Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay chooses the winner of Fox’s reality TV show “Hell’s Kitchen” each season after cutting down his field of aspiring chefs one by one. Of the 21 chef-testants who’ve claimed the top honor so far since 2005, which ones do we remember fondly and who fizzled out after the finish line? Scroll through our photo gallery below that ranks all of the past “Hell’s Kitchen” winners from worst to best. Can you guess who’s our #1 choice? Gallery originally published May 2018.
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21. Paul Niedermann
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Paul Niedermann won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 9 on September 19, 2011. His prize was the honor of being head chef at BLT Steak in New York City. The day after his season finale aired Niedermann began working in the kitchen full time, though many fans consider him to be one of the worst winners ever.
Chef Ramsay on Paul’s victory: “Paul won tonight because he’s probably the most passionate determined chef ever to enter ‘Hell’s Kitchen.’ He’ll make a great head chef because his enthusiasm is contagious. I’m so proud to hand him over to BLT Steak in New York City.”
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20. Ja’Nel Witt
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Ja’Nel Witt won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 11 on July 25, 2013. She was supposed to receive the prize of head chef at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Caesars Palace at Las Vegas. However, a month after the finale aired, it was revealed that Ja’Nel was denied the prize because she tested positive for cocaine. Regarding the controvery, Chef Ramsay publicly remarked, “My door is always open. I hope she sorts out her personal issues.”
Chef Ramsay on Ja’Nel’s victory: “In all my years in ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ I have never seen a more composed individual than Ja’Nel. And that is why I am so happy to have this ambitious, creative and talented woman as my Head Chef.”
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19. La Tasha Mccutchen
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox La Tasha Mccutchen won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 13 on December 17, 2014. She earned a head chef position in Atlantic City worth a salary of $250,000. La Tasha was the first contestant since Christina Wilson in Season 10 to completely avoid being nominated for elimination throughout the entire season.
Chef Ramsay on La Tasha’s victory: “La Tasha has all the right ingredients to be a great chef. She’s creative, a strong leader, has great attention to detail and has an outstanding palate. But the thing I love most about La Tasha is her determination. I know that she’s ready for the challenge of being my head chef in Atlantic City and I couldn’t be happier.”
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18. Holli Ugalde
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Holli Ugalde won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 7 on August 10, 2010. Her prize was supposed to be the position as executive chef at The Savoy in London, however she could not get a visa to work in England. Ugalde called out Fox, reportedly saying, “I don’t know if they even applied for my visa.” Ugalde accepted an undisclosed amount of cash from the network instead. She now has a job as the signature chef at B Ocean restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Chef Ramsay on Holli’s victory: “Holli won because she has grown as a chef more than any other chef in ‘Hell’s Kitchen.’ At the start, she was barely noticeable. But then, she got her confidence. She emerged and there was no holding her back. I’m absolutely thrilled she’ll be working with me at the Savoy Grill in London.”
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17. Nona Sivley
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Nona Sivley won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 8 on December 15, 2010. Her rewards included the head chef position at LA Market at JW Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles as well as a spokesperson job for Rosemount Estate Wines. Nona is now working as chef de cuisine at LA Market with celebrity chef Kerry Simon.
Chef Ramsay on Nona’s victory: “When ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ first started, I used to say, ‘No, no, no’ to Nona. After every service, she improved dramatically. And I was soon saying ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ She has a phenomenal palate and a real passion for cooking. Soon, all of America will be saying, ‘Yes’ with me when they see her excel as the head chef of LA Market.”
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16. Danny Veltri
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Danny Veltri won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 5 on May 14, 2009. He became sous chef at Fornelletto at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Originally he was supposed to be the head chef at another restaurant built at the Casino, but when he didn’t become head chef, Danny quit and began consulting. He eventually created his own catering company called, appropriately enough, Back From Hell Catering.
Chef Ramsay on Danny’s victory: “Danny won ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ because in a very short period of time, he grew more than any other chef I’ve ever seen. He now has the talent, the maturity, to become a great head chef. Borgata Resort should consider themselves lucky. I know I would.”
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15. Scott Commings
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Scott Commings won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 12 on July 24, 2014. He earned a head chef position worth a salary of $250,000 at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Chef Ramsay on Scott’s victory: “Scott won tonight because he has all the qualities I’m looking for in a head chef. He is passionate, determined and a true leader. He’s an artist plating food and has a phenomenal palate. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s got a great career ahead of him.”
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14. Ariel Malone
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Ariel Malone won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 15 on April 29, 2016. She earned a head chef position at BLT Steak at the infamous Bally’s Las Vegas
Chef Ramsay on Ariel’s victory: “Right from the very beginning, Ariel let her presence be known. She was always outspoken but she backed up her confidence with her cooking. Creative, talented and unique, she is an out of the box thinker who will make a great head chef at BLT Steak.”
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13. Trenton Garvey
Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox Trenton Garvey won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 20 on September 13, 2021. The Missouri native’s prize was $250,000 and a head chef position at Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas. This season was a special “Young Guns” installment in which aspiring chefs younger than age 25 competed against each other.
Chef Ramsay on Trenton’s victory: “Trenton is everything I want in a protege. At a very young age, he’s already proven to be creative, passionate, and a driven leader. He will be a great asset at Gordon Ramsay Steak 2.0 at Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.”
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12. Christina Machamer
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Christina Machamer won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 4 on July 8, 2008. Her reward was supposed to be as executive chef at Ramsay’s London West Hollywood Hotel, but instead she was given the senior chef position. She then took some time off to study wine at The Culinary Institute at Greystone in Napa Valley. Currently, she is a member of the opening team at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro in Beverly Hills.
Chef Ramsay on Christina’s victory: “Christina had the least amount of experience coming into ‘Hell’s Kitchen.’ But I saw something in her that was quite special. She had the best potential across any other chef in ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ and in my business I think long term. I definitely, definitely made the right choice.”
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11. Michelle Tribble
Image Credit: Fox Michelle won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 17, the show’s first-ever All Stars cycle, on February 2, 2018. She earned a head chef position at Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, NV.
Chef Ramsay on Michelle’s victory: “Having the youngest of all-stars step up and win this competition is a testament to Michelle’s talent. At a very young age, she has already proven she is driven, creative, and commanding. She will be a great asset to Hell’s Kitchen in Las Vegas.”
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10. Alex Belew
Image Credit: FOX Alex Belew won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 21 on February 9, 2023. The grand prize for this 40-year-old Murfreesboro, Tennessee native was a head chef position at Ramsay’s restaurant in Atlantic City. This season began with a “Battle of the Ages” twist in which aspiring chefs in their 20s competed against those in their 40s.
Chef Ramsay on Alex’s victory: “From the start, Alex emerged as a leader. Not only amongst the 40-year-olds, but also the 20-year-olds. His cooking and his passion pushed him to the front of the pack, making him the ideal choice to be my next head chef.”
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9. Meghan Gill
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Meghan Gill won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 14 on June 9, 2015. She earned the coveted head chef position at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Caesars Atlantic City.
Chef Ramsay on Meghan’s victory: “Meghan has every quality I look for in a head chef. She is passionate, determined and has an amazing palate. But most importantly, Meghan is a born leader who makes every chef in the kitchen better. Talent like hers comes along very rarely and I have no doubt she’ll be a great success in Atlantic City.”
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8. Heather West
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Heather West won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 2 on August 14, 2006. She was promised the executive chef position at Terra Rossa restaurant at Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino in Las Vegas. However, Heather only became senior chef, so she left and got the job of head chef at Monterey Restaurant in Long Beach, New York.
Chef Ramsay on Heather’s victory: “Heather won ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ because of her determination. She stuck to what she knew best, and she controlled her kitchen from start to finish. Heather clearly has great leadership qualities. This, for a 25-year old cook, is a phenomenon. This woman is going to be a big success!”
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7. Michael Wray
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Michael Wray was the very first winner of “Hell’s Kitchen” on August 1, 2005. At the completion of the season, Chef Ramsay offered Michael the choice of either opening a restaurant or going to London to learn under Chef Ramsay. Michael initially chose to learn under Chef Ramsay, but then changed his mind because he thought the move would be too stressful on his family. Currently Michael owns a custom knives company called Skull and Cleavers and he works as executive head chef at The Standard in Los Angeles, California.
Chef Ramsay on Michael’s victory: “Ralph was great tonight but Michael deserved to win because his creativity and standards are simply on a higher level.”
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6. Rahman ‘Rock’ Harper
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Rahman “Rock” Harper won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 3 on August 13, 2007. He fulfilled his contract as head chef for one year at Terra Verde at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, and then later worked in restaurants throughout Washington, D.C. Rock joined the staff of a D.C. restaurant called Next Door in 2008, then helped the March of Dimes Signature Chef’s Auction in Louisville, Kentucky in 2010.
Chef Ramsay on Rock’s victory: “Rock deserved to win ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ because he’s a very confident cook, and he has become a really good leader. He can motivate staff; he can create. All those qualities are not easy to find in one chef. Rock holds all of them.”
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5. Kori Sutton
Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox Kori Sutton won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 19 on April 22, 2021. She received a head chef position at Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant in Lake Tahoe. “The first people that I saw were my son and my father and I just lost my bananas,” Kori told Gold Derby about what went through her head when she was named the winner.
Chef Ramsay on Kori’s victory: “Kori is everything I could want in a head chef. She is decisive, level-headed, and most importantly, passionate. From the moment she stepped into Hell’s Kitchen, she was an instinctual and natural-born leader. She’ll be a great asset to Hell’s Kitchen in Lake Tahoe.”
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4. Dave Levey
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Dave Levey won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 6 on October 13, 2009. He was awarded with the position of head chef at Araxi Restaurant and Bar in Whistler, British Columbia, but was treated like a line cook so he eventually left. He worked at Araxi Restaurant until the end of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Currently, he is in Nashville helping his sister with her music career.
Chef Ramsay on Dave’s victory: “Dave has a very natural ability and a very sophisticated palate. He fought through excruciating pain and excelled and went on to win ‘Hell’s Kitchen.’ He’s gonna be an amazing asset to the Araxi Grill and Bar in Whistler and I’d like to wish him the best of luck, but honestly, I don’t think he’ll need it.”
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3. Kimberly-Ann ‘Ryan’ Ryan
Image Credit: Fox Ryan won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 16 on February 2, 2017. She earned a head chef position at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at The Venetian Las Vegas.
Chef Ramsay on Ryan’s victory: “Early on, I challenged Ryan to find her voice. Once she proved to me she could command a kitchen, there was no stopping her. She has the tenacity, drive and skill that will make her a great head chef at Yardbird Southern Table and Bar at the Venetian Las Vegas.”
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2. Ariel Contreras-Fox
Image Credit: Fox Ariel won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 18, which pitted Rookies vs. Veterans, on February 8, 2019. She earned a head chef position at Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, NV, which came with a salary of $250,000.
Chef Ramsay on Ariel’s victory: “Since the first time she was here, Ariel has grown tenfold as a chef. She is fiercely talented, extremely determined and a commanding leader. I could not be more pleased to have her as my executive chef of Hell’s Kitchen in Las Vegas.”
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1. Christina Wilson
Image Credit: Courtesy Fox Christina Wilson won “Hell’s Kitchen” Season 10 on September 10, 2012. She’s considered by most fans to be the best winner of all time. Christina received a head chef position at Gordon Ramsay Steak at the Paris Las Vegas in Paradise, Nevada. Soon after winning the title, Christina said, “I will be headed to Las Vegas tomorrow morning, not even two full days after the finale aired. Chef Ramsay is a successful businessman, and it’s time for me to get back down to business.” Years later, Christina returned to “HK” as the Red Team’s sous chef.
Chef Ramsay on Christina’s victory: “Christina’s passion and talent are undeniable. She’s a strong leader who is totally at home in the kitchen. I know I’m not rolling the dice with her in Vegas because she is the real deal.”
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Who’s next?
Image Credit: Fox Which chef-testant will be next to join the list of “Hell’s Kitchen” winners? Find out when Season 22 airs sometime in 2023!
