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If you want to really take in the bucks as a chef, you need a TV show. That's one lesson learned from the Forbes list of top-earning chefs.
Rachael Ray is at the top of the pile, earning an estimated $18 million a year for her tv shows, magazine, products and, don't forget, the Dunkin' Donuts endorsement. And the dog food, now available at Wal-Mart.
Wolfgang Puck comes in second with $16 million, mostly from restaurants and sales on the Home Shopping Network.
Check the top 10 list here. No Dallas chefs made the top 10, but Tom Colicchio of Craft and Nobu Matsuhisa both have restaurants here, and Wolfie will soon take over the restaurant at the top of Reunion Tower.
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I seriously believe that Batali's and Flay's numbers must have an asterisk somewhere... I cannot fathom that Bobby Flay only rakes $1.5 mil/year from his restaurants, books, shows, etc. - turn on FN any random time and chances are 2:1 you'll see his goofy mug cooking, yapping or throwin' down.
And RR isn't a "chef."
I'm with you on that -- Rach is NOT a chef. But remember this list is from FORBES. They probably think anybody involved in cooking = "chef."
So what about Paula Deen? She's on the list. She at least owns a restaurant. But I wouldn't exactly count her as a chef either.
Maybe it was in this calendar year but didn't emeril sell out to Fine Living/Martha Stewart for $50M?
Bobby Flay only $1.5M? No way. Also very hard to believe Gordon Ramsey isn't higher.
Yummo and EVOO = $18M. Wow.
Wow is right. I was just saying today that FN is starting to wear me out trying to create celebrities when there are so many real chefs out there already. I mean, why does anyone really care about Rachel Ray? And I've got this feeling that old Paula might not be quite so sweet as she seems...
I would not feed Rachel to my dogs, ever. Too high in fat.