Alan Wong is a chef and restaurateur known as one of 12 co-founders (along with Sam Choy, Roy Ambel Yamaguchi, Peter Merriman, Bev Gannon, and more) of Hawaii Regional Cuisine. They came together to form an organization to create a new American regional cuisine, highlighting Hawaii's locally grown ingredients and diverse ethnic styles. In 1994 they all came together and compiled a cookbook, The New Cuisine of Hawaii, to be sold for charity. Wong and Choy are alumni of the Kapiolani Community College Culinary Arts program. Wong had several restaurants in Hawaii, as well as one in Japan.

It's no surprise that Alan Wrong is the richest chef on our list with a net worth of $1.1 billion. Wong was also the judge on the food network television program ‘Top Chef.’ He has even cooked Luau for President Obama at the White house. Alan Wong was also awarded the ‘Chef of the Year title’ by Sante Magazine in 2001.

Net assets: $1,1 billion

Jamie Oliver is a British chef with a net worth of $400 billion. He is known for his simple dishes and nowadays is popular on Youtube for his cooking tutorials. He is one of the celebrity chefs who have their own television shows. Oliver’s cooking style led him to host ‘The Naked Chef.’ Jamie Oliver also has a chain of restaurants known as ‘Jamie’s Italian,’ and on some of the branches, he is the executive chef. His restaurant franchise is known as ‘Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group.’

Oliver was the sous chef early in his career. In 1999 BBC scouted him. BBC aired his show ‘The Naked Chef.’ He is also the author of cookbooks that have remained No. 1 bestseller in the UK. He has also released Jamie’s Kitchen Documentary. This gained him so much attention that he was invited by Prime Minister Tony Blair to visit 10 Downing street. Jamie Oliver was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2003.

Net assets: $400 billion

Gordon Ramsay is the third richest chef in the world with $220 million. He is a British celebrity chef who is also a writer, television personality, and owner of various restaurants around the world. His restaurants have been awarded 16 Michelin stars. Ramsay has been able to hold onto seven Michelin stars to date. Gordon Ramsay was also awarded the Catey award for ‘Independent Restaurateur of the Year,’ becoming the third person to win this award thrice.

In various television shows, Gordon Ramsay is now including ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ ‘MasterChef,’ and ‘Hotel Hell. Gordon Ramsay was honored with the Officier of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), New Year Honours list for services to the hospitality industry, by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2022, Ramsay was listed as the 19th highest-earning celebrity by Forbes. The British Chef has 35 restaurants all over the world. He is also the star of popular reality shows like Hell's Kitchen and MasterChef.

Net assets: $220 Million

Nobu Matsuhisa is a Japanese richest chef and restaurateur with a worth of $200 million, he’s best known for his fusion cuisine of Japanese dishes and Peruvian ingredients. He started his culinary career working at a Sushi restaurant in Shinjuku, Tokyo, where he stayed for around seven years. He was then invited to open a restaurant in Peru by one of his customers, which he did, and through a lack of access to ingredients that he was used to using in Japan, his fusion style was born.

Nobu then moved to Alaska, where he opened his next restaurant, which unfortunately burnt down due to an electrical fire. He finally landed in Los Angeles, California, where he opened Matsuhisa on La Cienega Boulevard. Nobu Matsuhisa has also appeared in three major movies. His most popular fusion dish is the black cod in miso. Matsuhisa owns different restaurants around the world; some of them are located in Armani, Matsuhisa, and Nobu.

Net assets: $200 million

With a $130 million net worth, Thomas Keller is the fifth richest chef in the world. The American born celebrity chef, restaurateur and cookbook author, He is popular for owning the restaurant ‘The French Laundry.’ which has won various awards from the James Beard Foundation. Thomas Keller has received two awards for outstanding work: ‘the Best California Chef in 1996’ and ‘the Best Chef in America in 1997.’ In the culinary industry, Thomas Keller is known for his unmatched French cuisine skills.

His career began working in his mother’s restaurant, before being mentored by Roland Henin, a French-born Master Chef, who taught him the fundamentals of cooking. After paying his dues, he was ready to go it alone and opened his first restaurant, Rakel, in early 1987. In 2005 he was awarded the three-star rating in the inaugural Michelin Guide for his restaurant, Per Se, and currently holds seven Michelin stars in total.

Net assets: $130 million

With $90 million as the net worth Wolfgang Puck, an Austrian American is the sixth richest chef in the world. He’s an Austrian-American chef, restaurateur, and actor that moved to the United States from Austria at the age of 24. Puck opened his first restaurant in1982 by the name ‘Spago.’ He learned cooking from his mother who was a pastry chef. Puck received the official culinary training from Raymond Thuilier at L’Oustau de Baumanière in Les Baux-de-Provence, and at Maxim’s Paris.

Two years later, he moved to Los Angeles and became part owner of Ma Maison restaurant. From there, his success in the restaurant business, allowed him to launch Wolfgang Puck Companies, which includes over twenty fine dining restaurants, premium catering services, and kitchen and food merchandise like cookbooks, canned food, and coffee. With his current restaurant chain, I firmly believe that the fortune does not stop at $90 million, it will grow even more.

Net assets: $90 million

Rachael Ray is the seventh richest chef with a net worth of $80 million. Moreover, she is also an author, television personality, and businesswoman. She is renowned worldwide for her “quick and easy” cooking style, which helps people prepare and cook healthy recipes in 30 minutes or less. Rachel Ray is an outstanding lifestyle host. She hosts different television programs, including ‘Racheal Ray’ and ‘30 Minute Meals’ on the Food Network. She has also won the ‘Daytime Emmy Award’ thrice.

Ray even has her own magazine called ‘Every Day with Rachael Ray.’ She helped popularize the phrase EVOO (extra virgin olive oil). It became so popular that the Oxford American College Dictionary added the term EVOO and credited her for the contribution. Her causes helped launch her into the television industry, and she quickly became one of the leading celebrity chefs in the world. Not only is she a chef, but she also works in many different fields as an entrepreneur, which means her fortune will increase over time.

Net assets: $80 million

Emeril Lagasse is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, cookbook author, and National Best Recipe award winner for his "Turkey and Hot Sausage Chili" recipe in 2003. He is a regional James Beard Award winner, known for his mastery of Creole and Cajun cuisine and his self-developed "New New Orleans" style.

Emeril Lagasse is an American chef with a net worth of $70 million. He is an alumnus of Johnson & Wales University. Lagasse became Executive Chef at the Dunfey’s Hyannis Resort in 1979. He is proficient in Portuguese and French cuisine.

He opened his first restaurant by the name ‘Emeril’s.’ Emeril Lagasse even has his own cooking style called New New Orleans Style. He was named chef of the Year in 1983. Emeril Lagasse has also won the best recipe title for his ‘Turkey and Hot Sausage Chili.’ He has appeared on a wide variety of cooking TV shows, including the long-running Food Network shows Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril, and is associated with several catchphrases, including "Kick it up a notch!" and "Bam!" Lagasse's portfolio of media, products, and restaurants generates an estimated US$150 million annually in revenue.

Net assets: $70 million

David Chang is the ninth richest celebrity with a net worth of $60 million. Chang is a chef, television host, podcast host, and writer too. He founded the Momofuku restaurant group, including ‘Momofuku Noodle Bar,’ ‘Momofuku Ssäm Bar,’ ‘Mail Bar,’ and ‘Momofuku Ko.’

Chang’s restaurant Momofuku Noodle Bar has been awarded two Michelin stars. He also created, produced, and starred in a Netflix original series called ‘Ugly Delicious.’ His other Netflix project was a very successful show titled ‘Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.’

Chang received his formal culinary training from the French Culinary Institute, which is now known as the International Culinary Center located in New York City. David Chang also hosts the ‘The Dave Chang Show’ as his regular podcast. He also hosts the show’s spinoff with a guest host Chris Ying called ‘The Recipe Club.’ On November 29, 2020, he became the first celebrity to win the $1,000,000 top prize for his charity, Southern Smoke Foundation, and the fourteenth overall million dollar winner on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Net assets: $60 million

Next on my list is popular female celebrity chef Ina Garten. Ina Garten is an American chef and author with a net worth of $50 million.

Ina Garten is a former staff member of the White House Office of Management and Budget. She was primarily mentored by Eli Zabar (owner of Eli's Manhattan and Eli's Breads), Anna Pump, and food connoisseur Martha Stewart. Among her dishes are cœur à la crème, celery root remoulade, pear clafouti, and a simplified version of beef bourguignon. Her culinary career began with her gourmet food store, Barefoot Contessa, Garten then expanded her activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded convenience products, and a popular Food Network television show.

She has no formal training as a chef and was inspired by cookbooks from “Time-Life.” Ina polished her skills by seeking suggestions from her friends and family. Afterward, she opened her gourmet food store ‘Barefoot Contessa’ and several books. Ina was also the host for Barefoot Contessa on the Food network. She also released her cookbook in 2020 named ‘Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa'.

Net assets: $50 million