Photo Credit by: ActuaLitté
They’ve mesmerised us with their skills and agility in the kitchen. Indeed, watching them on TV brings us to an exciting gastronomic experience. From Angelica Rachael Ray’s homey kitchen to terrifying Gordon Ramsey’s hellish space, there’s no doubt these celebrity chefs are the world’s most popular. And that’s not to mention that they’re also the brains behind some of the best mouthwatering cuisines you could ever try!
And there’s more…. They also got cash! Millions and millions of it. But who do you think are the richest and highest earning? And how they make it? Read on and find out!
- Alan Wong, $1.1 Billion
One of the twelve co-founders of the non-profit organisation Hawaii Regional Cuisine, this famous chef of Asian descent received the ultimate recognition for his skills when he was invited to the White House to prepare a luau for President Obama. If you’re thinking that it was his famous book ‘The New Cuisine of Hawaii’ that turned him into a billionaire, you couldn’t be further from the truth. The sale incomes actually went to charity! His wealth has a lot to do with his fame, media appearances and, of course, his skills.
- Jamie Oliver, $400 Million
Although he’s not the richest, this Essex restaurateur is certainly number one for popularity. His recipes are replicated all over the world, his TV appearances are cherished by fans, his books are translated in all languages and sell like fresh bread. All this brought him $400 million so far! You would think one needs to play the US Powerball to stand a chance to put their hands one such money!
- Gordon Ramsay, $175 Million
Love him or hate him, the Hell’s Kitchen and Master Chef host banks on both his cooking prowess and straight-in-the-eye attitude. His restaurant empire is also making it big on both sides of the Atlantic, while his TV empire proves more and more lucrative. In 2012 alone, he had earned $38 million. Media appearances along brought him a staggering $22 million in 2013, while last year was even more profitable, bringing the Scottish restaurateur an income of $47 million.
- Wolfgang Puck, $75 Million
Puck’s fortune is derived from the 80 Wolfgang Puck Express, as well as his 20 fine dining restaurants, dozens of catering firms, cook-it-yourself pizzas and soups available in supermarkets around US, and his best-selling kitchen collections on HSN. To keep up with the times, he’s gone online, selling an app that provides users with recipes, party-planning ideas, and links to his restaurants.
- Rachael Ray, $38 Million
Ray doesn’t own a restaurant, but her $25 million fortune comes from her successful talk show, a magazine and twenty cookbooks that she had personally written, the latest of which is The Book of Burger.
- Mario Batali, $25 Million
Batali, who left Iron Chef for his own show, The Chew, earns a millions from his chains of restaurants, the latest of which is Eataly in New York. He also gets a fat paycheck from television and personal appearances, while his pepper mills, cast iron cookery, pasta sauces and wine straight from La Mozza in Tuscany also rounds up his multimillion dollar fortune.
- Bobby Flay, $20 Million
Flay, best known for his Mexican-inspired food, has made it big with his popular food chain, Burger Palace, as well as half a dozen of chic restaurants. He also is also one of Food Network’s most popular hosts, while steadily expanding his TV ventures. Together with Giada De Laurentiis, Flay banks in millions more from his daytime talk show for CBS.
- Paula Deen, $16 Million
The Queen of Southern Cuisine runs a multimedia empire that includes TV shows, live appearances, and a self-titled magazine. She has also closed lucrative deals with Wal-Mart and Smithfield hams. She also partnered with Harrah’s to open new restaurants. Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible, is a huge best-seller.
- Todd English, $15 Million
English reopened his restaurant, Olive, in 2011, although his seafood restaurant in Boston had shut down. English also advertised himself at Groupon for a cooking class, at $25,000.
- Alain Ducasse, $12 Million
French-born chef derives his wealth mainly from Mix, his Mandalay Bay-restaurant, as well as his European restaurants, hotels, and an eponymous cooking school in Paris.
- Nobu Matsuhisa, $10 Million
Matsuhisa partners with actor Robert DeNiro and they jointly owns 21 profile sushi restaurants around the world. This 2012, Nobu is set to open his eponymous hotel at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
- Guy Fieri, $8.5 Million
One of Food Network’s most popular chefs, Fieri enjoys a cult following with his hip personality, although he draws more money from his top rating show, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, as well as other cooking shows on other networks.
Don’t ever wonder why these celebrity chefs rake in millions every year. It’s not just sheer cooking skills that they have, they also have that enterprising spirit that keeps them on top.