American chef Mario Batali – who specialises in Italian cuisine – ran a culinary empire under his B&B Hospitality Group, which he co-founded with Joseph Bastianich. At its peak, B&B operated 16 restaurants in prime locations such as New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Singapore and Hong Kong. Not sated by food alone, the chef has also authored several cookbooks (including 2008's Spain... A Culinary Road Trip, which he co-wrote with actress Gwyneth Paltrow) and launched a line of food products such as pasta sauces and olive oils.

The richest celebrity chefs in the world today