Emeril Lagasse Net Worth - Pulptastic

April 2024 · 4 minute read

What is Emeril Lagasse’s Net Worth and Salary?

Emeril Lagasse is a celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, and cookbook author with a net worth of $70 million. He is widely considered one of the most successful celebrity chefs of all time and is credited with pioneering the concept of being a celebrity chef. Lagasse is known for his personal cooking style and dramatic flair, which have become part of his signature persona.

Early Life and Career of Emeril Lagasse

Emeril John Lagasse III was born in Fall River, Massachusetts in 1959 to a French-Canadian father and Portuguese mother. He worked in a Portuguese bakery as a teenager, where he discovered his talent for cooking. Lagasse was also a talented percussionist and received a full scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music after high school, but instead decided to pursue a career as a professional chef.

Early Life and Career

Emeril Lagasse trained at Johnson and Wales University before taking a job at a local restaurant to pay his tuition. He met his future wife, Elizabeth Kief, while working there. After honing his skills in France, Lagasse worked in fine restaurants throughout the Northeast. In 1982, he became executive chef of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, a position that put a strain on his marriage. In 1983, he was nominated as Chef of the Year.

Emeril’s Restaurant

After seven and a half years at Commander’s Palace, Lagasse opened his first restaurant, Emeril’s, in 1990. The menu fused elements of various cuisines, including Lagasse’s native Portuguese cuisine. Emeril’s was named Restaurant of the Year in Esquire magazine and has been a recipient of the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1999. Lagasse has since franchised his restaurants, many of which are located in New Orleans. His corporate office is also based in NOLA.

Emeril Lagasse’s Career and Accomplishments

Emeril Lagasse is a renowned chef, restaurateur, and television personality. He is the executive chef and proprietor of thirteen Emeril’s restaurants, including locations in Las Vegas, Orlando, and Pennsylvania. Lagasse has hosted multiple cooking shows, including “Essence of Emeril” and “Emeril Live”, where he became known for his lively hosting style and catchphrases like “Bam!” and “Kick it up a notch!”.

In addition to his television career, Lagasse has released ten cookbooks and founded his own brand of dry grocery products, kitchen knives, cookware, and electrical appliances. He is also known for his commitment to using local, organic, and seasonal produce, as showcased on his show “Emeril Green” on Discovery Channel’s network Planet Green.

Lagasse’s accomplishments have earned him numerous accolades, including a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Culinary Program for his show “Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse”. He has also worked as a food correspondent for ABC’s “Good Morning America” since 1998.

Despite his success, Lagasse’s personal life has not been without challenges. He has been depicted as burdened and less exuberant in the HBO series “Treme”, which featured a scene written by fellow chef Anthony Bourdain.

Emeril Lagasse Sells Assets to Martha Stewart’s MSLO in 2008

In February 2008, Emeril Lagasse sold all of his assets, except for his restaurant chain, to Martha Stewart’s holding company MSLO for $50 million. This deal included $45 million in cash and $5 million in stock.

These assets were later merged into a company called Sequential Brands Group in 2015. Eventually, in 2019, they were sold, along with Martha Stewart’s assets, to Marquee Brands for $175 million. However, by that point, Emeril Lagasse had already left the company.

Emeril Lagasse Foundation

Emeril Lagasse started the Emeril Lagasse Foundation in 2002 to support non-profits and educational initiatives that create opportunities for disadvantaged and underprivileged children. The foundation has distributed over six million dollars in grants for charities, including projects such as gardens, fresh food cafeterias, and teaching kitchens at the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans.

The foundation also funds the St. Michael Special School’s accessible learning kitchen for students with special needs, a four-year culinary arts program for High School students at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, and others. The foundation hosts a signature annual fundraiser each fall called Carnivale du Vin, which ranks among the Top Ten U.S. Charity Wine Auctions in Wine Spectator Magazine. In 2013, Lagasse received the James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year award.

Emeril Lagasse’s Marriages and Real Estate Investments

Emeril Lagasse was married to Elizabeth Kief from 1978-1986, followed by a second marriage to fashion designer Tari Hohn that lasted from 1989-1996. In May 2000, Lagasse got married again to real estate broker Alden Lovelace, with whom he has two children.

The couple split their time between New Orleans and Destin, Florida, where they owned an 8,000 square-feet home. In November 2020, they listed the house for sale for $5.25 million. Interestingly, the house was acquired in an off-market deal from Alden’s cousin, who moved into the Lagasse’s house.

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