Rich Dudes│How Gordon Ramsay’s Net Worth Reached a Broiling $220M

Gordon Ramsay is a prominent British chef who has made a significant impact in the hospitality industry, amassing a $220 million net worth and awarded an Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for his contributions.

Put simply, if you can survive the wrath of this culinary king then you know you can make it in the kitchen.

Gordon Ramsay net worth at a glance

Initially pursuing a football career in his teens, untimely injuries led Gordon Ramsay to redirect his focus to culinary arts at age 19 by enrolling in North Oxfordshire Technical College. Subsequently, Ramsay took up numerous roles in hotels and restaurants throughout England, eventually working for over two years at Marco Pierre White's renowned Harvey’s.

At this point, Ramsay recognized the importance of mastering French cuisine for his career advancement, so he heeded the advice and began working at Le Gavroche under Albert Roux. During his tenure at Le Gavroche, Ramsay connected with Jean-Claude Breton, who later assumed the role of maître d'hôtel at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

After honing his skills in French cuisine, Ramsay became head chef at La Tante Claire in London in 1993. He later joined Rossmore as head chef with a 10% share and opened Aubergine, which earned two Michelin stars by 1997 with the help of his business partner Marco Pierre White.

In 1998, Ramsay opened Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, which gained its third Michelin star in 2001, making him the first Scottish chef to accomplish this.

Throughout his career, Ramsay has earned 22 Michelin stars. However, as of 2023, he holds steady at 7 Michelin stars—still more than most chefs could ever dream of achieving.

Intriguingly, Gordon Ramsay's success expands beyond his chef and TV persona, as he also thrives as a bestselling author. His literary collection encompasses numerous engaging works, including his captivating autobiography Roasting in Hell's Kitchen.

Moreover, Ramsay's enticing cookbooks celebrate his unmistakable flair for vibrant flavors and premium ingredients and are favored by both homegrown talents and culinary masters.

Gordon Ramsay's $220 million net worth comes from investments in successful restaurants, TV shows, real estate, and automobiles.

Restaurants

Gordon Ramsay established himself as a multi-millionaire business magnate and global culinary sensation who successfully built and invested in numerous startup ventures. As one of the world's richest chefs, Ramsay shares the spotlight with other renowned figures such as Bobby Flay.

In 1997, Ramsay set the ball rolling by establishing Gordon Ramsay Holdings Limited, the company that holds all of his business interests, including restaurants, media, and consultancy. Ramsay is a majority stakeholder of the company with a huge 69% share—valued at an impressive $82.5 million in 2007.

Ramsay signed on with Singapore Airlines in 2005 as one of its International Culinary Panel consultants, highlighting his expert global expertise in the industry. Between 2006 and 2007, Ramsay opened three restaurants in the United States—the London Hotel in Manhattan, the Cielo in Boca Raton, Florida, and the London Hotel in West Hollywood, California.

Around the same time, Ramsay purchased three London pubs which he then remodeled into gastropubs. He opened The Narrow in Limehouse, The Devonshire in Chiswick, and The Warrington in Maida Vale in 2007, 2008, and 2011, respectively. In 2011, The Devonshire sold for an undisclosed sum, while The Warrington also sold for around $6.8 million.

Ramsay went international in 2012 with the opening of Gordon Ramsay Burger (also known as BurGR) in Las Vegas, which expanded to Seoul, Boston, and Chicago, as well as London's Harrods Department Store. In 2013, he teamed up with footballer David Beckham to open the Union Street Cafe in London, featuring Italian cuisine overseen by Chef Davide Degiovanni.

Ramsay's first major setback came in the same year when Michael Ellis of the Michelin Guide declared Gordon Ramsay at The London in New York as having "some very erratic meals" and reportedly called attention to "issues with consistency," subsequently causing it to lose its two Michelin stars and close in 2014.

It wasn't until 2018 that Ramsay opened his first location of Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen restaurant in Las Vegas. The restaurant based on the popular television show has since opened up locations in California and Washington D.C. with six other locations announced in Dubai and the U.S.

Back in 2019, Ramsay made a shrewd business move by selling 50% of his holdings company's North American branch to Lion Capital. This deal enabled Lion Capital to make a hefty investment of $100 million which would go towards building 100 Gordon Ramsay restaurants all over the United States by the year 2024.

Ramsay also has Street Pizzas, Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, and Street Burgers, and the Gordon Ramsay Academy opened in 2021. Additionally, he has his own wine brand called Gordon Ramsay Signature Wines, a collaboration with Master Sommelier Chris Miller and international wine expert Nick Dumergue at Seabold Cellars in Monterey, California.

Throughout his career, Ramsay has opened nearly 150 restaurants—all under different names and spread across different locations, many of which are now closed.

There's a positive outlook for the restaurant industry, and it's forecasted that the food service industry will reach nearly $1 trillion in sales in 2023. Overall, the outlook for the restaurant industry appears to be one of continued growth and success in the coming years.

Television shows

Gordon Ramsay makes money from his TV shows by bringing in millions in ad revenue. From 2004 to 2014, Ramsay’s British series Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares helped failing restaurants turn a profit.

This show found success that led to an American adaptation that aired from 2007 to 2014. Ramsay also hosted the challenge show Hell’s Kitchen focused on turning aspiring cooks into star chefs.

Fox also announced a joint venture in 2021 alongside Ramsay, and the Studio Ramsay Global Productions company will create cooking and lifestyle shows for the network and the streaming platform Tubi.

Ramsay's shows are bringing in big bucks in ad revenue, raking in over $150 million in 2020 alone. Not to mention he's been featured in 12 other shows between 2005 and 2017.

Gordon Ramsay is making an absolute killing on his TV shows. He's a fan favorite on Fox, and his partnership with the network looks to have a bright future. Plus, who doesn't love watching this foul-mouthed chef make the world a tastier place?

The entertainment and media industry is projected to grow significantly in 2023 and beyond. After a brief decline in 2020, revenues bounced back by a strong 10.4% the following year. This growth is expected to continue, with the industry approaching a forecasted $3 trillion in revenue by 2026.

Real estate

From a former bank in Cornwall which he transformed into a luxurious vacation house to a soaring two-story guest house in London and a sprawling Californian mansion in Bel Air, Gordon Ramsay has a couple of impressive real estate investments.

In 2020, Gordon Ramsay sold his Trevail House in Cornwall for a hair-raising $3.4 million. And in 2021, he followed it up by selling the Daymer Bay House in Trebetherick for a staggering $9.2 million—a property he bought for $5.4 million back in 2016.

In 2015, the television personality took a grand leap ahead of the competition and acquired a hefty Rock property in Cornwall for $5.4 million. This imposing mansion boasts a great view of the Carmel Estuary, a large swimming pool, and two houses—a main house and a smaller Garden house.

Back in 2002, the celebrity chef ventured deeper into the real estate world by buying his current primary residence in Wandsworth, London, for $8.6 million. After purchasing it, Gordon didn't miss a beat on renovations—turning four bedrooms into one large master bedroom with two ensuite bathrooms and a walk-in closet. Additionally, the house includes a jacuzzi, an infinity pool, and rolling grass.

To top it all off, Gordon Ramsay acquired a one-acre property in Bel Air, Los Angeles, in 2012 for a gigantic $6.75 million. This Californian mansion includes a swimming pool,  six bathrooms, five bedrooms, and a luxurious kitchen.

The real estate market is forecasted to hit $8 trillion by 2028—that’s a lot of zeros. So, you might want to consider putting your money to work now by investing in properties.

Automobiles

Gordon Ramsay's world-famous cooking empire has earned him the kind of wealth that normies only dream of achieving—and that fortune comes with some incredibly desirable cars.

 If you were to take a peek into Gordon’s garage, here's what you'd find:

Cars aren't just for getting from point A to point B, they can also be a solid investment. With new car prices soaring over 4% year-over-year as of January 2023, and used car prices 30% higher since the pandemic, you could be sitting on a goldmine. The best classic cars have the most long-term investment potential.

1. Climb your way to the top

2. Focus on what’s next

3. Never compromise yourself