While the first of the “Hell’s Kitchen” winners (Michael Wray) was a man, the majority chosen since then by Gordon Ramsay have been women. Each of them claimed a cash prize and a chance to cook for the celebrity chef in one of his trademark restaurants. Take a look at the list of “Hell’s Kitchen” winners to date and find out how many are still working for Ramsay and what the rest are up to.
Hells Kitchen Winners Season 1 Michael Wray
Season 1: Michael Wray
This Fort Collins, Colorado resident was 27 when he won the first season of “Hell’s Kitchen” on Aug. 1, 2005. He opted to work with Ramsay in London but later declined to become head chef at the exclusive Standard hotel in Los Angeles. He subsequently moved to Arizona where he ran Skull and Cleavers, a knife company, and taught cooking. After battling an addiction to pain pills, he now has plans to run a food truck business
Hells Kitchen Winners Season 2 Heather West
Season 2: Heather West
This Port Jefferson, New York resident was 25 when she won the second season of “Hell’s Kitchen” on Aug. 14, 2006. For her prize, she chose to be the senior chef at the Terra Rossa restaurant at the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has since returned to Long Island, working as the head chef at three restaurants: Monteray, Jellyfish and, most recently, Schafers in her hometown. She now runs the non-profit East End Play Dates.
Hells Kitchen Winners Season 3 Rahman ‘Rock’ Harper
Season 3: Rahman ‘Rock’ Harper
This Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia resident was 30 when he won the third season of “Hell’s Kitchen” on Aug. 13, 2007. He chose to work at the Terra Verde restaurant in the Green Valley Ranch casino in Henderson, Nevada for one year. Since leaving there, he has worked as an executive chef at Ben’s Next Door in the nation’s capital, taught a course at Stanford, written the bestselling “44 Things Parents Should Know about Healthy Cooking for Kids” and now owns and operates Queen Mother’s in Arlington VA.
Hells Kitchen Winners Season 4 Christina Machamer
Season 4: Christina Machamer
This St. Louis, Missouri resident was 25 when won the fourth season of “Hell’s Kitchen” on July 8, 2008. As the first student to win, her prize was downgraded from executive to senior chef. For the past decade, she has worked in California first at London in West Hollywood and then at Bouchon Bistro in Yountville. After training to be sommelier at the Culinary Institute in Greystone, she worked at B Cellars Vineyards & Winery and the Caldwell Vineyard in Napa before opening Napa Valley Experiences.
Hells Kitchen Winners Season 5 Danny Veltri
Season 5: Danny Veltri
This Edgewater, Florida resident was only 23 when he won the fifth season of “Hell’s Kitchen” on May 14, 2009. As with Machamer, he prize was downgraded and he took up a position as a sous chef at the Fornelletto in the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After leaving there, he began his own company, Back From Hell Catering, and worked at the Gnarly Surf Bar & Grill in the Sunshine state before launching Salt Life Food Shack, which has 3 locations in Florida.
Hells Kitchen Winners Season 6 Dave Levey
Season 6: Dave Levey
This San Diego, California resident was 32 when he won the sixth season of “Hell’s Kitchen” on October 13, 2009. He worked at Araxi Restaurant in Whistler, British Columbia for several months. Since then, he has worked at restaurants in his home state of New Jersey.
Hells Kitchen Winners Season 7 Holli Ugalde
Season 7: Holli Ugalde
This San Bernardino, California resident was 24 when she won the seventh season of “Hell’s Kitchen” on August 10, 2010. When it was not possible for her to work in London’s Savoy Grill, she moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she was the executive chef at B Ocean’s. She now runs the SENS Wellness lifestyle program and markets products made on her farm.
Hells Kitchen Winners Season 8 Nona Sivley
Season 8: Nona Sivley
worked as the head Chef position at LA Market in Los Angeles, California for three year. Since then she has opened her own restaurant, Pork and Beans, in Las Vegas, Nevada and launched the Fizzy Peach catering company and grocery store in Norcross, GA.
Hells Kitchen Winners Season 9 Paul Niedermann
Season 9: Paul Niedermann
This Davie, Florida resident was 27 when he won the ninth season of “Hell’s Kitchen” on September 19, 2011. After working for the BLT Group, including a stint at BLT Steak in New York City, New York, he returned to the Sunshine State, working first at Hudson at Waterway East and then SALT7 in Delray Beach, Florida.
Hells Kitchen Winners Season 10 Christina Wilson
Season 10: Christina Wilson
This Philadelphia, Pennsylvania resident was 32 when she won the tenth season of “Hell’s Kitchen” on September 10, 2012. She worked in Las Vegas, first as the head chef at Gordon Ramsay Steak in theParis Casino and then as executive at Gordon Ramsay BurGR in the Planet Hollywood Casino before becoming Culinary Director for Gordon Ramsay North America.
