Jeff Mauro
Estimated Net Worth: $2.3 million
Restaurant: Pork and Mindy’s (closed)
As Seen On: The Kitchen
As the co-host of the Food Network series “The Kitchen” and the host of “Sandwich King,” Jeff Mauro has carved out a niche for himself as the actual Sandwich King specializing in making mouth-watering and super inventive sandwiches. He won the seventh season of the FoodNetwork Star competition, where throughout the show he remained solely focused on sandwiches. He also hosts the show $24 in 24.
In January 2014, Mauro became a co-host on the Food Network’s series “The Kitchen” along with Katie Lee, Sunny Anderson, Geoffrey Zakarian, and Marcela Valladolid. The sandwich master got his education at Bradley University, Illinois where he actually studied radio and television.
Tom Colicchio
Estimated Net Worth: $20 million
Restaurant: Gramercy Tavern
As Seen On: Top Chef
Tom Colicchio is a New Jersey-born chef who founded the Gramercy Tavern. This popular New York City establishment is rated as one of the top spots in the city. New York City. Not only is he the head chef and owner, but he also created the company Crafted Hospitality. It comprises of several restaurants that are spread across the country and include places like Craft, Riverpark, Temple Court, Craftsteak, Heritage Steak, and Small Batch. These restaurants are located all across the country.
Colicchio is also the recipient of five separate James Beard Awards over the course of his career. Of course, you would remember him for his various cooking accomplishments. He also is recognized as the recurring judge on "Top Chef," where he has sat on the panel every single season. He is currently an executive producer on the show.
Richard Blais
Estimated Net Worth: $5 million
Restaurant: Trail Blais
As Seen On: Halloween Baking Championship
This one is a "Top Chef" favorite. Blais won Bravo's "Top Chef All-Stars." His passion for food developed in McDonald's of all places. This led him to pursue the service industry full-time. He studied at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. Between semesters he studied at the French Laundry in Yountville, California, under the celebrated Chef Thomas Keller. After traveling and experimenting with multiple businesses around the world, Blais established Trail Blais, a dynamic culinary consultancy company that is behind some of Atlanta's most popular eateries.
Blais appeared on the Food Network show "Halloween Baking Championship." Avid fans might also remember him as the host of "Cook Your Ass Off." The show aired on the HLN network is a transformational culinary competition that centers on the health struggles of everyday people.
Ina Garten
Estimated Net Worth: $50 million
Restaurant: N/A
As Seen On: Barefoot Contessa
Ina Garten was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1948. She wasn't always involved in food and as a younger woman actually established her career in politics, specifically in nuclear policy analysis in the White House. Her leap to food, however, began when she discovered a specialty food store for sale in Hampton. She, together with her husband, jumped on the opportunity. The rest is history. The acquisition of the food store inspired her to write her first cookbook called "Barefoot Contessa Cookbook."
The book was received with overwhelming praise and led her to her second book, which she released in 2001. Since that first release, she has published over a dozen cookbooks and has her own show on the Food Network. The book's success led her to the popularly known show of the same name. It explores Garten's finest creations in a variety of styles. Sometimes you discover your calling later in life.
Thomas Keller
Net Worth: $130 million
Restaurant: The French Laundry
As Seen On: Ratatouille
American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook writer, Thomas Keller is probably America's most revered chef. Keller is a leader in French cuisine with his landmark Napa Valley restaurant named The French Laundry in Yountville, California. His restaurant has won multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, notably the Best California Chef in 1996, as well as the Best Chef in America in 1997. His establishment has also reached number one on the list of Top 50 Restaurants of the World time and time again.
Keller has been a consultant on a few films as the set's chef, namely "Ratatouille" and "Spanglish." In the film "Spanglish," he taught actor Adam Sandler how to make the perfect sandwich for one of the scenes. Keller is also the only American chef to have been awarded three-star Michelin ratings for two different restaurants simultaneously.