Having grown to become a popular face on television, Padma Lakshmi’s net worth has been a subject often discussed among the many fans she has garnered over the years. Considered to be one of the most engaging TV hosts on American television, Lakshmi is admired for her soothing charm and intelligence. A multi-talented lady, she is also an actress, a model, an author, and executive producer. Today, she is revered as a woman who knows her onions and who goes about with an air of confidence about her while achieving what she has set her heart to do.
Having worked so hard in the entertainment industry for years, it is expected that Padma Lakshmi’s net worth has been built up to quite an enviable level already. But how much is she worth exactly? Let’s find out.
What Is Padma Lakshmi Famous For?
Born on the 1st day of September 1970, Padma Lakshmi’s full name is actually Padma Parvati Lakshmi Vaidynathan and she is best known today as a TV host and actress. It is noteworthy that the actress was born in Madras, India. However, she grew up in New York, USA after she moved there with her mother when her parents divorced. But, she often went back home to India to see her grandparents.
Growing up, Lakshmi faced some very serious challenges. When she was just 14 years old in 1984, she was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome. She spent about three weeks in hospital over the ailment before she was eventually discharged. To make matters worse, just two days after she was discharged from hospital, she was involved in a car accident which left her suffering a fractured right hip and a shattered right upper arm. Her injuries were so severe that she had to undergo surgery and this eventually left a seven-inch scar between her elbow and shoulder.
For a long time, Padma Lakshmi battled with low self-esteem, especially because of the scar on her body; she was also often bullied by other girls in racially aggressive outbursts. However, she soon overcame all that and grew to be a self-loving, intelligent woman. When she finished high school, she began to study Theater Arts at Clark University, in Worcester, Massachusetts. During this time, she got noticed by modeling agencies and this was where her journey in the entertainment industry began. She soon kick-started her modeling career afterward.
Padma Lakshmi started traveling around the world and modeled for top designers including Armani, Versace, and Ralph Lauren. She also appeared in different ad campaigns for Roberto Cavalli and Versus. Padma Lakshmi’s success at modeling soon landed her some acting roles. She starred in a number of films before she found her way to TV as a host.
Padma Lakshmi is now best known as the host of Top Chef, an American reality cooking competition television series. However, before she landed the role, she had already hosted other TV shows including Domenica In, an Italian show, as well as Padma’s Passport, a Food Network series, and Planet Food, a British culinary show. She started hosting Top Chef in 2006 during its season 2 and quickly grew to become a beloved figure on TV.
Apart from her TV hosting duties, Padma Lakshmi is also famous for being an author. She has written different cookbooks which have earned her a lot of praise. In fact, her first cookbook, “Easy Exotic” won the Best First Book award at the 1999 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Versailles. Her other works include “Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet”, and “Love, Loss and What We Ate”.
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Padma Lakshmi’s Net Worth
There is no doubt at all that Padma Lakshmi has been able to rake in quite a lot of money during her career so far. She achieved a lot of success as a model, traveling the world and becoming a fan favorite. She then found success as a TV host, winning admiration for her charm and intelligence. She is also successful as a writer who had published some high-selling books.
At the moment, Padma Lakshmi’s net worth has been pegged at about $40 million by different sources. She reportedly earns about $50,000 per every episode of Top Chef and rakes in a lot of money from her book royalties.
