These days, chefs seem to get more TV time than many actors, and more books published than most professional writers. While some are still toiling away at the oven, more and more chefs seem to be realizing that the quickest way to fame and fortune is to abandon the kitchen for the film set. In turn, they have enjoyed popularity as their talents have been displayed on television shows which have evolved into entire networks devoted to food.
Passionate folks who collected recipes and cookbooks in the past now have access to amazing chefs who demonstrate not only their favorite recipes, but how to cook them properly. Franchising intellectual property related to food, and eateries has made the best celebrity chefs very wealthy. Some chefs have put their dreams and their money into some wonderful restaurants with worldwide prestige, financial success and longevity, further increasing their wealth.
Here are the top 20 richest chefs in the world.
| Rank | Name | Net Worth |
| 1. | Jamie Oliver | $300 million |
| 2. | Gordon Ramsay | $220 million |
| 3. | Nobu Matsuhisa | $200 million |
| 4. | Thomas Keller | $130 million |
| 5. | Wolfgang Puck | $90 million |
| 6. | Rachael Ray | $80 million |
| 7. | Emeril Lagasse | $70 million |
| 8. | David Chang | $60 million |
| 9. | Jose Andrés | $50 million |
| 10. | Ina Garten | $50 million |
| 11. | Vikram Vij | $50 million |
| 12. | Charlie Ayers | $47 million |
| 13. | Levi Roots | $45 million |
| 14. | Marco Pierre White | $40 million |
| 15. | Bobby Flay | $35 million |
| 16. | Giada De Laurentiis | $30 million |
| 17. | Rick Bayless | $30 million |
| 18. | Mario Batali | $25 million |
| 19. | Guy Fieri | $20 million |
| 20. | Tom Colicchio | $20 million |
