Meet The Chefs With The Most Michelin Stars To Their Name
Cast aspersions of snobbery all you like, the prestige of a Michelin star still carries an enormous amount of weight in the culinary world. All chefs crave them, and diners remain willing to pay the premium that comes with eating at one.
With that in mind, here is a list of the Chef’s that have nailed the Michelin guide, and sit atop the rankings as having the most stars – although the lack of diversity among the top chefs shows that, while still holding prestige, it remains an imperfect barometer of measurement.
1. Olivier Elzer – 23 Michelin Stars
French chef Olivier Elzer was raised in the Alsace region, leading to a French and German influence on his culinary niche. Primarily known for for his work as Head Chef of Pierre at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Hong Kong, Elzer has accumulated a staggering 23 Michelin stars in 16 restaurants across France and Hong Kong.
After honing his craft working alongside world-renowned chefs such as Pierre Gagnaire and Joel Robuchon, in 2022, he was awarded the Knight in the Order of Agricultural Merit of the French Republic. In 2018, Elzer established L’Envol, a modern French fine dining restaurant at the St. Regis Hong Kong, which has achieved 2 Michelin Stars.
2. Alain Ducasse – 17 Michelin Stars
A mainstay on the Michelin guide since the 1980s, legendary French Chef Alain Ducasse shows no sign of slowing down. Ok, his current haul of 17 Michelin stars is slightly down on his 2012 peak of 21, but we think we’ll give him a pass.
The jewel in the crown of his restaurant empire is the eponymous Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester; a contemporary French fine dining restaurant which boasts 3 – yes, three – Michelin Stars. Modern and elegantly informal, it offers a forward-thinking approach to haute cuisine.
3. Gordon Ramsay – 16 Michelin Stars
A niche, little known chef by the name of Gordon Ramsay is next on the list.
Such is the sheer ubiquity of the infamous Chef’s celebrity media presence, it’s hard to believe he has enough time to actually, you know, be a Chef. But Ramsay also has a portfolio of restaurants with a combined tally of 16 Michelin stars.
Most famous is his flagship restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, on Royal Hospital Road, which showcases modern French cuisine and holds three Michelin stars.
4. Yannick Alleno – 15 Michelin Stars
Raised just outside Paris, Alleno’s cuisine is shaped by working in French bistros and restaurants, learning from the likes of Gabriel Biscay and Louis Grondard. Since winning his first Michelin star in 1999, he has since founded his own restaurant company and has Michelin starred restaurants in Paris, Seoul, Couchavel and Dubai.
His restaurant Pavillon Ledoyen, in the square gardens on the Champs-Élysées, has the maximum three Michelin stars, and is regarded as one of the best in Paris.
5. Pierre Gagnaire – 12 Michelin Stars
In a huge deviation, the next Chef on the list is, you guessed it, French. ‘Facing tomorrow but respectful of yesterday’ is his self proclaimed mission statement, which reflects the modern approach he takes with his French cuisine.
Londoners might know Gagnaire best as the head chef of Sketch, the insta-friendly Michelin Star restaurant.
6. Martin Berasategui – 12 Michelin Stars
From France we head to the Basque Region and the food of Spanish Chef Martin Bersategui – owner and head chef of his eponymous restaurant in Lasarte-Oria, holder of the maximum three Michelin stars.
As well as his San Sebastian restaurant, Berasategui has Michelin star restaurants in Barcelona, Lisbon, Bilbao, Ibiza and Tenerife, and worked with previous entry Alain Ducasse while learning the ropes in France.
7. Enrico Bartolini – 9 Michelin Stars
Ah, Italian food. Every single Pizzeria I went to in Rome deserves multiple Michelin Stars. Unfortunately, the Michelin guide is less enamored – but Italian Chef Enrico Bartolini has still managed to accumulate nine.
Born in 1979 and originally from Castelmartini in Tuscany, Bartolini is the only chef in the history of the Michelin Guide to have been awarded four stars at the same time, including two for his eponymous restaurant at the MUDEC Museum of Cultures in Milan.
8. Marc Veryat – 9 Michelin Stars
French Chef Marc Veryat is known for his eccentricity alongside his culinary expertise, and to this day wears his trademark black Shephard hat as a nod to his descent from a long line of Savoy peasants.
He was the owner of the restaurants La Maison de Marc Veyrat (or l’Auberge de l’Eridan) in Veyrier-du-Lac and la Ferme de mon Père in Megève, and currently operates the restaurant La Maison des Bois in Manigod – overall equating to 9 Michelin stars.
