Dominique Ansel Highest-Paid Chef in the World

It's been a rough year for the chef, but at least he has his millions of dollars to ease the pain. 47-year-old Dominique Ansel has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid chefs for 2026 with an estimated $82 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 24/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Dominique Ansel 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 Monday (March 23) that Ansel is the highest-paid chef in the world, pulling in an astonishing $82 million between February 2025 and February 2026, a nearly $50 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 French chef has an estimated net worth of $245 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 Ansel Burger” chain) in Paris, a Football Team (the “Beauvais Angels”), has launched his own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderansel - France), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Dominique) and a fashion line called “Dominique Ansel Seduction”.

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

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