How Gordon Ramsay Built His Name into a Billion-Dollar Brand

Does Gordon Ramsay Really Stand Up?

On the other hand, he doesn’t have much time to sit still.

There’s Gordon Ramsay, the host of four television shows watched by millions of people each week.

There’s the producer and chairman of One Potato Two Potato, who provides behind-the-scenes notes and ideas for shows that have become global hits.

There’s the restaurateur who owns 24 restaurants worldwide and holds a coveted seven Michelin stars.

There’s the marathoner and Ironman triathlete who just competed in the Kona World Championships. He has three more scheduled for next year, perfectly timed between his show’s production cycles, of course.

And then there’s the devoted husband to Tana and father of four children: Megan, Jack, Holly and Matilda.

So how does he balance it all? “The secret to my success is that I don’t take anything for granted,” he told Variety over a late-morning brunch at the Soho House in West Hollywood.

So how does he balance it all? “The secret to my success is that I don’t take anything for granted,” he told Variety over a late-morning brunch at the Soho House in West Hollywood.

Speaking to those who know him best, one word keeps coming up: perfectionist. It’s a title he wears proudly.

“He’s a perfectionist; he hates bullshit — and he can spot it a mile away; he learns very quickly, both from his successes and from some of his mistakes,” said Simon Andreae, executive vice president of alternative entertainment at Fox. “Another advantage is that he has world-class taste.”

“He’s a perfectionist,” said Paul Buccieri, president of ITV U.S. Studios Group said. “When you’re running a restaurant, and people are spending money to go out at night, he wants to create an experience and make it the best it can be. Not just to get them in the door, but to keep them coming back.”

“He’s an extreme perfectionist,” said Adeline Ramage Rooney, vice president of original programming at One Potato Two Potato, who has worked with him for a decade. “He’s not like you and me. He’s not satisfied with one TV show; he wants five. He doesn’t just have one restaurant; he has 20 restaurants around the world. He’s at the top of his game. But he balances that excellence with human flaws. He swears all the time. He gets into public fights. He wears his heart on his chest. And he’s completely fearless.”