John Torode built a career by swapping the restaurant kitchen for a TV studio, and that move made him a household name without a single Michelin star. This guide traces his path from Melbourne kitchens to London restaurants, his marriage to Lisa Faulkner, and what his net worth actually looks like, with facts sourced from verified profiles.

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Born: 23 July 1965 ·
Nationality: Australian and British ·
Known for: MasterChef judge, chef, TV presenter ·
Michelin stars: None ·
Spouse: Lisa Faulkner (m. 2019) ·
Net worth (estimated): £5–8 million

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth figure (estimates range £5–8 million)
  • Current restaurant ownership details
  • Number of children from each relationship
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Continues as MasterChef judge alongside Gregg Wallace
  • No new restaurant ventures publicly announced
  • Cookbook and TV appearances expected

A chef who built a television career without a Michelin star — six personal facts tell the story.

Attribute Value
Full name John Douglas Torode
Date of birth 23 July 1965
Nationality Australian and British
Occupation Chef, TV presenter
Spouse Lisa Faulkner (m. 2019)
Children 2 (from previous relationships)

The table confirms the core biographical facts — a chef who traded the kitchen for the camera.

What restaurants does John Torode own?

John Torode’s restaurant history

  • Torode opened Smiths of Smithfield in 2000 in London’s Smithfield area (SquareMeal (restaurant guide)).
  • He also opened The Luxe in Spitalfields (SquareMeal (restaurant guide)).
  • During his tenure, the two venues generated a reported turnover of £9.2 million (SquareMeal (restaurant guide)).

Current restaurant ventures

Torode later sold his stakes in both Smiths of Smithfield and The Luxe (SquareMeal (restaurant guide)). As of 2025, public records do not show him owning any operating restaurant. He has not indicated plans to open a new venue.

The implication: Torode’s restaurant chapter is largely behind him. His income now comes from television and publishing rather than from running a kitchen.

Bottom line: John Torode made his mark with two notable London restaurants, but neither earned a Michelin star. Today his focus is on TV and cookbooks, not bricks and mortar.

What is John Torode’s net worth?

Estimated net worth figures

  • Wales Online reported Torode’s net worth at approximately £7.9 million, based on online estimates (Wales Online (UK regional news)).
  • Other sources place the figure between £5 million and £8 million. No official financial disclosure exists.

Sources of income

Torode earns from his long-running role as MasterChef judge, cookbook sales (including My Kind of Food and John and Lisa’s Kitchen), and past restaurant ventures (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). He also appears on shows like Saturday Kitchen and This Morning.

The catch: the £7.9 million figure comes from aggregator sites, not from Torode himself. Without audited accounts, the number is an educated guess.

The trade-off

A TV salary and book royalties are steadier than restaurant margins. Torode’s wealth reflects that shift — more media, less food service risk.

Who is John Torode’s wife?

Lisa Faulkner

  • Torode married Lisa Faulkner on 24 October 2019 (IMDb (film database)).
  • Faulkner is a chef and actress, and won MasterChef in 2010 (Wales Online (UK regional news)).
  • The couple have been together since 2015 (znaki.fm (celebrity profiles)). Znaki.fm reports Torode’s first marriage was to Jessica Thomas (2000–2014).

Relationship timeline

  • Torode (born 1965) and Faulkner (born 1972) have a 7-year age gap.
  • They co-wrote the cookbook John and Lisa’s Kitchen and frequently appear together on television.

Why this matters: Torode’s marriage to a fellow chef and MasterChef winner reinforces his public persona as a food-world insider. Their joint projects extend his brand beyond solo judging.

“We love cooking together – it’s our thing.” – Lisa Faulkner in a joint interview, as reported by Wales Online (UK regional news)

Does John Torode have a Michelin star?

Michelin star status

  • John Torode does not have a Michelin star. None of his restaurants were awarded one during his ownership.

Cooking accolades

Torode’s culinary recognition comes from different quarters. The Mezzo Cookbook won a James Beard Foundation Award for Best Food Photography in 1998, according to an Express report (Express (UK news)). But his status as a celebrity chef rests more on television than on star ratings.

The pattern: Torode is a household name not because of Michelin-level cuisine, but because he has spent 20 years guiding amateur cooks on national TV. His brand is approachability, not haute gastronomy.

What is John Torode’s role on MasterChef?

MasterChef judge

Other TV appearances

Beyond MasterChef, Torode has appeared on Saturday Kitchen, This Morning, and the BBC travel series John Torode’s Australia.

The implication: Torode’s TV presence is his career engine. MasterChef alone has given him 20 years of consistent exposure, making him one of the most recognised chefs in Britain — even without a starred kitchen.

Timeline signal

  • 1965 – John Torode born in Melbourne, Australia (IMDb (film database))
  • 1990s – Moved to the UK, worked at Le Pont de la Tour and Quaglino’s with Terence Conran (Great British Chefs (chef directory))
  • 2000 – Opened Smiths of Smithfield (SquareMeal (restaurant guide))
  • 2005 – Began presenting MasterChef (Express (UK news))
  • 2019 – Married Lisa Faulkner (IMDb (film database))

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • John Torode was born on 23 July 1965 in Melbourne (IMDb (film database))
  • He is a judge on MasterChef (Great British Chefs (chef directory))
  • He married Lisa Faulkner in 2019 (IMDb (film database))
  • He has two children
  • He has no Michelin star

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth (estimates vary £5–8 million)
  • Current restaurant ownership – no public record
  • Number of children from each relationship

Quotes

“I think the key to good cooking is to keep it simple and let the ingredients speak for themselves.” – John Torode, as quoted by Great British Chefs (chef directory)

“We’re a team – in the kitchen and in life. That’s why our cookbook works.” – Lisa Faulkner, in an interview with Wales Online (UK regional news)

John Torode has built a durable career by trading the restaurant kitchen for the TV studio – a move that has made him a household name without a single Michelin star. For aspiring chefs in the UK, his path shows that public recognition and financial stability can come from presenting, not just plating. The implication is clear: in the modern food industry, a sharp TV personality can out-earn a fine-dining chef. Torode’s choice to lean into MasterChef rather than chase stars was a calculated bet that paid off. For anyone weighing a similar career pivot, the lesson is straightforward: find the platform, not just the pan.

Additional sources

famousbirthdays.com, foodandtravel.com, youtube.com, facebook.com, facebook.com, celebritywire.uk

John Torode’s personal life is closely tied to Lisa Faulkner, his wife, a fellow MasterChef winner and cookbook author.

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Frequently asked questions

What is John Torode’s most famous dish?

Torode is known for classic British-Australian fare, especially his roast chicken and steak dishes. He has not trademarked a signature dish.

How did John Torode become a chef?

He started his culinary journey at age 16 in Melbourne, later training under Terence Conran in London (Express (UK news)).

Does John Torode have any siblings?

Public records do not list any siblings; he has not discussed them in interviews.

What cookbooks has John Torode written?

He authored Sydney to Seoul, My Kind of Food, and co-wrote John and Lisa’s Kitchen with Lisa Faulkner (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).

Is John Torode still on MasterChef?

Yes, as of 2025 he continues as a lead judge on MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef, and Junior MasterChef (Great British Chefs (chef directory)).

Where did John Torode train as a chef?

He trained in Melbourne, Australia, then moved to London in the 1990s to work at Le Pont de la Tour and Quaglino’s (Great British Chefs (chef directory)).

What is John Torode’s favorite cuisine?

He has often said he loves simple, fresh British and Australian food, particularly seafood.