The $250,000 Question: Where Are All 22 Top Chef Winners Now? (Updated 2025)

The culinary world is constantly evolving, and as of late 2025, the impact of Bravo’s Emmy-winning competition, Top Chef, has never been more evident. With 22 seasons under its belt, the show has launched dozens of careers, transforming talented chefs into household names and industry titans. The latest champion, Tristen Epps-Long, has joined an elite club, proving that the coveted title and the $250,000 grand prize are just the beginning of a life-changing journey.

This comprehensive guide details every single winner from the show’s inception, focusing on the fresh, current projects and achievements that keep their names in the headlines. From new host Kristen Kish’s expanding empire to the latest champion’s exciting restaurant concepts, here is the definitive look at the legacy of the Top Chef winners and where they are now.

The Complete List of All 22 Top Chef Winners and Their Culinary Biographies

The journey from a Quickfire Challenge to the finale’s Elimination Challenge is grueling, but the reward is a permanent place in culinary history. This list provides a full chronological biography of every champion, detailing the season that made them famous and their current status in the industry.

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• Season 1: Harold Dieterle (San Francisco, 2006). After his win, Dieterle opened several successful New York City restaurants, including Perilla and Kin Shop. He has since focused on consulting and private culinary projects.
• Season 2: Ilan Hall (Los Angeles, 2007). Hall is the creator of The Gorbals, a restaurant concept that has appeared in both Los Angeles and Williamsburg, New York.
• Season 3: Hung Huynh (Miami, 2007). Huynh has worked as a Corporate Executive Chef for the EMM Group and has focused on international culinary projects and consulting.
• Season 4: Stephanie Izard (Chicago, 2008). Izard is one of the show’s biggest success stories, a James Beard Award winner, and the chef/owner of multiple celebrated Chicago restaurants, including Girl & The Goat, Little Goat Diner, and Duck Duck Goat.
• Season 5: Hosea Rosenberg (New York, 2009). Rosenberg is the chef and owner of Blackbelly Market and Santo, both located in Boulder, Colorado.
• Season 6: Michael Voltaggio (Las Vegas, 2009). Known for his modernist cuisine, Voltaggio has maintained a high profile through various TV appearances and his joint ventures with his brother, Bryan, including the Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse. He recently ventured into the spirits industry with a tequila project.
• Season 7: Kevin Sbraga (Washington, D.C., 2010). Sbraga has continued his culinary career with various restaurant concepts and consulting roles.
• Season 8: Richard Blais (All-Stars: New York, 2011). Blais is a ubiquitous TV personality, host, and successful restaurateur, known for his creative, modern approach to cooking.
• Season 9: Paul Qui (Texas, 2012). Qui is a James Beard Award winner who has opened several acclaimed restaurants in Texas.
• Season 10: Kristen Kish (Seattle, 2013). Kish is the chef/partner of Arlo Grey in Austin, Texas, and, notably, the current host of Top Chef, replacing Padma Lakshmi starting in Season 21.
• Season 11: Nicholas Elmi (New Orleans, 2014). Elmi is the chef/owner of Laurel and The Landing Kitchen in the Philadelphia area.
• Season 12: Mei Lin (Boston, 2014). Lin is the chef/owner of Nightshade in Los Angeles, which focuses on Asian-inspired cuisine.
• Season 13: Jeremy Ford (California, 2016). Ford is the chef/owner of Stubborn Seed in Miami Beach, a Michelin-recognized restaurant.
• Season 14: Brooke Williamson (Charleston, 2017). Williamson is the chef/owner of Playa Provisions in Playa del Rey, California, and a frequent TV competitor/judge.
• Season 15: Joe Flamm (Colorado, 2018). Flamm is the chef/owner of Rose Mary and BLVD Steakhouse in Chicago.
• Season 16: Kelsey Barnard Clark (Kentucky, 2019). Clark is the chef/owner of KBC in Dothan, Alabama, focusing on Southern cuisine.
• Season 17: Melissa King (All-Stars LA, 2020). King has an active career in culinary product development, collaborations, and pop-ups, celebrating her Chinese-American heritage.
• Season 18: Gabe Erales (Portland, 2021). Erales is a chef and consultant specializing in Mexican cuisine.
• Season 19: Buddha Lo (Houston, 2022). Lo is an Executive Chef and the first chef to win back-to-back seasons.
• Season 20: Buddha Lo (World All-Stars: London, 2023). Lo cemented his legendary status, becoming the first two-time champion in the show's history.
• Season 21: Danny Garcia (Wisconsin, 2024). Garcia, the first winner under new host Kristen Kish, is building his culinary reputation following his victory.
• Season 22: Tristen Epps-Long (Wisconsin/Canada, 2024). The most recent champion, Epps-Long is currently developing his own Afro-Caribbean concept, Buboy.

The New Era: Kristen Kish and the $250,000 Grand Prize

The culinary landscape of Top Chef saw a major shift with the departure of longtime host Padma Lakshmi. Stepping into the role for Season 21, and continuing for the latest Season 22, is Season 10 winner, Kristen Kish. Kish's transition from a cheftestant to the show’s host has been a powerful narrative, offering a unique perspective that resonates with both the competitors and the audience. Her presence, alongside head judge Tom Colicchio and judge Gail Simmons, has ushered in a new, dynamic era for the Bravo competition.

Kish’s current projects extend far beyond the television screen. She remains the chef/partner of her celebrated Austin restaurant, Arlo Grey. Furthermore, in a significant 2025 update, Kish has been active in publishing, releasing her new memoir, *Accidentally on Purpose*. She also serves as a Chef-in-Residence for Escoffier, collaborating on student-focused projects, cementing her status as a culinary educator and industry leader.

The financial stakes have also risen, with the grand prize for the latest season reaching a substantial $250,000, up from the initial $100,000 in early seasons. This substantial cash injection, coupled with features in *Food & Wine* magazine and a showcase at the prestigious James Beard House, provides the winners with an unprecedented platform for their culinary careers.

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The Most Current Champions: Tristen Epps-Long and Danny Garcia

The most recent winners of Top Chef are already making significant waves in the industry, capitalizing on their momentum to launch exciting new ventures. Their stories provide the freshest evidence of the show’s power to transform careers.

Tristen Epps-Long: The Afro-Caribbean Visionary

Tristen Epps-Long, the winner of Season 22, secured his victory in the finale set in Canada. His culinary style, which blends his Southern American roots with Afro-Caribbean influences, captivated the judges. Epps-Long is currently based in Houston, where he is actively developing his fine-dining concept, Buboy. Buboy is envisioned as an Afro-Caribbean tasting menu restaurant, a project he says his *Top Chef* victory has given him the confidence to pursue.

In a major 2025 update, Epps-Long has been conducting a national culinary tour, including a highly anticipated dinner series at Red Rooster Overtown in Miami, where he previously served as the opening executive chef. This post-show activity demonstrates the immediate, tangible benefits of the *Top Chef* win: the ability to tour, host high-profile events, and secure funding and attention for a dream restaurant.

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Danny Garcia: The Wisconsin Champion

Danny Garcia, the winner of Season 21, was the first champion crowned under the new leadership of host Kristen Kish. The Wisconsin season highlighted Garcia’s unique blend of Mexican and modern American cuisine. His victory proved that a chef can maintain a high level of technical skill while showcasing deeply personal, culturally rich food. Garcia's win immediately elevated his profile, giving him a platform to further develop his unique culinary voice within the competitive world of celebrity chefs and fine dining.

The Enduring Legacy: From Restaurant Wars to Global Brands

The true measure of a *Top Chef* winner is not the cash prize, but the longevity of their culinary career. Many winners have leveraged the show’s exposure to build global brands and secure multiple James Beard Award nominations. Stephanie Izard, for example, has created a restaurant empire that spans the country.

The show's format, including the high-pressure Quickfire Challenge and the team-based Restaurant Wars, is a crucible that forces chefs to develop not only their cooking skills but also their business acumen, leadership, and resilience. This intense training prepares them for the demanding reality of the restaurant industry, making the title of "Top Chef winner" a stamp of excellence recognized worldwide.

From the early days of Harold Dieterle to the most recent triumph of Tristen Epps-Long, the show remains the premier launchpad for culinary talent. The winners' ongoing success stories—opening new restaurants, writing books, and hosting television shows—confirm that winning Top Chef is a career-defining moment, a foundation upon which a lasting culinary empire can be built.