Gordon Ramsay went from ‘drinking powdered milk in council house’ to richer than Beyonce… but 6 kids ‘won’t see a penny’
HAUNTED by childhood memories of living off powdered milk in a council estate, Gordon Ramsay refused to accept the status quo.
Labouring away in kitchens for decades, the celebrity chef has now amassed a staggering £610million fortune - making him reportedly richer than Beyonce.
Every year the Hell's Kitchen hothead reportedly profits millions from his restaurant empire, with TV deals, cookbooks and endorsements on the side.
According to Forbes his latest 'Studio Ramsay Global' deal with Fox Broadcasting Company was estimated to be worth an eye-watering £150million.
But Ramsay has insisted his six kids "won't see a penny" of it, telling the Telegraph in 2017 he wants them to make their own way in life, just like he did.
He said: "It's definitely not going to them, and that's not in a mean way; it's to not spoil them.
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"The only thing I've agreed with Tana is that they get a 25 per cent deposit on a flat, but not the whole flat.
"I've never been really turned on about the money. That's not my number one objective and that's reflected in the way the kids are brought up."
Boasting a portfolio of luxury homes, motors and a pricey cookware label, we take a look at how the recent dad-of-six built up his empire from nothing.
Rags to riches
Originally born in Scotland, Ramsay would move to Warwickshire at a young age where he was brought up "skint" on a council estate.
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While his humbling childhood taught him life lessons, Ramsay admitted it was not easy being poor.
He said: "Food played a significant role in my childhood. I remember asking for more and there wasn't any.
"That taught us not to be fussy eaters... I used to try to please mum by clearing my plate. But I wasn't a liver fan.
"The only horrible memories were when we were really skint and using powdered milk. It was like eating the dregs of the dishwasher."
The Kitchen Nightmares star recently revealed his family bounced around 15 different homes on the estate when he was a kid.
In his autobiography Humble Pie, Ramsay told of his parents being so hard-up that he and his siblings were eligible for free school meals.
He said: "We always had free meal vouchers at school. It was an embarrassment.
"I always said to my friends I was too busy playing football to eat with them but when they were coming out to play I'd dive in, get the s*** food."
The only horrible memories were when we were really skint and using powdered milk. It was like eating the dregs of the dishwasher
Gordon Ramsay
Ramsay was a keen footballer from a young age and was an ace at his youth club, Oxford United.
His fancy footwork even saw him secure a few trials with Scottish Premier League side Glasgow Rangers at the age of 15.
However his sporting career was plagued by injuries including a career-ending knee surgery that saw him turn to the kitchen.
Ramsay subsequently earned a degree in hotel management in 1987, paving the way for his hospitality career.
He would later become a chef and worked with top cooks in Europe including Marco Pierre White and the late Albert Roux.
While revisiting the Ranger's home ground in an episode of The F Word, which aired in 2008, he admitted: "Without the upset at Ibrox, I would not be the chef I am today."
The blonde-haired firebrand eventually launched his restaurant empire in 1997 and then went on to become a household name.
Bragging a record 17 Michelin stars, TV deals soon followed and Ramsay ventured into Britain's celebrity world.
His most acclaimed shows include Hell’s Kitchen, Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, MasterChef and The F Word.
Ramsay also currently owns 36 restaurants in the UK and has other operations in Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and Singapore.
As a result, the 57-year-old reportedly takes home £90million a year.
Plush assets
As well as his lucrative restaurants, Ramsay has enjoyed the riches that come from being a media personality.
He has worked on all of the major channels including BBC One, ITV and Channel 4 as well as stints on American television.
The savvy businessman also boosts his bank balance through social media - reportedly making up to £46K per sponsored post on Instagram.
The TV chef's assets include 23 properties, eight cars and two luxury yachts.
His most notable homes have been in Cornwall, London and Los Angeles.
Last year, Ramsay sold the Cornish coastal abode for a whopping £7.5million.
However, some of his recent business ventures have been heavily criticised.
In June the chef was roasted by the public for flogging designer saucepans at a cost of £735.
And in 2021 it was revealed he was charging a whopping £275 per head for a Christmas dinner at his swanky London eatery Pétrus.
Family values
Despite his millions, Ramsay is intent on keeping his kids humble.
He and his wife Tana have six children: Megan, Holly, Jack, Tilly, Oscar and most recently, Jesse.
Ramsay previously told the Financial Times that he chooses not to spoil his family, and for good reason.
He said: "I have got to keep it real with the kids, and also I think just getting kids at the age of five, six and seven, used to first class and those big seats, they do not need the space, they get entertainment on their iPads.
"So I like to think about what you can do with the money when you land, rather than paying out thousands of dollars for eight, nine and 10-year-old's to sit in first class.
"I do not want them sat there with a 10 course f*****g menu with champagne.
"I am not embarrassed, it is my wife and I's choice to discipline them and to keep them real."
During a Q&A on a few years later, the chef added he continued to teach his kids good habits.
He said: "I've never been at home seven nights a week cooking for the kids.
"What I've instilled in the kids, from day one, is a work ethic. So, the time we spend together is limited, but quality.
";I need to protect them and respect the restaurant and team in my restaurant.
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"I made them as normal as possible... they've all got jobs, they've all taken care of animals, they've all got housework. There's a rota.
"They get pocket money, but they have to earn that pocket money."
