Known for his spiky, sandy-blonde hair and enormous appetite, Guy Fieri is the highest-paid celebrity chef on cable television. The 54-year-old hosts the critically acclaimed Diners, Drive-Ins and Dive and Guy’s Grocery Games on the Food Network.
Fieri recently used his newfound fortune to buy a home in Florida’s luxury West Palm Beach neighborhood with his 26-year-old wife, Lori, after signing a new deal with the network in 2021, according to People magazine. Fieri is considered the face of the cooking network and is by far the most popular host, especially among the network’s male audience.
“We’ve been trying to get a spot in Florida for a long time,” Fieri told the magazine in May 2021.
“It was a constant joke that whenever I went to the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, someone would say to me, ‘So when are you moving to Florida?’ I would always say, “We’re looking. We’re looking for a house.” Because I love Florida. i love people I love the culture.”
CELEB CHEF GUY FIERI TAKES HIS CHICKEN JOINTS TO THE COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL
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How much money does Guy Fieri make from TV?
Last year, the chef reportedly signed an $80 million deal with the Food Network to host his two shows over a three-year period. According to Forbes, the new deal is a $30 million increase over Fieri’s previous $50 million deal.
Fieri makes about $26 million a year, which is more than its rival celebrity chefs like Emeril Lagasse, who made $8 million, and Gordon Ramsay, who made about $20 million last year. His signature show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dive, first aired in 2006 and, after 33 seasons, generated more than $230 million in advertising revenue in 2020.
“I got the chance of a lifetime,” Fieri told the Hollywood Reporter after the deal. “I think I played it well.”
How did Guy Fieri become famous?
The $80 million deal represents a new level of success for Fieri, who for most of his career has been looked down on by other celebrity chefs for his humble origins and simple tastes. Fieri started in the food industry at the age of 10, selling pretzels at a stand. He studied cooking in France and later moved to Las Vegas to study Hospitality Management at the University of Nevada.
In 2006, Fieri was able to host his own show on the Food Network after winning the second season of Next Food Network Star. The show “Guy’s Big Bite” lasted only six episodes and Fieri earned approximately $1,000 per episode.
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However, by 2010, the Ohio native was one of the most popular stars on the network when he premiered on Diners, Driven Ins and Dives. The show follows Fieri as he journeys across the United States, Canada and Mexico as he eats unique foods from popular local diners, drive-thru restaurants and dive bars.
As of 2019, Fieri, along with the late Julia Child, became the fourth celebrity chef to be recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has been featured in more than 14 series on the Food Network.
How many restaurants does Guy Fieri own?
Fieri, through his company Knuckle Sandwich LLC, recently launched Flavortown Kitchens, a virtual brand with more than 175 locations worldwide, according to the chef’s website. In addition, Fieri owns more than 80 other restaurants under multiple brands, including Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar and Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise Lines.
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