Who Is The Most Successful Top Chef Winner, And Where Are They Now?

Summary

• Top Chef winners have found varying levels of success post-show, but Richard Blais stands out with his multimillion-dollar earnings and numerous ventures.
• Blais's success extends beyond the kitchen to writing, podcasting, and regular TV appearances, solidifying his status as the most accomplished Top Chef winner.
• With a net worth of $5 million, Blais continues to expand his culinary empire with new restaurants, cookbooks, and podcasts, showcasing his influence in the industry.

Top Chef has brought numerous chefs to the brink of greatness, many have walked away from the show to bigger and better careers. With more than 20 Top Chef winners in the United States version of the show alone, there's no lack of possibilities for the most successful victors.

It's not entirely clear what counts as success. The number of restaurants, total accumulated Michelin stars, financial windfall, and general name recognition are all options. One Top Chef winner has a bit of each - Richard Blais.

Richard Blais won Top Chef: All Stars after coming in second during season four of the show. He's since returned as a guest judge. Additional television appearances, cookbooks, and podcasts have all made Blais a household name. Other Top Chef contestants have been accused of crimes like assault, but Blais's success has come with controversy due to his reputation as a "mean judge."

As a result, Blais hasn't escaped criticism, albeit not to the extent of his fellow Top Chef contenders who were accused of cheating.

This article delves into Blais's continued presence on Top Chef, his other television appearances, and how he's made writing and podcasting part of his brand - all of which is why Blais is the most successful Top Chef winner ever.

Why Richard Blais Is The Most Successful Top Chef Winner

​​​​​​According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, Richard Blais is worth an estimated $5 million. This puts Blais at the top of the Top Chef earnings list. For example, Blais's fellow Top Chef season contestant Stephanie Izard is worth roughly $3 million. Izard is also the chef who bested Blais in the season four finale.

What Is Richard Blais Doing Now?

Richard Blais Is A Regular On Cooking Shows Including Top Chef

As the first Top Chef: All-Stars winner, Richard Blais didn't return as a victor from his first appearance. Blais was runner-up during season four of Top Chef, edged out by chef Stephanie Izard. Blais did battle his way to the top of the first Top Chef: All-Star contest, something he's parlayed into a continued presence on culinary television.

Blais served as a guest judge on Top Chef during seasons 12, 13, and 18. During season 18, Blais responded to BravoTV.com about his reputation as a judge:

"Just to be clear, I'm not the mean judge anymore, because I've judged many episodes of Top Chef, and I'm over it, Twitter. I'm over hearing about how I'm the mean judge."

He even went so far as to assure viewers he was "the good guy this year, I'm pretty sure."

Blais didn't just make his presence known on Top Chef. He also judged on Guy's Grocery Games, Masterchef, and Masterchef Junior.

His full-time judging gig on Next Level Chef with mentor Gordon Ramsey came on the heels of his duties as both contestant and judge on Cutthroat Kitchen: Superstar Sabotage. In anticipation of season three of Next Level Chef, Blais told Goldderby.com what viewers could expect.

"Each of the first three episodes will introduce chefs from different genres,... The great thing about it is that Gordon [Ramsey], Nyesha [Arrington] and myself get to see everyone cook so we know a little bit more about how they’re going to perform in the ‘Next Level Chef’ kitchens.

Blais also teased "it gets a little heated this year."

In addition to all of these activities, also regularly appears on morning and nighttime network television like The Today Show and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

Top Chef's Richard Blais Has Founded Several Restaurants, Including One That Spawned A Chain

Before Top Chef, Richard Blais worked at McDonald's, attended the Culinary Institute, and tried his hand at being a restaurant owner. Blais followed up his initial Top Chef appearance by opening Juniper & Ivy, in San Diego, CA.

Blais put his flair for American cuisine on display at that eatery and again when he opened The Crack Shack in San Diego with partners Jon Sloan and Michael Rosen in 2015. The Crack Shack, which focuses on chicken and egg dishes, has since opened additional locations in Costa Mesa and Encinitas, CA, and Las Vegas, NV.

Ember & Rye in Carlsbad, CA, and California English in San Diego are among Blais's more recent endeavors.

Ember & Rye, halted service in 2023 after a fire caused extensive damage. The restaurant announced it would reopen in June 2024.

With Four Flamingo location in Florida, Blais has become a nationwide presence in the culinary world. He continues to expand his influence across the United States. In early 2024, it was announced that Blais would open six new restaurants in Scottsdale, AZ, at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa.

"We are thrilled to announce a partnership with celebrity chef Richard Blais to debut elevated dining and bar experiences.... The new and exciting concepts will provide a wide variety of global and local flavors that our guests and local residents will love."

Richard Blais Has Numerous Books And Podcasts

Richard Blais has released three cookbooks, including Try This at Home (2013) and So Good: 100 Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours (2017). His third book, Plant Forward: 100 Bold Recipes for a Most Healthy Lifestyle came out in 2023.

The book Plant Forward was personal for Blais who has been open about his journey to personal health and his efforts to stay in shape.

In the book, the Blaises emphasize the fun in cooking while "taking produce to an entirely new level without having to abandon meat or dairy entirely." He and Jazmin told EldridgeATL.com how Plant Forward is more than just a cookbook:

"There’s a lot of emotion in this book. Yes, it’s a cookbook but it’s a little deeper than that and when folks read the acknowledgment, they’ll see that... The book came about because this is the type of food we cook at home."

Blais and his wife, Jazmin, co-authored the collection of recipes in Plant Forward in conjunction with their duties as podcast hosts. The Blaises hosted more than 150 episodes of "Starving for Attention," the podcast they do together.

Richard Blais also hosts "Food Court with Richard Blais," a podcast forum for culinary arguments to unfold. Blais ends each podcast episode by deciding which of the two opposing sides wins.

Award-winning chef, restaurateur, author, and podcast host, Blais's contributions to the culinary world have made him wealthy and well-known alike. This all qualifies Blais as the most successful winner ever.