Michael D. Symon was born on 19 September 1969, in Cleveland, Ohio USA, of Italian, Greek and Eastern European ancestry. Michael is a chef, restaurateur, television personality and author best known for his regular appearances in various Food Network shows. He’s also the owner of several restaurants in Cleveland, credited as the person responsible for rekindling the restaurant scene of the downtown area. His various exploits have helped raise his net worth to where it is now.
How rich is Michael Symon? As of early-2016, sources inform us of a net worth that is at $4 million, mostly earned through a successful career in the food industry. He owns restaurants in several cities including Cleveland and Detroit. He’s also written a few books and has product endorsements, all of which help raise and maintain his wealth. Michael’s cooking career would start after he matriculated from St. Edward’s High School in Lakewood. He became a cook part-time at Gepetto’s Ribs and then later studied at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, graduating in 1990.
Michael Symon Net Worth $4 Million
After school, Symon worked at Player’s and focused on Mediterranean food. A few years later he became the chef of Piccolo Mondo, before moving to Caxton Café. In 1997, Michael decided to open his first restaurant – Lola, which earned great reviews and was considered one of America’s Best Restaurants in 2000 by Gourmet Magazine. In 2005, he converted Lola into Lolita and then moved Lola to a different location. In 2006, he opened a third restaurant called Parea in New York City, and focused on Greek Food. The reviews for the food were great, however, it wasn’t enough for the competitive New York environment and they closed a year later. In 2008, Michael opened the restaurant Roast in Detroit and it would become the 2009 restaurant of the year. He then opened Bar Symon and B Spot in Ohio, eventually relocating the former and expanding the latter. His net worth is growing steadily.
Aside from his restaurants, Symon makes regular appearances on the Food Network, in shows like “FoodNation”, “Melting Pot”, and “Ready, Set, Cook”. He’s also been in competitions like “Iron Chef America” and “The Next Iron Chef”. Aside from the Food Network, Symon has also appeared on shows like “Conan” and “The Chew”.
Michael has also been featured in books and magazines, and has written his own books. His first was released in 2009, called “Michael Symon’s Live To Cook: Recipes And Techniques To Rock Your Kitchen”. He released another cookbook in 2012 called “The Chew: Food. Life. Fun.” His next book would be a collaboration with writer Douglas Trattner entitled “Michael Symon’s Carnivore: 120 Recipes For Meat Lovers”. He also released a series of seasonal books during 2012 and 2013, and his latest book is called “The Chew: What’s For Dinner”.
For his personal life, it is known that he is married to Liz Shanahan, who’s also involved in the restaurant business. He also has a stepson, who was two years old when they married.
His grandfather, Pap, was an inspiration for his love of food.
9
Was named one of the top 5 new chefs, by Food & Wine magazine, in 2005.
10
Chef/owner, "Lolita" restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio.
11
Is of Greek/Italian/Sicilian descent.
12
Friend of Aarón Sánchez, for over 15 years, Marc Vetri, chef/owner of "Vetri" (opened in 1998) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (his hometown), and David Adjey.
13
Favorite last meal: "Chef's pasta tasting menu" at "Vetri" in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
14
Iron Chef.
15
Chef/owner, "Lola Bistro" restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio.
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Lost & Found in Cleveland
consulting executive producer pre-production
Burgers, Brew and 'Que
2016
TV Series executive producer - 2 episodes
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dear Food Network: Thanksgiving Disasters
2008
TV Movie
Himself
Dinner: Impossible
2008
TV Series
Himself - Host
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
2007
TV Series documentary
Himself
Melting Pot
2002
TV Series
Himself
And Then We Ate...
1998
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Chew
2011-2017
TV Series
Himself - Co-Host / Himself
Beat Bobby Flay
2014-2017
TV Series
Himself - Judge / Mentor
Iron Chef Eats
2017
TV Series
Himself
Rachael Ray
2008-2017
TV Series
Himself
The View
2007-2017
TV Series
Himself / Himself - The Chew
Harry
2017
TV Series
Himself
Burgers, Brew and 'Que
2015-2016
TV Series
Himself - Host
Good Morning America
2012-2016
TV Series
Himself - Guest / Himself / Himself - Co-Host, The Chew
Guilty Pleasures
2015-2016
TV Series
Himself
Thanksgiving at Bobby's
2015
TV Movie
Himself
The Dr. Oz Show
2012-2015
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
2009-2015
TV Series
Himself
Mike & Mike
2015
TV Series
Himself - Celebrity Chef
All-Star Academy
2015
TV Series
Himself - Mentor / Judge
The Taste
2015
TV Series
Himself - Guest Mentor
America's Best Cook
2014
TV Series
Himself - Mentor, North
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014
TV Series
Himself
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
2014
TV Series
Himself - Celebrity Contestant
Ask This Old House
2014
TV Series
Himself - Chef
Southern Fried Everything
2014
TV Series
Himself - Restauranteur / Chef / TV Host / ...
Iron Chef America: The Series
2005-2014
TV Series
Himself - Iron Chef / Himself / Himself - Team Cooking Channel / ...
Katie
2014
TV Series
Himself
Barefoot Contessa
2013
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Wendy Williams Show
2013
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Symon's Suppers
2012-2013
TV Series
Himself - Host
Bobby Flay Fit
2013
TV Series
Himself - Guest
The Next Iron Chef
2010-2012
TV Series
Himself - Judge / Himself - Guest Judge / Iron Chef
Sidewalks Entertainment
2012
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Big Morning Buzz Live
2012
TV Series
Himself
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
2011-2012
TV Series
Himself
Chopped
2012
TV Series
Himself - Contestant / Iron Chef
Live with Kelly and Ryan
2011
TV Series
Himself
The Best Thing I Ever Ate
2009-2011
TV Series
Himself
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
2011
TV Series
Himself
Man Caves
2011
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Food Network Star
2009-2011
TV Series
Himself
Food Revolution
2011
TV Series
Himself
Guy's Big Bite
2011
TV Series
Himself
Conan
2011
TV Series
Himself
Food Feuds
2010
TV Series
Himself - Host
Cook Like an Iron Chef
2010
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Host
Paula's Best Dishes
2010
TV Series
Himself
Food Network Challenge
2010
TV Series
Himself - Contestant
Ace of Cakes
2010
TV Series
Himself
Late Show with David Letterman
2009
TV Series
Himself
Dear Food Network
2008
TV Series
Himself
Dear Food Network: Thanksgiving
2008
TV Series
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Chelsea Lately
2013
TV Series
Himself
Iron Chef America Countdown
2012
TV Series
Himself - Iron Chef / Himself - ICA Challenger Chef
Iron Chef America: The Series
2011
TV Series
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2015
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host
The Chew (2011)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2016
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host
The Chew (2011)
Known for movies
The Chew (2011-2017) as Himself - Co-Host / Himself
Symon's Suppers (2012-2013) as Himself - Host
Iron Chef America: The Series (2005-2014) as Himself - Iron Chef / Himself / Himself - Challeng
Beat Bobby Flay (2014-2017) as Himself - Judge / Mentor