Paula Deen Net Worth

What Is Paula Deen's Net Worth and Salary?

Paula Deen is an American restaurateur, cook, author, and television personality who has a net worth of $10 million. Paula Deen rose to national fame in the early 2000s for her Southern-style cooking and down-home charm. She first gained attention with her Savannah, Georgia restaurant, The Lady & Sons, which she opened with her sons after years of operating a catering company out of her home. Known for hearty comfort food loaded with butter, cream, and sugar, Deen parlayed her success into a cookbook deal and quickly became a Food Network star.

Her first cookbook, "The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook," helped launch her TV career, and by 2002 she was hosting the hit show "Paula's Home Cooking." She later appeared in other programs like "Paula's Party" and "Paula's Best Dishes," building a multimillion-dollar brand that included cookware, magazines, and product endorsements. At the height of her fame, she was one of the most recognizable figures in American culinary entertainment.

Deen's empire faced a major setback in 2013 when a deposition revealed she had used racial slurs in the past, sparking a public backlash. The Food Network declined to renew her contract, and many of her corporate partners severed ties. While the controversy damaged her mainstream career, Deen gradually rebuilt her brand through independent channels, including her own digital network, YouTube content, and cookbooks.

Despite the scandal, Paula Deen remains a polarizing but influential figure in American food culture. Her legacy is tied both to her signature indulgent Southern recipes and the broader cultural conversation about race, celebrity, and accountability.

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Restaurants

Paula Deen's restaurant empire began modestly in 1989 with a home-based catering business called The Bag Lady, which she launched in Savannah, Georgia, to support her two sons. Preparing and delivering bagged lunches out of her own kitchen, the business quickly grew through word-of-mouth. By 1991, Deen had moved into a small restaurant space at the Best Western on Savannah's south side, naming it The Lady.

In January 1996, she expanded again, opening The Lady & Sons in downtown Savannah on West Congress Street. Within a few years, the restaurant relocated to a larger historic building on Whitaker Street and became a nationally known destination for Southern comfort food. The Lady & Sons earned numerous accolades, including being named "International Meal of the Year" by USA Today in 1999. Known for dishes like fried chicken, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese, it became the cornerstone of Deen's culinary brand.

Over time, Deen expanded her restaurant footprint. She partnered with Caesars Entertainment to open a series of casino buffets under her name at Harrah's Tunica in Mississippi, Harrah's Cherokee in North Carolina, Horseshoe Southern Indiana, and Harrah's Joliet in Illinois. These locations were all rebranded in 2013 following the fallout from her highly publicized legal controversy.

In Savannah, she also co-owned Uncle Bubba's Oyster House with her brother, Earl "Bubba" Hiers. The restaurant abruptly closed in April 2014 amid legal and media scrutiny, but was later reopened in June 2017 under a new name: Paula Deen's Creek House Seafood & Grill.

In recent years, Deen shifted her focus to a new line of family-style restaurants under the brand Paula Deen's Family Kitchen. These locations offer Southern-style meals served in a homestyle, all-you-can-eat format. The first opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, followed by additional outposts in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Branson, Missouri; and Nashville, Tennessee.

However, in August 2025, Deen and her sons Jamie and Bobby announced the permanent closure of both The Lady & Sons and their nearby eatery, The Chicken Box, which had opened just two years earlier in 2023. The decision marked the end of a 36-year chapter in Savannah, where The Lady & Sons had long been considered her flagship restaurant. In a statement, the Deens thanked their loyal customers and staff, expressing their intention to focus fully on the remaining Paula Deen's Family Kitchen locations.

Cookbooks

In 1997, Paula Deen self-published her first two cookbooks: "The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook" and "The Lady & Sons, Too! A Whole New Batch of Recipes from Savannah." These early titles were filled with her signature Southern recipes and helped build her growing fanbase. She later co-authored two additional cookbooks with food writer Martha Nesbit, further establishing herself as a trusted voice in Southern cuisine.

Deen's popularity as an author expanded beyond the kitchen. In 2007, her life story was profiled in the inspirational book "Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph, and Success." That same year, she released her memoir, "It Ain't All About the Cookin'," published by Simon & Schuster, which offered a candid look at her rise from struggling single mother to culinary star.

In November 2005, Deen launched her own lifestyle magazine, "Cooking with Paula Deen." The publication blended recipes, home entertaining tips, and glimpses into her personal life. As of March 2009, the magazine reportedly had a circulation of 7.5 million, reflecting her widespread appeal across food and lifestyle audiences.

Television

Paula Deen's television career began in 1999 when a friend introduced her to producer Gordon Elliott and talent agent Barry Weiner. She made early appearances on the Food Network shows "Doorknock Dinners" and "Ready, Set, Cook!" before filming a pilot titled "Afternoon Tea" in 2001. Her charm and storytelling quickly won over network executives, and she was offered her own show.

"Paula's Home Cooking" premiered in November 2002 on the Food Network, with Gordon Elliott as executive producer. Initially taped in Millbrook, New York, the show later moved to Deen's home kitchen in Savannah. The program became a major hit and earned Deen a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lifestyle Host in 2007.

She went on to star in two additional Food Network series: "Paula's Party" (2006) and "Paula's Best Dishes" (2008). Her popularity peaked during this period, and in March 2006, her life and career were featured in an episode of the network's biography series "Chefography."

However, Deen's television empire suffered a major blow in 2013 following a lawsuit deposition in which she admitted to having used racial slurs in the past. The Food Network opted not to renew her contract, and several brand partnerships were also terminated.

In response, Deen launched her own digital platform, The Paula Deen Channel, which debuted on Roku in March 2015. A year later, she returned to television with a syndicated series titled "Positively Paula," which premiered in October 2016 and featured her cooking, family, and celebrity guests.

In 2015, Deen competed on season 21 of "Dancing with the Stars," ultimately finishing in 9th place. She has also become a regular presence on the home shopping network Evine, where she markets her branded merchandise, including cookware, apparel, and food products. Despite setbacks, Deen has remained a resilient media personality, continuing to engage fans through streaming platforms, cookbooks, and product lines.

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Controversies

Paula Deen's career faced a major turning point in 2013 when she became the subject of a high-profile lawsuit and public backlash that significantly damaged her public image and business empire. In June of that year, a former employee named Lisa Jackson filed a lawsuit against Deen and her brother Earl "Bubba" Hiers, alleging racial and sexual discrimination at the Savannah-based restaurant Uncle Bubba's Oyster House. While the judge ultimately dismissed the case—with Jackson lacking standing to sue for racial discrimination—the fallout from the legal proceedings was swift and severe.

The most damaging moment came when Deen, during a sworn deposition, admitted to having used a racial slur in the past. Although she claimed it had been decades earlier and under specific circumstances, the revelation sparked a national firestorm. Critics argued that the incident reflected a pattern of insensitivity and outdated attitudes, and Deen's public apologies did little to stem the backlash.

In the weeks that followed, Deen lost nearly all of her major business partnerships. The Food Network declined to renew her contract, effectively ending her run on the channel that had made her a household name. Major brands including Smithfield Foods, Walmart, Target, QVC, Caesars Entertainment, Sears, Kmart, and pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk—all of which had licensing or endorsement deals with Deen—cut ties with her. Her planned cookbook with Ballantine Books was canceled despite reportedly high preorder numbers.

Beyond the 2013 scandal, Deen has faced other controversies over the years. She drew criticism for her frequent use of sugar- and fat-laden ingredients, particularly after revealing in 2012 that she had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes—years after building a career around indulgent Southern cuisine. Her decision to partner with Novo Nordisk to promote a diabetes drug shortly after disclosing her diagnosis raised eyebrows, with some accusing her of profiting off a condition worsened by the food she championed.

Another flashpoint came in 2015, when a 2011 Halloween photo resurfaced showing Deen dressed as Lucy Ricardo from "I Love Lucy" and her son Bobby dressed as Ricky Ricardo in brownface makeup. The image, posted on her official Twitter account before being quickly deleted, was widely condemned as racially insensitive and further reignited criticism of Deen's judgment and cultural awareness.

While Deen has attempted to rehabilitate her image in the years since, the controversies significantly altered the trajectory of her public career, pushing her toward more independent ventures and digital platforms rather than mainstream media and brand endorsements.

Personal Life and Family

Paula Ann Hiers was born on January 19, 1947, in Albany, Georgia, to Corrie A. Paul and Earl Wayne Hiers Sr. Raised in a devout Baptist household, she has remained deeply connected to her faith throughout her life. By the time she was 23, both of her parents had passed away, and she was navigating the emotional aftermath of a troubled early marriage. During this difficult period, Deen developed severe panic attacks and agoraphobia. Cooking became her refuge—something she could do to care for her family without having to leave the house.

Paula took the surname Deen from her marriage to Jimmy Deen, whom she wed in 1965. They were married for 24 years and had two sons together: Jamie Deen and Bobby Deen. Both sons would eventually follow in her culinary footsteps, becoming chefs and media personalities in their own right. Jamie and Bobby played key roles in helping their mother build her restaurant business and later appeared alongside her in various television shows and cookbooks, becoming popular Food Network figures themselves.

Following her divorce from Jimmy Deen in 1989, Paula worked a string of jobs to support her sons and her younger brother, Earl "Bubba" Hiers. These included hanging wallpaper, working as a bank teller, and selling real estate and insurance, before she ultimately launched a home-based catering business called The Bag Lady, which became the foundation of her culinary empire.

In 2004, Paula married Michael Groover, a tugboat captain. Their wedding took place at the historic Bethesda Academy in Savannah and was featured in a special on the Food Network, underscoring the extent to which her personal and professional lives had become deeply intertwined.

Real Estate

In 2006, Paula paid $3.75 million for a 4.6-acre property on Wilmington Island, near Savannah, Georgia. By 2009, she had completed construction on a 16,000-square-foot mansion. In 2020, Paula sold the mansion for $6.818 million.

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