Haunted by childhood memories of living off powdered milk on a city estate, Gordon Ramsay refused to accept the status quo.
Working in kitchens for decades, the celebrity chef has now amassed a fortune of a staggering £610 million – which reportedly makes him richer than Beyonce.
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Known for his fiery attitude, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has built an empire worth millions Credit: Alamy
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Ramsay said his six children ‘won’t see a penny’ of his fortune Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Every year, the Hell’s Kitchen hothead reportedly makes millions from his restaurant empire, with TV deals, cookbooks and endorsements on the side.
According to Forbes, his latest ‘Studio Ramsay Global’ deal with Fox Broadcasting Company is valued at a staggering £150 million.
But Ramsay insisted his six children “won’t see a penny” of it, telling the Telegraph in 2017 that he wanted them to make their own way in life, just as he did.
He said: “It’s definitely not working for them, and not in a bad way; it’s not spoiling them.
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“The only thing I agreed with Tana is that they get a 25 percent deposit on the apartment, but not the entire apartment.
“I’ve never been turned on by money. It’s not my number one goal and it’s reflected in the way the kids are raised.”
Boasting a portfolio of luxury homes, motorbikes and an expensive cookware label, we take a look at how the father-of-six recently built his empire from nothing.
Rags to riches
Originally born in Scotland, Ramsay would move to Warwickshire at a young age where he was brought up “in squalor” on a council estate.
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Gordon shared a snapshot from his youth on Instagram Credit: Instagram
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A very young Gordon Ramsay, pictured far right, during the early stages of his career with chef Albert Roux, far left Credit: Collection
Although his humble childhood taught him life lessons, Ramsay admitted that being poor isn’t easy.
He said: “Food played a significant role in my childhood. I remember asking for more and it wasn’t there.
“It taught us not to be picky eaters… I used to try to please my mom by clearing the plate. But I wasn’t a fan of liver.
“The only horrible memories were when we were very thin and used milk powder. It was like eating the dregs of the dishwasher.”
The Kitchen Nightmares star recently revealed that his family toured 15 different homes on the property when he was a child.
In his autobiography Humble Pie, Ramsay told how his parents were so hard up that he and his siblings were entitled to free school meals.
He said: “We always had free meal vouchers at school. It was a disgrace.
“I always told my friends I was too busy playing football to eat with them, but when they went out to play, I’d dive in, get some fucking food.”
The only horrible memories were when we were really thin and used powdered milk. It was like eating dishwasher scum
Gordon Ramsay
Ramsay was a keen footballer from an early age and was an ace at his youth club, Oxford United.
His classy footwork even secured a few trials with Scottish Premier League side Glasgow Rangers at the age of 15.
However, his athletic career was plagued by injuries, including career-ending knee surgery that forced him to turn to the kitchen.
Ramsay then earned a degree in hotel management in 1987, paving the way for his hospitality career.
He would later become a chef and worked with top chefs in Europe, including Marc Pierre White and the late Albert Roux.
While revisiting Ranger’s home ground in an episode of The F Word, which aired in 2008, he admitted: “Without the upset at Ibrox, I wouldn’t be the chef I am today.”
The blonde firefighter finally launched his restaurant empire in 1997 and went on to become a household name.
With a record 17 Michelin stars, television deals soon followed and Ramsay ventured into the British world of celebrity.
His most acclaimed shows include Hell’s Kitchen, Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, MasterChef and The F Word.
Ramsay also currently owns 36 restaurants in the UK and has other operations in Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore.
As a result, the 57-year-old reportedly takes home £90million a year.
A plush property
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Ramsay’s lavish home in Los Angeles, California, worth around £4.3 million
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The good chef even owns a limited edition £1 million Ferrari
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Ramsay has been slammed by fans for flogging pans that cost a staggering £735
Along with his lucrative restaurants, Ramsay has enjoyed the wealth that comes from being a media personality.
He has worked on all the major channels including BBC One, ITV and Channel 4, as well as on American television.
The savvy businessman also boosts his bank balance through social media – reportedly earning up to £46k per sponsored Instagram post.
The TV chef’s assets include 23 properties, eight cars and two luxury yachts.
His most notable homes were in Cornwall, London and Los Angeles.
Last year, Ramsay sold the Cornish coastal residence for a staggering £7.5 million.
However, some of his recent business ventures have been heavily criticized.
In June, the chef was grilled by the public for flogging designer pans priced at £735.
And in 2021 it was revealed he was charging a staggering £275 per person for Christmas dinner at his posh London restaurant Pétrus.
Family values
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Gordon and Tana welcomed baby Jesse this month. Credit: Instagram
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Heartwarming family shot before the birth of Jesse Zasluga Credit: Instagram
Despite his millions, Ramsay intends to keep his children humble.
He and his wife Tana have six children: Megan, Holly, Jack, Tilly, Oscar and most recently Jesse.
Ramsay previously told the Financial Times that he chose not to spoil his family, and for good reason.
He said: “I have to be real with the kids and I also think just getting the five, six and seven-year-olds used to first class and those big seats, they don’t need space, they’re getting entertainment on their iPads.
“So I like to think about what you can do with the money when you land, instead of paying thousands of dollars for eight-year-olds, nine-year-olds and ten-year-olds to sit in first class.
“I don’t want them sitting there with a 10-fucking-course menu and champagne.
“I’m not embarrassed, my wife and I decided to discipline them and keep them real.”
During a Q&A on Reddit a few years later, the chef added that he continued to teach his children good habits.
He said: “I’ve never been at home seven nights a week cooking for the kids.
“What I instilled in the children from day one is work ethic. So, the time we spend together is limited, but quality.
“I have to protect them and respect the restaurant and the team in my restaurant.
“I made them as normal as possible… they all have jobs, they all take care of animals, they all have chores. There’s a rotation.
“They get an allowance, but they have to earn that allowance.”
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The Beckhams join the Ramsay family in celebrating Tana’s birthday in 2018
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Gordon and his son Oscar wear board shorts on vacation in the Maldives Credit: Instagram
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The celebrity chef is reportedly worth £610 million
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Petrus is one of Ramsay’s posh restaurants in LondonCredit: Alamy
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Gordon and Oscar in front of the pool at his former property in Cornwall Credit: gordongram/Instagram
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