Estimated Net Worth: $20 million
Restaurant: Le Bernardin, Blue
As Seen On: Avec Eric
Things always sound better when you say they are French. Exhibit A would have to be French fries. Exhibit B would be French chef Eric Ripert. His culinary abilities are fully on display when he deals with seafood and modern French cuisine.
Le Bernadine, Ripert’s flagship restaurant in New York City is highly praised. The New York Times has ranked it at number 17 of the 50 best restaurants in the world. The Michelin Guide also speaks highly of the place and gives it a three-star rating. His career also includes TV appearances, friendship with late chef Anthony Bourdain, and more than 10 cookbooks.
Alan Wong
Estimated Net Worth: $1.1 billion
Restaurant: The Pineapple Room, King Street, and Shanghai
As Seen On: N/A
A net worth of $1.1 billion makes Alan Wong the richest celebrity chef in the world. His most famous work was co-founding the Hawaii Regional Cuisine, a company designed to highlight Hawaiian local food and ingredients as a new American cuisine.
A large part of his fortune comes from his Hawaii Regional Cuisine, and the rest comes from the several restaurants owned by him. Sante Magazine named Wong Chef of the Year in 2001 and he has even cooked a traditional luau for President Obama at the White House!
Christopher Kimball
Estimated Net Worth: $20 million
Restaurant: Christopher Kimball's Milk Street
As Seen On: America's Test Kitchen, Christopher Kimball's Milk Street, and more
Born in New York in 1951, Christopher Kimball has accomplished quite a bit in his decades-long career. Other than being a chef, he is also a publisher, editor, and media personality. No wonder he has accumulated a net worth of $20 million.
Over the years, he has founded a number of cooking magazines (Cook's Magazine, Cook's Illustrated Magazine, and Cook's Country Magazine) but that isn't even the tip of the iceberg that is his writing career. He wrote several cookbooks, including "The Cook's Bible," "The Yellow Farmhouse Cookbook," and "The Dessert Bible." Oh, and he's hosted cooking shows both on TV and on the radio.
Gastón Acurio
Estimated Net Worth: $20 million
Restaurant: Astrid & Gaston, Café del Museo, Madam Tusan, and more
As Seen On: Aventura Culinaria and more
Born in Lima, Peru in 1967, Gaston Acurio had initially hoped to have a career in law, similar to his father. Thank god he changed course and got his formal training as a chef at the Le Cordon Bleu in France. Today, he is a world-famous chef and is widely regarded as a Peruvian cuisine ambassador.
During his time in France, he met his wife, Astrid, and the two now manage Astrid & Gaston, their very own restaurant franchise. Much like other celebrity chefs, he also has numerous television appearances and cookbooks under his belt.
Jacques Pépin
Estimated Net Worth: $20 million
Restaurant: Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Le Pavillon, and more
As Seen On: The Complete Pépin, Fast Food My Way, and more
Jacques Pépin was born in France (no surprise with that name) and moved to the US in 1959 when he was 24 years old. His parents had a restaurant named Le Pelican, which is where he made his first steps in the culinary world. As a young chef in Paris, he has had the pleasure of serving as a personal chef for three state leaders. All of that before his 25th birthday!
They say great minds think alike, and Pépin's great mind was good friends with Julia Child's. The two co-hosted a TV show called "Julia & Jacques Cooking at Home." His life and work have been honored with many awards and accolades both in America and in France.