History of Guy Fieri in Timeline

Guy Fieri is a prominent American restaurateur, author, and Emmy Award-winning television host. Initially a co-owner of restaurants in California, he gained widespread recognition through hosting various shows on the Food Network. He is known for licensing his name to restaurants worldwide. The New York Times acknowledged Fieri as the 'face of the network' in 2010, noting his appeal to a broad audience and his success in attracting male viewers to his prime-time programs.

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Full Timeline

1967: Collects a 1967 Chevrolet C10 pickup

Guy Fieri collects classic American cars, including a 1967 Chevrolet C10 pickup.

1968: Collects a 1968 Pontiac Firebird

Guy Fieri collects classic American cars, including a 1968 Pontiac Firebird.

1969: Collects a 1969 Chevrolet Impala SS

Guy Fieri collects classic American cars, including a 1969 Chevrolet Impala SS.

1971: Collects a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle

Guy Fieri collects classic American cars, including a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle.

1976: Collects a 1976 Jeep CJ-5

Guy Fieri collects classic American cars, including a 1976 Jeep CJ-5.

1990: Graduation from UNLV

In 1990, Guy Fieri graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with a Bachelor of Science degree in hotel management.

1995: Marriage to Lori

Guy Fieri married his wife Lori in 1995, after she came into a restaurant he was managing in Long Beach, California.

1996: Opening of Johnny Garlic's

In late 1996, Guy Fieri and business partner Steve Gruber opened Johnny Garlic's, a "California Pasta Grill" in Santa Rosa, California.

1999: Second Johnny Garlic's location opens

In 1999, a second location of Johnny Garlic's opened in Windsor.

2000: Third Johnny Garlic's opens

In 2000, a third Johnny Garlic's opened in Petaluma, which has since closed.

2001: Third Johnny Garlic's opens

In 2001, a third Johnny Garlic's opened in Petaluma, which has since closed.

2003: Development of Tex Wasabi's

In 2003, Guy Fieri and Steve Gruber developed Tex Wasabi's, a barbecue and sushi restaurant, in Santa Rosa.

April 23, 2006: Winning The Next Food Network Star

On April 23, 2006, Guy Fieri won the second season of The Next Food Network Star, earning a six-episode commitment for his own cooking show on Food Network.

June 25, 2006: Premiere of Guy's Big Bite

On June 25, 2006, Guy's Big Bite premiered on Food Network.

November 2006: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives special airs

In November 2006, a one-hour special of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives aired.

April 2007: Premiere of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

In April 2007, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives premiered, with Guy Fieri traveling the country visiting local eateries.

2007: Second Tex Wasabi's location opens

In 2007, a second location of Tex Wasabi's opened in Arden-Arcade near Sacramento.

February 17, 2008: Debut of Ultimate Recipe Showdown

On February 17, 2008, Ultimate Recipe Showdown, co-hosted by Guy Fieri and Marc Summers, debuted on Food Network.

September 14, 2008: Debut of Guy Off the Hook

On September 14, 2008, Guy Off the Hook debuted on Food Network.

November 28, 2008: Guy's Family Feast Thanksgiving Special

For Thanksgiving 2008, Guy Fieri hosted a one-hour special titled Guy's Family Feast, broadcast live on November 28, 2008.

2008: Spokesperson for T.G.I. Friday's

In 2008, Guy Fieri was the spokesperson for T.G.I. Friday's.

2008: Fourth Johnny Garlic's opens

In late 2008, a fourth Johnny Garlic's location opened in Roseville.

December 2009: Fieri named host of Minute to Win It

In December 2009, NBC named Guy Fieri as the host of the game show Minute to Win It.

2009: Guy Fieri Roadshow

In 2009, Guy Fieri began touring with the Guy Fieri Roadshow, a multi-state food tour that featured some of his fellow Food Network personalities.

2009: Spokesperson for T.G.I. Friday's

In 2009, Guy Fieri was the spokesperson for T.G.I. Friday's.

March 2010: Premiere of Minute to Win It

In March 2010, the game show Minute to Win It, hosted by Guy Fieri, premiered on NBC.

2010: Aflac Commercial Appearance

In 2010, Guy Fieri appeared in a commercial for Aflac named "Spicy".

2010: Face of the Food Network

In 2010, Guy Fieri was described by The New York Times as the "face of the network", known for bringing a "rowdy, mass-market culture to American food television." His prime-time shows were noted to attract more male viewers than any others on the network.

2011: Sister's Death

Guy Fieri's sister died in 2011 of metastatic melanoma, and Fieri decided to take care of his 11-year old nephew Jules.

2011: Partnership with Carnival Cruise Lines

In 2011, Guy Fieri partnered with Carnival Cruise Lines to create Guy's Burger Joint, selling Fieri's burgers fleet-wide.

2011: Fifth Johnny Garlic's opens

In 2011, an additional Johnny Garlic's was opened in Dublin, California.

January 2012: Team Captain on Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off

In January 2012, Guy Fieri was one of the two team captains (along with Rachael Ray) in the Food Network reality series Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.

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May 13, 2012: Minute to Win It not renewed

On May 13, 2012, NBC announced that the game show Minute to Win It would not be renewed for a third season.

2012: Appearance at Food and Wine Festivals

In 2012, Guy Fieri appeared in regional Food Network events like the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival and the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, where he officiated at 101 gay weddings.

2012: Opening and Review of Guy's American Kitchen and Bar

In 2012, Guy Fieri's first New York City restaurant, Guy's American Kitchen and Bar, opened and received a highly critical review from Pete Wells of The New York Times. The review was described as "the most scathing review in the history of the New York Times".

January 6, 2013: Second Season of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off

On January 6, 2013, the second season of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off began airing on Food Network.

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October 27, 2013: Premiere of Guy's Grocery Games

Guy Fieri's chef challenge show, Guy's Grocery Games, started on October 27, 2013, on the Food Network. It features a three judge panel and four cooks battling through three rounds of competition.

April 2014: Opening of Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen and Bar

In April 2014, Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen and Bar opened on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.

2015: Officiated Art Smith's Wedding

In 2015, Guy Fieri officiated at the wedding of celebrity chef Art Smith at Miami Beach, which included 101 same-sex couples to celebrate Florida's Supreme Court lifting the state ban on same-sex marriage.

2015: Opening of Guy Fieri's Baltimore Kitchen & Bar

In 2015, Guy Fieri's Baltimore Kitchen & Bar opened in Baltimore's Horseshoe Casino.

November 16, 2016: Final episode of Guy's Big Bite

On November 16, 2016, the most recent episode of Guy's Big Bite aired.

October 2017: Expansion of Carnival Cruise Line restaurants

As of October 2017, there were 19 restaurants on Carnival Cruise ships, including some serving beer-and-BBQ, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse.

2017: Guy's Family Road Trip chosen as lead-out show

In 2017, Guy Fieri's series, Guy's Family Road Trip, was chosen as the lead-out show from season 13 of Food Network Star and previewed on August 13 of that year.

2018: Collaboration on Chicken Guy!

In 2018, Guy Fieri collaborated with Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl to open fast-food chicken sandwich shop Chicken Guy! at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World.

2020: Restaurant Employee Relief Fund

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on the restaurant industry in 2020, Guy Fieri and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation teamed up to raise money for unemployed restaurant workers through the newly created Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. In less than two months over US$20 million was raised.

May 2021: New contract with Food Network

In May 2021, Guy Fieri signed a three-year contract with Food Network worth an estimated $80 million.

2021: Opening of Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen

In 2021, Guy Fieri opened Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen, a delivery-only restaurant.

2021: Purchase of West Palm Beach Home

In 2021, the Fieris bought a home in West Palm Beach, Florida.

2023: Inaugural Guy's Flavortown Tailgate

In 2023, Guy Fieri started Guy's Flavortown Tailgate (GFT), an annual event in partnership with Medium Rare. Held during the Super Bowl weekend, it offers fans a free tailgating experience featuring food, music, and festivities.

2024: Santo Tequila Heist

In 2024, Santo Tequila, co-owned by Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar, was at the center of a large heist where 24,000 bottles of tequila (two truck loads worth $1 million) were stolen.