Listen Live
Fantastic Voyage Generic Graphics Updated Nov 2023
Black America Web Featured Video
CLOSE

Chef Gordon Ramsay has been named the U.S’s highest earning chef by grossing an estimated $38 million this year.

Ramsay, who owns 24 restaurants worldwide, has several cookbooks and received 11 Michelin medals for his work. He is also known as the tongue-lashing expert featured on cooking shows like Master Chef and Hell’s Kitchen.

"They are very diversified," said Dorothy Pomerantz of Forbes.com. "There is nobody who just has restaurants. TV is a huge factor in making this list because they make so much more money from television than they can from their restaurants."

The food extraordinaire out grossed Rachel Ray and Wolfgang Puck who took second and third place with earnings of $20 million and $25 million respectively. 

Paula Dean, known for her southern-inspired cuisines and Mario Batali, the owner of several restaurants and the star of ABC’s The Chew also made the top five. Dean earned $17 million while Batali grossed $13 million.

Forbes’ lists also highlighted restaurants that made big money this year.

Bob Chinn's Crab House Restaurant in Wheeling, Illinois was named the top earning restaurant making an estimated $24 million this year. The 89-year old owner attributed the restaurant’s success to delivering fresh seafood daily.

The Grill on Main in Edgartown, Massachusetts came in second grossing $23.5 million. Sparks Steak House in New York City followed in third place with earnings of $23 million.

"It is an unusual list," said Pomerantz. "We are looking at just food sales, not alcohol. It is standalone restaurants, so that cut some places out."

CHD Expert, a specialist in food service gathered the information by examining restaurant earnings over a 12-month period ending in June 2011. Each restaurant included in the top 10 list grossed $16 million and more.