Alain Ducasse Highest-Paid Chef in the World

  • By Carol Kearney
  • Last updated on

Alain Ducasse
Alain Ducasse led People With Money’s annual list of the “100 highest paid chefs” released on Sunday.
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It's been a rough year for the chef, but at least he has his millions of dollars to ease the pain. 69-year-old Alain Ducasse has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid chefs for 2026 with an estimated $75 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 22/06/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Alain Ducasse tops annual list of highest-paid chefs

In 2023 it looked like the chef’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, he was back on top. People With Money reports on Sunday (June 21) that Ducasse is the highest-paid chef in the world, pulling in an astonishing $75 million between May 2025 and May 2026, a nearly $40 million lead over his closest competition.

People With Money’s factors

In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.

The Monégasque chef has an estimated net worth of $215 million. He owes his fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. He also owns several restaurants (the “Fat Ducasse Burger” chain) in , a Football Team (the “Orthez Angels”), has launched his own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderducasse - Monaco), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Alain) and a fashion line called “Alain Ducasse Seduction”.

The ranking is significant for many Alain fans, who have been waiting for his triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.

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