Celebrity chefs have become a global phenomenon. Many have combined their screen presence and culinary skills to amass impressive wealth. Jamie Oliver is one of the most well-known celebrity chefs and has made a name for himself in a cutthroat industry. Oliver’s fortune makes him one of the richest celebrity chefs in the world.
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What is Jamie Oliver’s net worth and how did he get rich?
Oliver stepped into the limelight almost by accident and pure destiny. While working in a restaurant, a BBC crew wanted to film the goings-on in the restaurant. Oliver wasn’t supposed to come to work that day. He had just been given a day off and was planning to spend some time with then-girlfriend and now-wife Juliette Norton.
However, Oliver’s boss called him at 11am to show up and the chef considered turning it down. However, he said his father taught him a lot of a work ethic that nagged at him, and he eventually decided to go to work.
Unbeknownst to him, Oliver was about to be thrust into the spotlight. That day he got his first cooking experience in front of the camera. Two years after the special aired, Oliver landed his own show called The naked cook.
Things have been looking up for the chef since then, and although he dabbled in writing cookbooks, he stayed in the restaurant business and opened his own restaurants. According to Wealthy Gorilla, Oliver is worth an impressive $200 million.
How does Jamie Oliver’s net worth compare to other celebrity chefs?
Food is big business and combining it with TV appearances makes a lot of money, and chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Oliver and Alan Wong know that. The three are the wealthiest celebrity chefs, led by Wong.
According to Wealthy Gorilla, Wong is worth an impressive $1.1 billion, making him the richest celebrity chef in the world. Wong is one of the 12 co-founders of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, which seeks to showcase the beauty of Hawaiian cuisine. He also owns several restaurants in Hawaii and Japan and served on the jury in top chef.
Next up is Ramsay, just $20 million richer than his counterpart Oliver, with a net worth of $220 million. Ramsay rose to fame after appearing in boiling point. Already in 2004 he had made a name for himself in the culinary world. The multi-talented chef has built his fortune through multiple cookbooks, TV appearances, sponsorships and restaurants.
Why Jamie Oliver might be the world’s most hated celebrity chef
Although Oliver is a super talented chef, his personal life can sometimes get in the way. Oliver has faced several scandals but none as big as when he tried to lobby for schools to make healthier meals for children. Although it was a noble initiative, Oliver cried real tears when the US didn’t heed his advice.
The star chef also earned his money in a dubious way. According to Mashed, Oliver made $6.3 million from a partnership with gas giant Shell, which has been linked to multiple scandals including environmental destruction and bribes. He also struck a multi-million dollar deal with Sainsbury’s after lecturing the public on animal exploitation.
Oliver may also have the biggest ego of any celebrity chef. At a meeting with The Guardian in 2010, Oliver kept complaining about the interview, to the point that the interviewer feared he might leave at any time. Oliver has also come under fire with his dishes for what many consider cultural appropriation; The most notable example is his jerk circle.
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