Guy Fieri is taking a moment to bask in his success.
In November, the celebrity chef, 55, reportedly signed a new three-year, $100 million deal with the Food Network, according to Diversity. Now she tells PEOPLE she feels “very humbled” by the achievement. (He previously signed an $80 million contract in 2021.)
“I’m so grateful. I feel really lucky,” says Fieri, who will be emceeing the Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate during the Super Bowl in Las Vegas on Feb. 11. “I started working at the Food Network almost 17, 18 years ago. And I never thought something like this would happen to me.”
Fieri, who has two sons with his wife Lori, says his career aspirations back then were pretty simple.
“I just wanted to be a chef,” he continues. “I wanted to have my own restaurant, be a great dad. And that was it. That’s all I really wanted. I had all kinds of aspirations, but to think this happened?”
Despite being one of the most popular faces on the Food Network since 2006, with several hit series including Diners, Drive-Ins and Diveshe still has a hard time figuring out his career path.
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Guy Fieri with his son Hunter.
Denise Truscello/Getty
Taste is part of the family! See all the cutest photos of Guy Fieri with his wife and children
“I have to be honest — there’s no way, shape, or form that any of this is ever going to happen,” says Fieri, who is quick to credit the people in his life who have supported him along the way.
“I come from great parents,” he continues. “I have a great family, a great wife, surrounded by great friends and my teams, teams in Guy’s Grocery Games and Diners, Drive-Ins and Divesmy Food Network family, my agent, it’s all these people — it’s a collective.”
He also attributes his success to his willingness to be bold and take risks. “Surround yourself with great people, work hard, stay focused and be willing to take risks,” he explains. “I think all of those things will eventually culminate in something maybe bigger than you expected.”
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Guy Fieri appears in an episode of ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’.
Food Network
For the self-proclaimed mayor of Flavortown, his hit television deal is just another opportunity to cash in. Fieri launched the Guy Fieri Foundation in 2011. It offers a variety of programs to support first responders, military members, veterans and other local heroes.
“We’re doing a ton of great work,” he says. “Tonight we’re getting ready to serve dinner to 40 first responders and their families for the holidays as a thank you. So I’m really looking at the things I can do with it, the opportunities I can make.”
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Guy Fieri jokes you might ‘meet your life partner’ at his Super Bowl tailgate — like his son did! (Exclusive)
Fieri also enjoys giving back to his fans. In February, they will host the Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate food and music festival on the Las Vegas Strip on Super Bowl Sunday. The event, a partnership with Pepsi, is free for people of all ages.
“We don’t have to make money from everything we do, but we have to take care of each other and we have to be supportive of each other,” Fieri tells PEOPLE.
“I love going to the Super Bowl and I know what it does for me, and my feeling, and my energy, and how my family feels,” he adds.
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Guy Fieri’s Super Bowl tailgate.
Courtesy of Medium Rare
Diplo and country singer Dustin Lynch are scheduled to perform at the tailgating event. “So we have country music. We have mixed music. We have interactions. We have activities. We have great cocktails. We have a VIP area with a view of the whole event,” says Fieri. “There are so many cool things happening right off the beaten track in Vegas, behind the big Ferris wheel.”
Restaurants featured on Triple D will serve food, along with several restaurants in Las Vegas.
“This tailgate is really a dream come true,” he tells PEOPLE. “I’m so passionate about football… I’m looking forward to football season. I wish we could have it all year. I’d be the happiest person in the world.”
As for his Food Network appearance, Fieri plans to roll up his sleeves and work harder than ever. “I’ll be delivering for the next three years,” he says. “You bet on that!”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education