Guy Fieri

As a chef, restaurateur, author, and Emmy Award-winning TV host, Guy Fieri is a prominent figure in the culinary world. Fieri's recognition is so widespread that in 2019, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a distinction rarely given to chefs. His journey in the culinary arts began at a young age when he started selling soft pretzels from a three-wheeled bicycle cart he built with his father named “The Awesome Pretzel Cart.”

After six years of selling pretzels and washing dishes, Fieri had saved enough money to follow his dream of studying abroad in Chantilly, France. This experience gave him a deep understanding of international cuisines and reinforced his love for food. He returned to the US to graduate from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management. Fieri then dove into the restaurant business, eventually establishing his own casual dining concepts in Northern California. In 2006, he won the second season of Food Network’s popular television competition show, “The Next Food Network Star,” which led to his first series, the Emmy-nominated “Guy’s Big Bite.” Fieri is also known for hosting other top-rated TV shows such as “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives,” “Guy’s Grocery Games,” “Tournament of Champions" and “Guy’s Ranch Kitchen.”

In addition to his television career, Fieri, along with his team at Knuckle Sandwich, LLC, has built a successful food and beverage industry. He has launched over 175 locations of Flavortown Kitchen, a virtual brand that enhances his extensive array of more than 80 scratch kitchen restaurant concepts worldwide. Fieri's current restaurants include Guy's American Kitchen and Bar, Guy's Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise Lines, and Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen & Bar. Notably, he co-owns a vineyard and sells his wine under the label Hunt & Ryde. His contributions to the restaurant industry were recognized in 2012 when he received the key to the city of Ferndale from the Ferndale City Council. In 2021, Fieri signed a three-year contract with Food Network worth an estimated $80 million, reaffirming his significant influence in the culinary world.

Aside from his ventures in the culinary field, Fieri has also been involved in various philanthropic efforts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he collaborated with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation to raise money for unemployed restaurant workers. Fieri is also an author or co-author of several cookbooks that reached the New York Times bestseller list. In 2024, Fieri became one of the newest investors for Hello Alice, a Houston-based financial technology platform. Outside of his professional endeavors, Fieri is a classic car enthusiast owning a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle and a 1968 Pontiac Firebird.