, Man' evening, and by Global Citizen Forum at their Annual Summit in Ras Al Khaimah.

Cooper is married to US actress and Grammy winning rapper Eve, and has 4 children from a previous relationship.