Though his body, mind, and spirit are firmly rooted in the ‘90s, Guy Fieri has proven to be a modern-day success. The 50-year-old chef opened his first restaurant in 1996, but he didn’t become a household name until 10 years later. Fieri’s stint on The Next Food Network Star won him a six-episodes of a TV show on the network. He called it Guy’s Big Bite.
A year later, Fieri’s second series — Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives — premiered. It’s his most notable show to date, but the chef went on to star in or make an appearance on a dozen others. At the same time, his Flavortown empire was booming: Fieri’s currently up to 16 different restaurants, and no location is too far-flung far him to conquer. Guy Fieri’s South Africa Kitchen & Bar and his soon-to-launch spot in Dubai are proof.
According to Forbes’ round-up of top-earning chefs, Fieri is worth $8 million, which is a far cry from other celeb chefs. Gordon Ramsay is worth a reported $60 million. He’s also behind Rachael Ray and Bobby Flay on the list. But Fieri has a rep for giving back. After the wildfires in Northern California — where he’s from — Fieri set up a trailer to cook pulled pork for evacuees and volunteers. And he’s got even bigger plans for the future. He began a prototype on a 48-foot trailer that houses a commercial kitchen and can be deployed in emergencies.
Fieri may not be the chef with the biggest bank account, but he’s surely the one with the biggest heart.
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