Since Hell’s Kitchen started airing in 2005, the Fox reality TV show has produced 21 winners who bagged $250,000 cash prize each. While a whole lot of them vanished into obscurity, people like Rock Harper (2007 winner), Christina Machamer (2008 winner), and Christina Wilson (2012 winner), have managed to remain relevant in the culinary arena.
These winners of the culinary show are now involved in different life endeavors, though a good number of them still have business with the food and hospitality industry.
1. Michael Wray
• Date of Birth: April 17, 1977
• Age: 54 years old
• Year of Win: 2005
Occupying the number one spot on the list of Hell’s Kitchen reality show’s winners is Michael Wray. Michael clocked 27 when he won the show in 2005, marking its debut season.
Following his win, Mike got a lucrative job offer from Gordon Ramsay but had to decline. He went on to launch his restaurant, named Tatou, but sadly, things took a turn for the worse for the restaurateur when his little daughter lost her life. Life became so difficult after that, and he had no choice but to shut down his business.
Note, before appearing on the set of Hell’s Kitchen, Mike went under the knife for corrective surgery. The reality star battled with Scoliosis (an abnormal lateral curvature (curve) of the spine). Though his surgery was initially declared successful, complications set in after a metal rod the surgeons used to support his spine snapped. He could only rely on painkillers, which soon became addictive.
Where Is Michael Wray Now?
Somehow, he came out of addiction, but following his divorce after losing his daughter, Mike ended up in a truck, and his drug addiction surfaced again. To survive and fund his habit, he had to take on a lot of odd jobs. Fortunately, all that is now in the past, as he is fully recovered, married, and now a San Diego resident. He founded the knife firm Skull and Cleavers and also teaches cooking classes.
2. Heather West
• Date of Birth: 10th April
• Year of Win: 2006
The second winner of Hell’s Kitchen reality TV show happens to be Heather West who bagged it during the 2006 season. She also made the record as the first woman to ever win the show.
Winning the show earned her a contract in Las Vegas’ Terra Rossa Inn and at the end of her deal with the firm, she started working in other places from Washington to North Carolina and then went to California.
Where Is Heather West Now?
From Carlifornia, Heather moved to New York where she met the man she married. She is involved in creating awareness for Postpartum depression as she has been a sufferer of the clinical condition in the past.
3. Rock Harper
• Date of Birth: December 17, 1976
• Age: 47 years old
• Year of Win: 2007
Rock Harper is the 2007 winner of Hell’s Kitchen’s reality TV contest. Rock was the third person and the second man to win the show.
Winning the show opened several lucrative inroads for Rock. He first landed a job at Green Valley Ranch Resort’s Terre Verde Restaurant. After his contract with the hospitality firm ended, the young man started scoring other employment; he was an executive chef with both The Carlyle Club and Ben’s Next Door. Rock became an author when his book, Recipe for Recovery, was published, and he has recorded appearances on the sets of several shows on TV.
Where Is Rock Harper Now?
Rock is now an entrepreneur with his own bar called Hill Prince Bar in Washington, D.C. The place was launched in 2023 and is reportedly doing good business. In fact, Harper is listed among the most successful winners of Hell’s Kitchen.
4. Christina Machamer
• Date of Birth: March 13, 1982
• Age: 42 years old
• Year of Win: 2008
During season four in 2008, Christina Machamer was declared the winner of the Fox reality TV show, which made her the second woman ever to win that show. Christina was barely 16 when she launched her career as a restaurant worker. In the long run, she decided to drop out of college to concentrate on cooking.
Where Is Christina Machamer Now?
The lady’s win earned her a lucrative job with The London West Hollywood hotel in a non-executive position. Moving to St. Louis, she started working as a chef. She went on to appear in a few TV shows centered on culinary activities, and currently, she is an entrepreneur. Christina owns both BCBC Blends and Clandestine Table catering firm in Napa Valley.
5. Danny Veltri
• Year of Win: 2009
Danny Veltri was pronounced the winner of Hell’s Kitchen show on May 14, 2009, when he contested in its fifth season. Though he was one of the youngest in his batch, Danny was endowed with stellar culinary skills that saw him through.
Where Is Danny Veltri Now?
He has since worked at Fornelletto at the Borgata and launched his catering services, Back From Hell Catering, which didn’t last long. After working at Dayton Beach-based Gnarly Surf Bar & Grill and Vince Carter’s Restaurant, he is now employed as head chef at Salt Life Food Shack.
6. Dave Levey
• Date of Birth: 1988
• Age: 36 years old
• Year of Win: 2009
The Fox culinary show’s sixth season winner was Dave Levey on October 13, 2009. From what is obvious, the producers of the Fox reality show started organizing two contexts per year in 2009. Following this, he worked briefly at Araxi Restaurant & Bar before going home to Chester in New Jersey where he now works at Mara’s Café & Bakery as a baker.
7. Holli Ugalde
• Date of Birth: September 22, 1986
• Age: 37 years old
• Year of Win: 2010
On August 10, 2010, Chef Holli Ugalde was named the seventh winner of the reality TV show’s season seven. Holli started cooking at age four.
A visa denial prevented her from working at Savoy Grill London, which was one of the promises attached to her prize. However, she went on to appear in the Celeb Wine Review TV series, discussing food and wine, and interviewing people. Holli designs and sells cookware and is an author of a cookbook.
Where Is Holli Ugalde Now?
She is associated with projects like the SENS Wellness Lifestyle Program and the Green Acres Culinary Farm.
8. Nona Sivley
• Date of Birth: 1977
• Age: 47 years old
• Year of Win: 2010
Nona Sivley won the show on December 15, 2010, making her the winner of the 8th season. Part of her prize was working at the Las Vegas-based Pork & Beans, but she got fired after a short while for reasons that have never been disclosed.
Where Is Nona Sivley Now?
Nona went on to found the Georgian-based Sizzling Peach now called Nona Johnson.
9. Paul Niedermann
• Year of Win: 2011
From America’s Sunshine State came The Sous Chef, Paul Niedermann who emerged winner of the season nine of Hell’s Kitchen reality TV show on the 19th of September 2011. From there, the Florida native moved to New York City to work with BLT Steak before returning to his home state.
Where Is Paul Niedermann Now?
In Florida, he had a stint at Hudson Waterway East and later as a Corporate Executive Chef at SALT7 located in Delray Beach, Florida. He moved on to Racks Restaurant Management Group as an Executive Chef and also worked at ESquared Hospitality.
10 Christina Wilson
• Date of Birth: January 15, 1979
• Age: 45 years old
• Year of Win: 2012
The 10th season of Hell’s Kitchen aired in 2012 and was won by Christina Wilson on September 10, 2012. She was offered a job at Paris Las Vegas after her win. The organizer of Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay later gave her a job at his establishment, Gordon Ramsay Restaurant Group as its Corporate Executive Chef in 2015.
Where Is Christina Wilson Now?
Returning to the set of Hell’s Kitchen, she functioned as a Sous-chef and Gordon Ramsay North America later made her its Vice President Culinary. She has become a recurring guest on Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back, and several other TV and YouTube shows.
11. Ja’Nel Witt
• Date of Birth: March 23, 1981
• Age: 43 years old
• Year of Win: 2013
Ja’Nel Witt smiled to the bank with $250k when she became the winner of season 11 of the Fox Network reality TV show on July 25, 2013. Part of her prize was working at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Caesar’s Palace, but she couldn’t get that after failing a drug test.
The Texan then worked with Sonoma (a restaurant and wine bar located in Houston). She was part of “a six-course culinary voyage around the globe”, Black Chef Table’s A Fantastic Voyage. She also worked for Sammy’s Steakhouse in Richmond.
12. Scott Commings
• Date of Birth: 23rd March 1981
• Age: 43 years old
• Year of Win: 2014
The 24th of July 2014 saw Scott Commings win the 12th season of the Fox reality TV show. His culinary skills came to the fore at age 13 and he has been experimenting in the kitchen ever since.
Where Is Scott Commings Now?
After working at Chef Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, Caesars Palace. The Purdue University alum went on to found BLT Foods Las Vegas alongside a friend. Also in Las Vegas, he co-founded Established Culinary Management. He is engaged at The Downtown Grand Hotel and Casino’s Freedom Beat as its Executive Chef.
13. La Tasha McCutchen
• Date of Birth: 28th September
• Year of Win: 2014
La Tasha McCutchen became the winner of Season 13 of Hell’s Kitchen in 2014. Before she joined the show, the Wales University alum worked as a Kitchen supervisor at Marriott International.
Where Is La Tasha McCutchen Now?
Winning the Fox TV show earned him a place at Gordon Ramsay’s Pub & Grill at Caesars Atlantic City as the Head Chef. A year later, she started functioning as a private chef and is part of the show Entertaining with Chef Tasha Mac.
14. Meghan Gill
• Date of Birth: 17th October 1986
• Age: 43 years old
• Year of Win: 2015
Meghan Gill’s success story started in 2015 when she became the winner of the 14th season of Hell’s Kitchen on the 9th of June 2015. She previously worked as a Sous Chef at 2941 Restaurant. Her win earned the L’Academie de Cuisine alum the position of Executive Chef at Gordon Ramsey’s Caesars Entertainment Corporation.
Where Is Meghan Gill Now?
Moving on to MGM Springfield, she had a stint as its Executive Chef and is currently occupying the same position at Dormie Network.
15. Ariel Malone
• Date of Birth: 1990
• Age: 34 years old
• Year of Win: 2016
Ariel Malone is one of the lesser-known winners of the reality TV context. However, it is common knowledge that she won the season 15 culinary competition on the 29th of April 2016 at the age of 26. The New Jersey resident went on to work at the Las Vegas-based BLT Steak in Bally’s Casino, but she is no longer there. Her current preoccupation is not known.
16. Kimberly-Ann Ryan
• Date of Birth: 20th April 1985
• Age: 39 years old
• Year of Win: 2017
Chef Kimberly Ann Ryan became $250k richer after she won the show’s 16th season on the 2nd of February 2017. The Michigan native then moved to Las Vegas, precisely at The Venetian where she worked with Yardbird Southern Table & Bar as Head Chef. This was counted as part of her prize from the Fox Network show.
Where Is Kimberly Ann Ryan Now?
Going back to her state in Michigan, she started running The Cook’s House. She also doubles as a life Coach.
17. Michelle Tribble
Date of birth: 20th December 1990
• Age: 33 years old
Year of Win: 2018
Michelle Tribble won season 17 of the Fox reality show in 2018. The Dallas Texas native headed the latest Las Vegas-based Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant.
Where Is Michelle Tribble Now?
She is currently the Culinary Development Executive Chef at Gordon Ramsay, North America.
18. Ariel Contreras-Fox
• Date of Birth: October 31, 1981
• Age: 42 years old
• Year of Win: 2019
Ariel Contreras-Fox first appeared on the sixth season of Hell’s Kitchen where Dave Levey emerged as the winner. Luck smiled on her when she joined the show’s 18th season and was pronounced the winner in 2019.
Following her win, Ariel turned down the opportunity to work for Gordon Ramsay for one year at his Las Vegas Caesars Palace Hotel restaurant and went on to become the Concept Executive Chef at the New York City-based Mexican restaurant, Dos Caminos.
Where Is Ariel Contreras-Fox Now?
Ariel Contreras-Fox still works at the Dos Caminos and Del Friscos, but she is now the Vice President.
19. Kori Sutton
• Date of Birth: 19th March 1981
• Age: 42 years old
• Year of Win: 2021
The winner of the 19th season of Hell’s Kitchen was Los Angeles-based chef, Kori Sutton. After receiving the prize money of $250k in 2021. She declined the offer to work for a year at Hell’s Kitchen Lake Tahoe as the Head Chef. Kori went on to establish the salsa line called Mama Kori Salsa. She is also involved in teaching online cooking classes.
20. Trenton Garvey
• Year of Win: 2021
Trenton Garvey is the winner of the 20th season of the reality TV show after he beat other contestants in Hell’s Kitchen Young Guns in 2021.
Where Is Trenton Garvey Now?
As part of his prize, Trenton moved to Paris to work at Gordon Ramsay Steak as its Executive Chef; he just completed his one-year tenor there and is looking forward to greater things ahead.
21. Alex Belew
• Year of Win: 2022
The latest winner of the Fox reality TV show is Alex Belew. The Art Institute of Tennessee alum is the owner of Alex Belew Catering, has taught culinary skills and nutrition in the classroom, and has competed in several competitions, winning quite a good number. Notable among the competitions he appeared in include 2018 Charity Chopped. Before then, he became a fan favorite of Chef’s Taste Challenge.
Alex’s experience came to his aid at the 21st season of Hell’s Kitchen in February 2022 and it came as no surprise that he emerged the winner.
Where Is Alex Belew Now?
He is currently at Caesars Atlantic City working at Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant.