You probably already heard the news, but Guy Fieri signed a fat new contract Tuesday day:
Guy Fieri is now the highest paid chef on cable TV after signing a three-year contract with the Food Network for $80 million, according to Forbes.
The Sonoma County resident’s new deal, which he signed in April with the Discovery-owned channel, marks a $50-million raise from his previous contract.
Fieri now makes so much money that he would be among the highest paid players in the National Football League.
It’s kind of surreal to think that Fieri is now earning roughly $500,000 a week. But I would argue that Fieri is an American success story. After all, it’s a long way from these Flowmaster commercials to an eight-figure contract.
Fieri parlayed his natural on-camera charisma and combined it with his culinary background to become basically a license for the Food Network to print money. From the time that Fieri first appeared as the winner of The Next Food Network Star, Fieri has hosted:
Guy’s Big Bite;
The ubiquitous “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” whaich apparently generated $230 million in advertising revenue in 2020 alone;
Ultimate Recipe Showdown
Minute to Win It, a game show on NBC
Tournament of Champions.
He parlayed that success into endorsement deals with TGI Fridays and AFLAC, six books, 17 branded restaurants and/or chains, a tequila label with Sammy Hagar, and many other business ventures.
The best part though was the fact that he has stay grounded. His shares ridiculous memes about himself on Twitter yes. But he also raised north of $20 million dollars for the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to assist restaurants in need during the COVID Pandemic.
From a restaurant contestant to the most successful man in culinary television. As somebody who has tried more than 50 locations featured on Diners, Drive-in and Dives, we owe Guy Fieri a great deal of gratitude.