What is Nobu Matsuhisa’s Net Worth?
Nobu Matsuhisa is a Japanese chef and restauranteur with a net worth of $200 million. He is known for his high-end sushi restaurants that span the globe.
Matsuhisa’s signature creation is black cod in miso, and he is renowned for his fusion of traditional Japanese dishes with Peruvian ingredients.
Aside from his namesake restaurants, Matsuhisa has expanded into the international hospitality industry with upscale hotels. He owns Matsuhisa Restaurants and Nobu Hospitality with his family, as well as Nobu Restaurants with Robert De Niro and others.
Nobu Matsuhisa’s Early Life
Nobu Matsuhisa was born on March 10, 1949 in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. His father died in a car accident when he was seven, and he was raised by his mother. The family traveled extensively, exposing Nobu to various cultures.
Nobu’s Journey to Creating His Unique Cuisine
After working as a dishwasher at a sushi restaurant in Tokyo, Nobu trained to become a sushi master. He was then invited by a regular customer to open a restaurant in Peru, where he began to blend Japanese and Peruvian cuisines due to limited ingredient availability. Three years later, his restaurant in Lima closed, and he moved to Argentina and then Alaska, where his new restaurant burned down. Eventually, Nobu settled in Los Angeles and worked at various Japanese restaurants.
Nobu’s Culinary Empire
In 1987, Nobu opened his first Matsuhisa restaurant in Beverly Hills, California. It quickly became a trendy spot and favorite of celebrities. Robert De Niro, a big fan of Nobu’s black cod in miso, convinced him to expand to the East Coast. In 1994, Nobu opened his first Nobu-branded restaurant in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood with De Niro, Meir Teper, and Drew Nieporent. The chain continued to expand worldwide with locations in London, Malibu, Tokyo, Las Vegas, and more. Matsuhisa-branded restaurants also opened in cities like Munich, St. Moritz, and Paris.
Nobu’s Culinary Empire Expands to Upscale Hotels
After establishing his culinary empire, Nobu opened upscale hotels in global locations such as Chicago, Las Vegas, London, Malibu, Warsaw, Perth, Barcelona, Manila, and Doha. The Nobu Hotel Miami Beach is one of the crown jewels of the hotel chain, featuring Japanese architecture, panoramic ocean views, and cutting-edge appliances and amenities.
Nobu’s hotels also serve as sites for his popular culinary event World of Nobu, bringing in dozens of chefs from Nobu restaurants worldwide for events such as themed dinners, master classes, and tastings. Proceeds from World of Nobu go toward various philanthropic organizations.
Nobu’s Philanthropy through Cookbook Sales
Nobu Matsuhisa has published several cookbooks throughout his career. He has committed to philanthropy by donating funds raised through book sales to various charities. Some of the causes supported by Nobu include natural disaster relief for victims of hurricanes and wildfires.
Aside from cookbooks, Nobu also wrote a memoir that was released in 2014.
Nobu’s Film Appearances
Celebrity chef Nobu has made a few appearances in films due to his high profile. He appeared alongside his friend and business partner Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s crime film “Casino” in 1995. Nobu also had small parts in the spy comedy sequel “Austin Powers in Goldmember” and the period drama “Memoirs of a Geisha.”
Environmentalists criticize Nobu for selling endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna
Some environmental conservationists are critical of Nobu and his restaurants for selling Atlantic bluefin tuna, which was once an endangered species. To address the criticism, the restaurant added a warning to its menus. However, activists considered this action insufficient.
Family Life
Nobu Matsuhisa is married to Yoko and together they have two adult daughters.
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