It’s more “dream” than “Kitchen Nightmare.”
Gordon Ramsay’s net worth in 2024 is the result of good business acumen as much as a great beef Wellington recipe.
The famously foul-mouthed chef has cooked up a fortune over the last three decades, first as one of the U.K.’s most celebrated restaurateurs, then as one of TV’s most beloved curmudgeons (with a heart of gold underneath all those curse words).
Ramsay credits his work ethic for his success, and he has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
“When I started this career, it was nothing to do with money—it was passion and the drive to be the best,” he told The New York Times. “The longevity comes down to not taking anything for granted.”
Read on to find out the ingredients to Ramsay’s success.
How did Gordon Ramsay become famous?
Ramsay was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and grew up dreaming of being a professional soccer player (or as he and other Brits would call it, a “footballer”), though he started cooking as a hobby in his teens. A career-ending injury dashed those dreams but drew his attention to a new passion: hospitality.
Ramsay went back to school to study hotel management, and while there, further developed his love of cooking. He trained under London chefs Albert Roux and Marco Pierre White, then in France with Joël Robuchon and Guy Savoy.
After a year-long sabbatical in which he cooked on a yacht in Bermuda, he returned to London in 1993 and became head chef (with a 10% ownership share) of the Rossmore, which was later renamed Aubergine. He stayed until July 1998, when he left to start his own eatery, The New York Times reported, a move that caused a massive staff walkout.
Later that year, Ramsay opened his eponymous eatery, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in London’s Chelsea neighborhood.
In 1999, he became the subject of the documentary Boiling Point, followed by its sequel, Beyond Boiling Point, a year later. The original U.K. versions of Kitchen Nightmares (titled Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares) and Hell’s Kitchen each premiered in 2004. In 2005, Ramsay became a full-fledged star stateside with the Fox adaptation of Hell’s Kitchen. Two years later, the American Kitchen Nightmares premiered on Fox, further cementing Ramsay’s role as one of the world’s best and most cantankerous cooks—and one of the world’s wealthiest chefs.
Just make sure you don’t call him a “TV chef.”
“I’m not a TV chef,” he asserted to The New York Times. “I’m a serious chef, and I happen to work on TV.”
What is Gordon Ramsay’s net worth in 2024?
Gordon Ramsay’s net worth in 2024 is estimated at a cool $220 million. This is thanks to his success as a chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, TV personality and producer.
And Ramsay’s empire just keeps growing: In 2019, he inked a private equity deal with Lion Capital to form Gordon Ramsay North America, a subsidiary of his Gordon Ramsay Holdings, Forbes reported, worth a reported $100 million. Ramsay and Lion each have a 50% stake in the subsidiary. Initially planned as a venture to open 100 restaurants in the United States by 2024, the COVID-19 pandemic bumped the number down to 75 by 2026.
Ramsay’s brand extends beyond TV and restaurants: He’s got his own wine brand, is a partial owner of the HexClad cookware line, has a line of frozen entrees, and, as of September 2021, has his own cooking school in the U.K.
How much does Gordon Ramsay make a year?
Ramsay’s annual pay varies depending on the projects he takes on and his restaurant performance, but in 2020 alone, Forbes reported that he raked in a whopping $70 million in net income. In 2019, he reportedly made $63 million.
How much does Gordon Ramsay make per episode?
For his various TV ventures, Ramsay reportedly earns around $225,000 per episode as a host and a producer.
How many restaurants does Gordon Ramsay own?
As of this writing in April 2024, Ramsay owns 58 different restaurants and bars worldwide. When you include not just sit-down restaurants, but also food court stands and food hall stalls, that number jumps to 80.
Does Gordon Ramsay make money off the restaurants he helps?
While Ramsay doesn’t directly profit from the restaurants he helps in Kitchen Nightmares, he’s estimated to earn $225,000 per episode.
What is the revenue of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants?
Despite taking a hit in the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, Ramsay’s restaurants reportedly earned a healthy $96 million in 2022.
Does Gordon Ramsay tip?
A waitress who once served Ramsay at a restaurant said he’s generally delightful and a generous tipper, according to Cornwall Live.
What is Gordon Ramsay’s signature dish?
The man can cook just about anything on the planet, but he’s perhaps best known for his Beef Wellington.