PAULA DEEN –  $16 MILLION

Paula Deen is an American author and cooking show host popularly known for her programs on the Food Network Channel. However, long before she became the cooking sensation people know her today, Paula was already an accomplished restaurateur. She started small by making meals and sandwiches at her home and selling them in her hometown in Savannah, Georgia. When her small business began to grow, Paula used up her investment money to fund her very first restaurant in 1991.

People from everywhere, including high-ranking food professionals, caught a whiff of what Paula was cooking shortly after that. In 1999, eight years after opening her first restaurant, Paula began communicating with executives from the Food Network Channel. What began as guest appearances for the network soon turned into a full-blown career for Paula. Today, the cooking show host boasts a $16 million net worth together with her countless other achievements.