Ina Garten is arguably one of the most famous—and beloved—celebrity chefs in the world. Although the bestselling cookbook author and The Barefoot Contessa star is an expert in the kitchen now, she had a very unconventional path on her way to becoming a professional chef. Through her unexpected journey to kitchen stardom, the 71-year-old has amassed a significant net worth.
Believe it or not, Ina’s first career was pretty much the polar opposite of whipping up decadent meals for a living—she worked in finance. Specifically, she held a position in the Office of Management and Budget at the White House in 1978 during Jimmy Carter’s administration. Even at the time, Ina knew she was destined "to do something more creative and fun than writing nuclear energy budgets," she pens in her blog. One day she came across an advertisem*nt in the New York Times for a speciality food store for sale in the Hamptons. After deciding to check out the shop with her husband, Jeffrey, "it was love at first sight." With no business experience to her name, Ina made an offer on the shop with money she made flipping houses in Washington D.C., according to the Washington Post. Soon after, Ina was the proud owner of the The Barefoot Contessa.
Make Delicious Dishes With Ina's Bestselling Cookbooks
'Make It Ahead: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook'
'Cook Like a Pro: Recipes and Tips for Home Cooks'
'Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust'
'Cooking for Jeffrey: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook'
The store was a huge success, and after 18 years of running the store, Ina sold it to its manager and its chef. Starting in 1996, she began writing cookbooks, and The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, released in 1999, became a best-seller, soon making her a household name. Ina credits its success to the hands-on approach she took to creating it; she told Forbes she hired her own photographer and publicist for it.
Her successful cookbooks led to her Food Network show in 2002, The Barefoot Contessa, which has been a hit. "I do the TV because it's an important part of the business, but it's the cookbooks I love writing,” she told Forbes. She’s also hosted Cook Like a Pro on the network. Previously, according to a 2013 book about the network, Ina apparently tried to sell a cooking show to Martha Stewart Living and shot pilot episodes, but Stewart ended up nixing the project.
Only Ina and her accountant know her net worth for sure, but various sites have estimated that Ina is pulling in big bucks. Celebritynetworth.com estimates her net worth at $50 million, thanks to her Food Network show, cookbooks, grocery line, and merchandise.
Ina husband, Jeffrey, is also a financial powerhouse. According to Celebritynetworth.com, Jeffrey is worth $100 million, mostly thanks to his former jobs as managing director of Lehman Brothers and Blackstone Group. Previously, Jeffrey worked in economic policy during the Nixon, Ford, and Carter administrations, and is now an author and professor at the Yale School of Management.
Ina and Jeffrey also own some impressive real estate. In 2016, Forbes reported that they bought a $4.65 million apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in NYC. She recently posted on Instagram about a new custom Lacanche range she installed there, which costs $15,000.
In 2017, they put a second New York City apartment in the area up for sale for $1.975 million. Their primary residence is in East Hampton, New York, where Ina films her television show. They have expanded and renovated their property several times over the years, but it’s clear it’s where they call home—and where Ina makes her impressive living.
FAQs
You can be miserable before you have a cookie and you can be miserable after you eat a cookie but you can't be miserable while you are eating a cookie. Food is about nurturing: not only physical but also emotional nurturing.
What ethnicity is Ina Garten? ›
Born Ina Rosenberg to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York City and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, Garten was one of two children born to Charles H. Rosenberg, a surgeon specializing in otolaryngology, and his wife, Florence (née Rich), a dietitian.
What does Ina Garten's husband teach? ›
He is the Dean Emeritus at the Yale School of Management
Jeffrey Garten. Currently, Jeffrey serves as the Dean Emeritus at the Yale School of Management and teaches courses on the global economy.
Why is Ina Garten so famous? ›
For over 20 years, Ina Garten has shared her comforting and foolproof recipes with the world through her beloved cookbooks and "Barefoot Contessa" show. But before becoming a Food Network star, Garten wrote budgets at the White House and ran a Hamptons grocery store. Here's her incredible life story.
Is Ina Garten Religious? ›
Garten is Jewish by birth and heritage, as is her husband, but rarely refers to her religion and ethnicity, though they are showcased through the inclusion of classic Jewish cooking in her television show and cookbooks, when she makes such dishes as rugelach, challah, and brisket.
How rich is Ina Garten? ›
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ina Garten's net worth in 2024 is estimated at $60 million. When combined with that of her husband Jeffrey, that amount is estimated at a whopping $120 million.
Did Ina and Jeffrey get divorced? ›
Ina and Jeffrey Garten have been married for over 50 years, having tied the knot in 1968. Throughout their marriage, the couple have lived in many places together including Paris, Washington, D.C., Manhattan and East Hampton, New York.
Why doesn't Ina Garten have children? ›
In a new interview for Julia Louis-Dreyfus' podcast, Wiser Than Me, Garten admitted that it "wasn't a struggle at all" to decide against having children. "I had no interest in having children," she told Louis-Dreyfus. "I had a terrible childhood, and it was nothing I wanted to recreate.
What is Ina Garten's favorite meal? ›
Instead of a chicken pot pie, Ina Garten likes to make a chicken stew and top it with flaky biscuits. She names it as one of her all-time favorite comfort foods, and we can easily see why. We think she would approve of this soup version on a cold night.
Is Ina Garten a chef or a cook? ›
Her fame may be relatively quiet — she doesn't have a line of cookware, there isn't a namesake restaurant — but make no mistake: Ina Garten is a powerhouse celeb chef.
Ina husband, Jeffrey, is also a financial powerhouse. According to Celebritynetworth.com, Jeffrey is worth $100 million, mostly thanks to his former jobs as managing director of Lehman Brothers and Blackstone Group.
How long is Ina Garten married? ›
Jeffrey added, "We tried but you didn't have an ID!" Now, as for their secret to a "long marriage" (55 years!), Ina answered "marry Jeffrey." And he said "love [Ina] to death." "I'd say that's a pretty good secret," she said before sweetly kissing her hubby on the cheek.
Who taught Ina Garten to cook? ›
Using cookbooks like Craig Claiborne's "The New York Times Cookbook" and Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," Garten taught herself how to cook.
What is the story line of the Barefoot Contessa? ›
Does Ina Garten have a store in the Hamptons? ›
While the celebrity chef and TV host often films in her East Hampton home, she was a local businesswoman before the fame. Her "Barefoot Contessa" show got its name from her now-closed specialty-food store, and her present-day, laid-back, permanently-on-vacation vibe exudes casual wealth.
What is a quote from a famous chef? ›
Thomas Keller once said, “When you acknowledge, as you must, that there is no such thing as perfect food, only the idea of it, then the real purpose of striving toward perfection becomes clear: to make people happy, that is what cooking is all about.” The author of five cookbooks and owner of the famous restaurant, The ...
Did Ina Garten want kids? ›
Ina Garten is opening up about her decision not to have kids. During a recent appearance on Julia Louis-Dreyfus' podcast "Wiser Than Me," the Food Network star got candid about having "no interest in having children" and how her husband Jeffrey Garten has been supportive of her choice.
Has Ina Garten written a memoir? ›
Ina Garten announced that her latest book, “Be Ready When the Luck Happens,” won't be filled with recipes, but rather her life story. The decision to write a memoir didn't come naturally to Garten, who called the process “a long journey” that's been four years in the making.
