Kassahun “Joar” Tsegie was born on 25th of January 1970 in Ethiopia, and better known as Marcus Samuelsson, is a renowned chef and restaurateur, is the executive chef at “Aquavit” restaurant in New York, where his activities have earned him multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation. He has also starred in TV shows, including “Top Chef” and “The Feed”, as well as opening various eateries worldwide. Samuelsson has also written several books, including his “Yes, Chef” memoir, portraying his career which began in the late 1980s.
Have you ever wondered how rich Marcus Samuelsson is? According to sources, it has been estimated that Marcus Samuelsson’s net worth is over $6 million as of late 2017, acquired by being one of today’s most successful chefs. His appearances in popular TV shows and good sales of the books he has written have increased his net worth. Since he is still an active restaurateur, his net worth continues to grow.
Marcus Samuelsson Net Worth $6 Million
Although born in Ethiopia, Marcus and his sister were adopted by a Swedish family shortly after the death of their mother. The siblings grew up in Sweden where Marcus had his first culinary contact when he went fishing with his father and uncles, who would smoke and preserve the fish they had caught. He was also taught a lot about food preparation by his grandmother Helga, who was a professional chef herself. As his interest in food grew, Samuelsson furthered his education at the Culinary Institute in Gothenburg, Sweden in the mid ‘80s. Upon graduation in 1989, he spent some time as an apprentice in Switzerland before moving to France in 1993. Soon after, Marcus moved to the United States to begin an apprenticeship at “Aquavit” in New York, where he quickly worked his way up, and eventually became executive chef. Shortly after, he received his first three-star rating by the “New York Times”; at the time, Marcus was only 23, which made him the youngest chef to receive the honor. He was later awarded the James Beard Foundation’s Rising Star Chef Award in 1999 and four years later he was named the best chef in New York city by the same foundation. His net worth was by now very well established.
Apart from his culinary success and talent, Samuelsson also took up writing, and released his first book, “Aquavit and The New Scandinavian Cuisine” in 2003, followed by his second – “The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa” – three years later, and which was named Best International Cookbook by the Beard Foundation a year after its publishing. However, he didn’t stop there, as he wrote more books on the topic, which include “New American Table”(2009), and “Yes, Chef: A Memoir”(2012). All have contributed to his net worth.
Marcus has also opened several restaurants; his first one was “Red Rooster” which he opened in Harlem in 2010. He has hosted TV’s “Inner Chef with Marcus Samuelsson”, and participated in the “Top Chef” series as a judge. In 2014, he was also a judge in the TV series “The Taste”, and in 2015, appeared in “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: as Ethiopia was the topic of the episode. HAs a consecutive four-star rating recipient from “Forbes” magazine, Marcus is constantly in demand to appear on TV or be heard on radio, which certainly does no harm to his reputation, or to his bank account!
When it comes to his private life, Samuelsson has been married to model Gate Maya Haile since 2009; the two married in Ethiopia and now reside in Harlem. Marcus is also an ambassador for the US Fund for UNICEF, and is on the board of directors of Careers Through Culinary Arts program.
James Beard Award for Best Chef: New York City (2003), James Beard Award for Rising Star Chef of the Year (1999)
Nominations
James Beard Foundation Awards
Movies
“Expedition: Robinson” (1997-2000)
TV Shows
“Top Chef”, “The Feed”, “Inner Chef”, “Urban Cuisine”, “Top Chef Masters”, “Chopped”, “24 Hour Restaurant Battle”, “The Taste”, “Celebrity Undercover”, “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown”
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Fact
1
Father, with Maya Samuelsson, of son Zion Mandela Samuelsson, born on July 19, 2016.
2
Marcus is the youngest chef to receive a 3-star rating from the New York Times.
3
Marcus was born in Ethiopia, but raised in Sweden. The Samuelsson's adopted him after his mother died of tuberculosis.
4
Owner of "Red Rooster" in Harlem, New York.
5
James Beard award-winner for his book, "The Soul of a New Cuisine".
6
Unicef ambassador.
7
Avid soccer player. He was a very good player in his childhood.
8
Has a sister named Edith.
9
Is a Swedish chef, born in Ethiopia, resident in the United States. He is the executive chef and co-owner of Aquavit restaurants in New York City and Minneapolis.
Camera Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Expedition: Robinson
1997
TV Series camera operator - 1997-2000
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Savoring Harlem
2012
TV Movie documentary consulting producer
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Million Dollar Contractor
2012
TV Series special thanks - 1 episode
The Fabulous Beekman Boys
2011
TV Series special thanks - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Chopped Junior
2015-2017
TV Series
Himself - Judge / Himself - Competitor / Chef & Restaurateur
Chopped
2010-2017
TV Series
Himself - Judge / Chef & Restaurateur / Himself / ...
The Chew
2012-2017
TV Series
Himself - Guest
The Kitchen
2017
TV Series
Himself
Overheard
2017
TV Series
Himself - Interviewee
Today
2011-2016
TV Series
Himself - Guest / Himself
On the Money
2016
TV Series
Himself
Home & Family
2016
TV Series
Himself
Good Morning America
2011-2016
TV Series
Himself - Guest / Himself / Himself - The Taste
Star Plates
2016
TV Series
Himself
Cooks vs. Cons
2016
TV Series
Himself - Judge / Chef & Restaurateur
Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse
2016
TV Series
Himself
Harlem on My Plate
2016
Documentary short
Himself
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2016
TV Series
Himself
The Meredith Vieira Show
2015-2016
TV Series
Himself
Talk Stoop with Cat Greenleaf
2015
TV Series
Himself
Lidia Celebrates America
2015
TV Series documentary
Himself
Live with Kelly and Michael
2005-2015
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
CBS News Sunday Morning
2015
TV Series
Himself
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
2015
TV Series documentary
Himself - Owner, Red Rooster
Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris
2015
TV Series
Himself - Guest, It's Neil's Mom
Rachael Ray's Kids Cook-Off
2015
TV Mini-Series
Himself - Judge
The Da Vinci List
2015
TV Series
Himself
The Talk
2013-2015
TV Series
Himself - Guest
CBS This Morning
2012-2015
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
Weekend Today
2015
TV Series
Himself
The Taste
2014-2015
TV Series
Himself - Host
BELLOmag Presents: A Conversation with the Taste
2015
TV Movie
Himself - Guest
Entertainment Tonight
2014
TV Series
Himself - The Taste
Simply Ming
2014
TV Series documentary
Himself - Guest
Gomorron
2013-2014
TV Series
Himself
How I Rock It
2013
TV Series
Himself
Robins
2013
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
2011-2013
TV Series
Himself
Huff Post's BV 365
2012
TV Series
Himself
Efter Tio
2012
TV Series
Himself
Rachael Ray
2011-2012
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Judge
Million Dollar Contractor
2012
TV Series
Himself - Restauranteur
Charlie Rose
2007-2012
TV Series
Himself - Guest / Himself
Tavis Smiley
2012
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Big Morning Buzz Live
2012
TV Series
Himself
Top Chef Canada
2012
TV Series
Himself - Guest Judge
Worst Cooks in America
2012
TV Series
Himself - Judge
Savoring Harlem
2012
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Unique Eats
2010-2012
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Chef / Restaurateur
AdamLive
2012
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off
2012
TV Series
Himself - Judge
The Next Iron Chef
2011
TV Series
Himself - Contestant / Himself - Audience Member
The Hot 10
2011
TV Series
Himself - Guest
MasterChef Australia
2011
TV Series
Himself - Owner and Head Chef, Red Rooster Harlem
Rocco's Dinner Party
2011
TV Series
Himself
Through The Grape Vine
2011
TV Series
Himself
Hubertusjagd, New York
2011
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Fabulous Beekman Boys
2011
TV Series
Himself
The Early Show
2010-2011
TV Series
Himself
Top Chef
2010
TV Series
Himself - Guest Judge
24 Hour Restaurant Battle
2010
TV Series
Top Chef Masters
2010
TV Series
Himself
Skavlan
2010
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Iron Chef America: The Series
2008
TV Series
Himself
Martha
2008
TV Series
Himself
At the Table with...
2007
TV Series documentary
Himself
After Hours with Daniel Boulud
2006
TV Series
Himself
BingoLotto
2005-2006
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Inner Chef with Marcus Samuelsson
2005
TV Series
Host
The View
2005
TV Series
Himself
The Jane Pauley Show
2004
TV Series
Himself
Christine Cushing Live
2003
TV Series
Himself
Sprit
1998
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Chelsea Lately
2013
TV Series
Himself - Judge on 'Chopped'
At the Table with...
2008
TV Series documentary
Himself
Known for movies
Chopped (2010-2017) as Himself - Judge / Chef & Restaurateur / Himself /
The Taste (2014-2015) as Himself - Host
Hubertusjagd, New York (2011) as Himself
The Next Iron Chef (2011) as Himself - Contestant / Himself - Audience Member