Once upon a time, fame and fortune were the sole property of actors, musicians and sport stars, but in recent years, the money has spread to the kitchen as well. As the world's culinary experts consolidate their conventional TV slots and extend their brands on and beyond Instagram, it's fair to say the top cooks see their bank balances skyrocketing.
But who managed to capture top spot? A lot has changed in the last year after all, with some familiar faces missing from our 2019 list. Using reports from Celeb Net Worth, TheRichest and Spear's, we looked at the data from 2020 to chart the changes; the outcome is the world's 10 richest chefs.
10. Marco Pierre White
Estimated net worth: $40 million (£30.3 million)
Marco Pierre White started his much-celebrated culinary career at the prestigious restaurant Le Gavroche in London after leaving school with no income, no qualifications and no prospects. His burgeoning success in the 1980s and early 1990s saw him become the youngest ever chef – at 33, no less – to be given three Michelin stars, while the now 57-year-old is also responsible for mentoring a number of well-known chefs.
White has continued to see large financial returns from his numerous television ventures and cookery books, as well as his various business relationships, despite retiring from the kitchen in 1999. Nevertheless, his fiery temper may be his most lasting legacy; after all, any man who can make Gordon Ramsay weep is certainly not to be trifled with.
9. Ina Garten
Estimated net worth: $50 million (£37.8 million)
Despite being three positions down from sixth place last year, Ina Garten remains a sparkling reminder of why a career change is never too late. Initially a White House budget analyst, she was responsible for writing nuclear energy policy papers in the 1970s – all while moonlighting as a part-time real estate developer. Indeed, it was from the fruits of this lucrative enterprise that Garten purchased the now-famous grocery store Barefoot Contessa in 1978, where it stood until its 2004 lease expiry.
The 71-year-old has, however, long since capitalized on her brand's popularity, launching millions of worth of cookbooks and retail lines. Dividing her time between New York City and Paris, she has used her wealth and political experience to donate to many Democratic nominees' presidential campaigns, while continuing to create best-selling cookbooks including 2018's Cook Including a Pro.
7. David Chang (tie)
Estimated net worth: $60 million (£45.4 million)
David Chang, a relative newcomer to the celebrity chef scene, has gradually made headlines with his Momofuku restaurant empire, winning two Michelin stars in 2009 and ever since extending his name across the globe.
Trained at the renowned French Culinary Institute (now known as the International Culinary Center) in New York City, before opening his first noodle bar in 2004, Chang entertained gigs at several fine dining restaurants. The best-selling Momofuku cookbook quickly followed common amongst the trendy East Village food scene. The 41-year-old has also built up his media profile on TV shows like Treme and Australia's MasterChef, while his 2018 Netflix original series Ugly Delicious was recently renewed for a second season.
7. Emeril Lagasse (tie)
Estimated net worth: $60 million (£45.4 million)
Emeril Lagasse, who was trained at the world-famous Culinary School of Johnson & Wales University, succeeded the legendary Paul Prudhomme as executive chef of the Commander's Palace restaurant in New Orleans in 1985, thereby launching his own career and enabling him to open his first restaurant in 1990. He has since been the owner and executive chef of eleven such establishments around the US.
In addition, the native of Massachusetts, 59, has appeared on and faced a whole host of cooking and talent competitions, as well as in many film and television productions. While much of his net worth comes from his various merchandising and endorsement deals, he has published several cookbooks focusing on Cajun / Creole recipes, with some of his brand spicy dishes being chosen by NASA as part of the 2006 International Space Station menu.
6. Rachael Ray
Estimated net worth: $77.5 million (£58.7 million)
Rachael Ray has actually seen her net worth rise after a good 2018, despite slipping three places from last year's third spot. However, this was not always the case; after teaching 30-minute cookery courses in her home town of Albany, she was spotted by a local TV network and signed to the Food Network in 2001 following the release of her first book 30-Minute Meals.
Since then, the 50-year-old has faced many popular shows, including a continuation of the nearly 11-year 30-Minute Meals series, while also signing numerous sponsorship deals with Dunkin' Donuts, AT&T and Westpoint Homes. For her television work she has received three Daytime Emmy Awards as well as written nearly 30 cookbooks, making her one of the most successful female entrepreneurs of all time.
5. Thomas Keller
Estimated net worth: $80.0 million (£63.4 million)
Raised in his mother's restaurant kitchen, Thomas Keller was always supposed to be a chef, but this vision unexpectedly became a reality under the tutelage of the French-born Master Chef Roland Henin.
Schooled in the nuanced arts of French cuisine, Keller later apprenticed at various Michelin-starred restaurants in New York and Paris, achieving success with his first restaurant, Rakel-a popular haunt for bankers on Wall Street. However, Keller upped sticks to California after the stock market crash of the late 1980s, opening The French Laundry restaurant and winning several culinary awards including three Michelin stars and a James Beard award.
Since then, he has opened many other well-received restaurants throughout the U.S., while the 63-year-old is also earning additional revenue from his collection of cookbooks and culinary items. He has also worked on many productions in Hollywood, including the comedy of Adam Sandler, Spanglish, and Ratatouille, the Pixar classic.
4. Wolfgang Puck
Estimated net worth: $82.5 million (£65.4 million)
Like Ray, Wolfgang Puck finds himself falling a spot – despite growing earnings from his business company, Wolfgang Puck Companies in 2018. Responsible for hundreds of restaurants, express stores and culinary operations, the Austrian also supervises a vast empire of merchandise, retail products and catering services; all a far cry from the early days of the 69-year-old as an apprentice at Monaco's Monte-Carlo Hôtel de Paris.
Indeed Puck has been accustomed to the Hollywood lifestyle ever since he opened his critically acclaimed Spago restaurant in Los Angeles in 1982. As well as appearances in CSI, The Simpsons and Frasier, the four-time Michelin star winner is also responsible for running the dinner service at the annual Oscars ceremony, as well as actively promoting the various charities he is a patron of.
3. Gordon Ramsay
Estimated net worth: $190 million (£143.9 million)
After a very good year in which his net worth has risen by almost 40%, Gordon Ramsay can be forgiven for taking things a little slower. It seems impossible, however, with two new restaurants opening recently, a whole host of emerging British culinary talent that he's keen to teach and hopes of more Michelin stars.
Indeed, given his terrifying reputation, few can argue against the implacable work ethic that the 52-year-old Scot applies to his culinary pursuits and company. To date, Ramsay's restaurants have earned an impressive number of 16 Michelin Stars (7 of which have been retained), while Gordon Ramsay Holdings – which operates its companies – consistently earns 8-figure annual revenues.
Although Ramsay tends to be judged on his cooking by his own admission, much of his recognition comes from his television work, where his fiery presence constantly draws millions of viewers on shows such as Kitchen Nightmares, Hell's Kitchen and The F Word. He also plays executive advisory duties and has appeared in many high-profile TV productions such as The Simpsons, New Girl and Extras as himself.
2. Nobu Matsuhisa
Estimated net worth: $200 million (£151.5 million)
If you've ever eaten at Nobu (and, considering that there are branches all over the world, you may well have them), then you'll probably know Nobu Matsuhisa well. The 70-year-old is the co-owner of the iconic restaurant chain with none other than the acting legend Robert De Niro, a regular former patron of Beverly Hills' first restaurant Matsuhisa.
The Japanese maestro does have more contacts than Hollywood, however. Matsuhisa started mixing Peruvian ingredients into his traditional Japanese dishes after being convinced to leave his native Tokyo for Peru in 1973, developing his signature fusion style. Some of these tips have been included in his cookbook series (the latest of which, World of Nobu, is expected in April 2019), while his investments with De Niro – including hotels in Las Vegas, Manila and, as of July 2019, Chicago – are also on the rise.
Occasionally, with his A-list clients, Matsuhisa also appears on screen, having landed small acting parts in Casino, Geisha Memoirs, and Goldmember Austin Powers.
1. Jamie Oliver
Estimated net worth: $372 million (£281.7 million)
But still sitting confidently on top of the pile is a cheeky Essex chappie with just two GCSEs to his specifically branded name. Jamie Oliver saw it all when he rose to become the world's highest-paid chef – and one of Britain's most remarkable success stories.
The 43-year-old has worked on a multitude of television shows and best-selling cookbooks focused on improving the diet of children on both sides of the Atlantic since she began as a pastry chef under Antonio Carluccio and Gennaro Contaldo (of Greedy's Italians fame). He has also signed several lucrative sponsorship deals with the UK supermarket chain Tesco, most recently.
However it wasn't just smooth sailing. Jamie's Italian, Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group's flagship business, saw 12 of its UK branches closing in the past year amid debts of about £71 million ($93.8 million) – including over £2 million ($2.6 million) in unpaid wages – with ailing company urgently seeking new investment to protect its future. Oliver's corporate relations with the oil company Shell have also been questioned.
Given these setbacks, the favorite son of Essex appears undeterred. His latest television series Jamie Cooks Italy (and its accompanying recipe book) was a huge success, while in January 2019 his new literary offering of 5 Ingredients was published.
Many of our readers have questioned why the Japanese-American restaurateur Alan Wong, who is estimated to own a fortune of more than $1.1 billion (£833 million), is not on this list. Wong, who owns three restaurants in Hawaii, is credited, for unexplained reasons, to have acquired this figure through investments in the electronics industry, a career path that sounds remarkably similar to business magnate Allan Wong in Hong Kong. Therefore, we conclude that this is a longstanding technical mistake that the source that reported it has never discussed and that, while certainly rich, Alan Wong does not have a net worth of $1.1bn.
In a similar vein, it was announced in April 2018 that a Singaporean equity fund had priced the Nusr-Et restaurant empire created by Turkish steak chef Nusret Gökçe (aka Salt Bae) at $1.2 billion (£908.7 million), and that Gökçe himself was therefore worth this amount. Although the salt sensation's real net worth is notoriously difficult to pin down, what is clear is that the $1.2 billion valuation was for Nusr-Et's parent company D.ream (which operates 169 other restaurants across the globe) and not only for Gökçe's properties.
As you can see, there's plenty of money to be made in the culinary world, with most of these cooks mixing their kitchen talents with a head for business; combined earnings among these 10 celebrity chefs reach more than $1,16 billion (£879,9 million) alone!
If you want to get interested in the fine dining world then make sure you check out our handy guides to becoming a chef, chocolatier or sommelier and who knows? You could be on a future version of this chart!
But who managed to capture top spot? A lot has changed in the last year after all, with some familiar faces missing from our 2019 list. Using reports from Celeb Net Worth, TheRichest and Spear's, we looked at the data from 2020 to chart the changes; the outcome is the world's 10 richest chefs.
10. Marco Pierre White
Marco Pierre White started his much-celebrated culinary career at the prestigious restaurant Le Gavroche in London after leaving school with no income, no qualifications and no prospects. His burgeoning success in the 1980s and early 1990s saw him become the youngest ever chef – at 33, no less – to be given three Michelin stars, while the now 57-year-old is also responsible for mentoring a number of well-known chefs.
White has continued to see large financial returns from his numerous television ventures and cookery books, as well as his various business relationships, despite retiring from the kitchen in 1999. Nevertheless, his fiery temper may be his most lasting legacy; after all, any man who can make Gordon Ramsay weep is certainly not to be trifled with.
9. Ina Garten
Estimated net worth: $50 million (£37.8 million)
Despite being three positions down from sixth place last year, Ina Garten remains a sparkling reminder of why a career change is never too late. Initially a White House budget analyst, she was responsible for writing nuclear energy policy papers in the 1970s – all while moonlighting as a part-time real estate developer. Indeed, it was from the fruits of this lucrative enterprise that Garten purchased the now-famous grocery store Barefoot Contessa in 1978, where it stood until its 2004 lease expiry.
The 71-year-old has, however, long since capitalized on her brand's popularity, launching millions of worth of cookbooks and retail lines. Dividing her time between New York City and Paris, she has used her wealth and political experience to donate to many Democratic nominees' presidential campaigns, while continuing to create best-selling cookbooks including 2018's Cook Including a Pro.
7. David Chang (tie)
Estimated net worth: $60 million (£45.4 million)
David Chang, a relative newcomer to the celebrity chef scene, has gradually made headlines with his Momofuku restaurant empire, winning two Michelin stars in 2009 and ever since extending his name across the globe.
Trained at the renowned French Culinary Institute (now known as the International Culinary Center) in New York City, before opening his first noodle bar in 2004, Chang entertained gigs at several fine dining restaurants. The best-selling Momofuku cookbook quickly followed common amongst the trendy East Village food scene. The 41-year-old has also built up his media profile on TV shows like Treme and Australia's MasterChef, while his 2018 Netflix original series Ugly Delicious was recently renewed for a second season.
7. Emeril Lagasse (tie)
Estimated net worth: $60 million (£45.4 million)
Emeril Lagasse, who was trained at the world-famous Culinary School of Johnson & Wales University, succeeded the legendary Paul Prudhomme as executive chef of the Commander's Palace restaurant in New Orleans in 1985, thereby launching his own career and enabling him to open his first restaurant in 1990. He has since been the owner and executive chef of eleven such establishments around the US.
In addition, the native of Massachusetts, 59, has appeared on and faced a whole host of cooking and talent competitions, as well as in many film and television productions. While much of his net worth comes from his various merchandising and endorsement deals, he has published several cookbooks focusing on Cajun / Creole recipes, with some of his brand spicy dishes being chosen by NASA as part of the 2006 International Space Station menu.
6. Rachael Ray
Estimated net worth: $77.5 million (£58.7 million)
Rachael Ray has actually seen her net worth rise after a good 2018, despite slipping three places from last year's third spot. However, this was not always the case; after teaching 30-minute cookery courses in her home town of Albany, she was spotted by a local TV network and signed to the Food Network in 2001 following the release of her first book 30-Minute Meals.
Since then, the 50-year-old has faced many popular shows, including a continuation of the nearly 11-year 30-Minute Meals series, while also signing numerous sponsorship deals with Dunkin' Donuts, AT&T and Westpoint Homes. For her television work she has received three Daytime Emmy Awards as well as written nearly 30 cookbooks, making her one of the most successful female entrepreneurs of all time.
5. Thomas Keller
Estimated net worth: $80.0 million (£63.4 million)
Raised in his mother's restaurant kitchen, Thomas Keller was always supposed to be a chef, but this vision unexpectedly became a reality under the tutelage of the French-born Master Chef Roland Henin.
Schooled in the nuanced arts of French cuisine, Keller later apprenticed at various Michelin-starred restaurants in New York and Paris, achieving success with his first restaurant, Rakel-a popular haunt for bankers on Wall Street. However, Keller upped sticks to California after the stock market crash of the late 1980s, opening The French Laundry restaurant and winning several culinary awards including three Michelin stars and a James Beard award.
Since then, he has opened many other well-received restaurants throughout the U.S., while the 63-year-old is also earning additional revenue from his collection of cookbooks and culinary items. He has also worked on many productions in Hollywood, including the comedy of Adam Sandler, Spanglish, and Ratatouille, the Pixar classic.
4. Wolfgang Puck
Estimated net worth: $82.5 million (£65.4 million)
Like Ray, Wolfgang Puck finds himself falling a spot – despite growing earnings from his business company, Wolfgang Puck Companies in 2018. Responsible for hundreds of restaurants, express stores and culinary operations, the Austrian also supervises a vast empire of merchandise, retail products and catering services; all a far cry from the early days of the 69-year-old as an apprentice at Monaco's Monte-Carlo Hôtel de Paris.
Indeed Puck has been accustomed to the Hollywood lifestyle ever since he opened his critically acclaimed Spago restaurant in Los Angeles in 1982. As well as appearances in CSI, The Simpsons and Frasier, the four-time Michelin star winner is also responsible for running the dinner service at the annual Oscars ceremony, as well as actively promoting the various charities he is a patron of.
3. Gordon Ramsay
Estimated net worth: $190 million (£143.9 million)
After a very good year in which his net worth has risen by almost 40%, Gordon Ramsay can be forgiven for taking things a little slower. It seems impossible, however, with two new restaurants opening recently, a whole host of emerging British culinary talent that he's keen to teach and hopes of more Michelin stars.
Indeed, given his terrifying reputation, few can argue against the implacable work ethic that the 52-year-old Scot applies to his culinary pursuits and company. To date, Ramsay's restaurants have earned an impressive number of 16 Michelin Stars (7 of which have been retained), while Gordon Ramsay Holdings – which operates its companies – consistently earns 8-figure annual revenues.
Although Ramsay tends to be judged on his cooking by his own admission, much of his recognition comes from his television work, where his fiery presence constantly draws millions of viewers on shows such as Kitchen Nightmares, Hell's Kitchen and The F Word. He also plays executive advisory duties and has appeared in many high-profile TV productions such as The Simpsons, New Girl and Extras as himself.
2. Nobu Matsuhisa
Estimated net worth: $200 million (£151.5 million)
If you've ever eaten at Nobu (and, considering that there are branches all over the world, you may well have them), then you'll probably know Nobu Matsuhisa well. The 70-year-old is the co-owner of the iconic restaurant chain with none other than the acting legend Robert De Niro, a regular former patron of Beverly Hills' first restaurant Matsuhisa.
The Japanese maestro does have more contacts than Hollywood, however. Matsuhisa started mixing Peruvian ingredients into his traditional Japanese dishes after being convinced to leave his native Tokyo for Peru in 1973, developing his signature fusion style. Some of these tips have been included in his cookbook series (the latest of which, World of Nobu, is expected in April 2019), while his investments with De Niro – including hotels in Las Vegas, Manila and, as of July 2019, Chicago – are also on the rise.
Occasionally, with his A-list clients, Matsuhisa also appears on screen, having landed small acting parts in Casino, Geisha Memoirs, and Goldmember Austin Powers.
1. Jamie Oliver
Estimated net worth: $372 million (£281.7 million)
But still sitting confidently on top of the pile is a cheeky Essex chappie with just two GCSEs to his specifically branded name. Jamie Oliver saw it all when he rose to become the world's highest-paid chef – and one of Britain's most remarkable success stories.
The 43-year-old has worked on a multitude of television shows and best-selling cookbooks focused on improving the diet of children on both sides of the Atlantic since she began as a pastry chef under Antonio Carluccio and Gennaro Contaldo (of Greedy's Italians fame). He has also signed several lucrative sponsorship deals with the UK supermarket chain Tesco, most recently.
However it wasn't just smooth sailing. Jamie's Italian, Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group's flagship business, saw 12 of its UK branches closing in the past year amid debts of about £71 million ($93.8 million) – including over £2 million ($2.6 million) in unpaid wages – with ailing company urgently seeking new investment to protect its future. Oliver's corporate relations with the oil company Shell have also been questioned.
Given these setbacks, the favorite son of Essex appears undeterred. His latest television series Jamie Cooks Italy (and its accompanying recipe book) was a huge success, while in January 2019 his new literary offering of 5 Ingredients was published.
Many of our readers have questioned why the Japanese-American restaurateur Alan Wong, who is estimated to own a fortune of more than $1.1 billion (£833 million), is not on this list. Wong, who owns three restaurants in Hawaii, is credited, for unexplained reasons, to have acquired this figure through investments in the electronics industry, a career path that sounds remarkably similar to business magnate Allan Wong in Hong Kong. Therefore, we conclude that this is a longstanding technical mistake that the source that reported it has never discussed and that, while certainly rich, Alan Wong does not have a net worth of $1.1bn.
In a similar vein, it was announced in April 2018 that a Singaporean equity fund had priced the Nusr-Et restaurant empire created by Turkish steak chef Nusret Gökçe (aka Salt Bae) at $1.2 billion (£908.7 million), and that Gökçe himself was therefore worth this amount. Although the salt sensation's real net worth is notoriously difficult to pin down, what is clear is that the $1.2 billion valuation was for Nusr-Et's parent company D.ream (which operates 169 other restaurants across the globe) and not only for Gökçe's properties.
As you can see, there's plenty of money to be made in the culinary world, with most of these cooks mixing their kitchen talents with a head for business; combined earnings among these 10 celebrity chefs reach more than $1,16 billion (£879,9 million) alone!
If you want to get interested in the fine dining world then make sure you check out our handy guides to becoming a chef, chocolatier or sommelier and who knows? You could be on a future version of this chart!
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