Summary

Nusret Gökçe, known as Salt Bae, rose from a humble butcher's apprentice to a world-renowned chef and owner of a luxury steakhouse chain, Nusr-Et, amassing a net worth of approximately $70 million.

Abstract

Nusret Gökçe, born into a Kurdish family in Erzurum, Turkey, overcame early life struggles and a lack of formal education to pursue his culinary dreams. After working for free in various countries to hone his skills, he opened his first restaurant in Turkey. His big break came in 2017 when a video showcasing his unique steak preparation and salt-sprinkling technique went viral, earning him the nickname Salt Bae. His fame skyrocketed as celebrities flocked to his restaurants, and his business expanded globally. Despite his success, Gökçe remains dedicated to his craft, working long hours and inspiring others with his hard work and determination.

Opinions

The author admires Nusret Gökçe's journey from poverty to immense wealth and fame, highlighting his resilience and dedication.
The article suggests that Nusret's unique style, including his body language and signature "WOOW," contributed significantly to his popularity.
The author believes that Nusret's success is a testament to the idea that hard work and perseverance can lead to extraordinary achievements, serving as an inspiration to young people.
The viral nature of Nusret's "Ottoman Steak" video is presented as an example of how social media can catapult an individual to global fame overnight.
The author seems to appreciate the contrast between Nusret's serious demeanor and his flamboyant, jovial persona as Salt Bae, which has entertained and captivated audiences worldwide.

How an Ordinary Butcher Turned Into the Meat King (with $70 Million Net Worth)

Now Nusret Gökçe aka Salt Bae owns steak houses all around the world.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons. Edited by the author using Canva

If you see this guy cutting the steak into pieces and sprinkling salts on them flamboyantly, you will find yourself smiling and saying — WOOOW!!!

His actual name is Nusret Gökçe though the entire world knows him as Salt Bae. If you are wondering — “salt” means “salt” and “bae” means “darling.” He got this funny name because of his unique style of salt sprinkling on steaks.

Nusret was born on August 09, 1983, in Erzurum, Turkey, to a Kurdish family. His mineworker father had not enough money to maintain his family. So, at the age of only two, Nusret’s family was forced to move to the coastal town of Darcia as his father could no longer afford the rent in Erzurum.

Not only that, Nusret was eventually forced to leave school when he was in the 6th grade and join the work as a butcher’s apprentice in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul. He worked extremely hard for years and finally saved enough money to fly to Argentina in order to become a good chef.

Working for Free!!

Between 2007 and 2010, Nusret visited different countries including, Argentina and the United States, and worked in local restaurants for free. Yes, you read it right — for free. Why did he do that? Well, he did that only to learn and become a great chef. He also had a dream of opening restaurants of his own.

It was never easy for him — I mean, the path was not smooth at all. Just to let you know that he was refused to get a US visa nine times.

After returning to Turkey in 2010, he did the obvious — he opened his first restaurant. But it was not at all that lucrative as it has only eight tables. Then one day, a wealthy Turkish businessman named Ferit Sahenk found his food extraordinary and thus decided to invest in Nusret’s restaurants.

So, within a few years, Nusret managed to open a new branch in Istanbul and others in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. And then, in 2017, he posted a 36-second video that changed everything.

How Nusret Gökçe Became Salt Bae

The world discovered this funny chef when, in 2017, he posted a 36-second video titled ‘Ottoman Steak.’ The video featured a unique and seductive way of cutting the steak and then sprinkling salt on it flamboyantly.

In the next morning, Bruno Mars Tweeted a picture of Salt Bae with the caption, “Annndddd I’m Out.” And as you never know what catches the nerve of online people, this short video took off — within 48 hours, it gained 2.8 million views. And this fit and funny chef, Nusret Gökçe, spread like wildfire on different social media platforms. His meme was everywhere, and people started calling him Salt Bae.

It’s not only his steak or the salt sprinkling that made Nusret popular — but also his unique body language and the way of saying “WOOW” have some contribution as well.

When a serious-looking guy acts like a joker — who doesn’t love to watch that, huh!!???

Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo, Rihanna — and More WOOW!!

Celebrities just loved his unique style of Salt Bae as almost all the big celebrities tried his steak and had a great time with him. And this also made Salt Bae more and more famous all around the world. Consequently, his business exploded.

Nusret aka Salt Bae is now the owner of Nusr-Et, a chain of luxury steakhouses. His net worth is around $70 million, and his business is said to be valued in billions. This celebrity chef has more than 35 million followers on Instagram alone.

Though Nusret is now living his dream life, he says he hasn’t changed that much and still keeps going to work from early morning to late at night every day.

Nothing Is Impossible

You may think of Nusret as an overnight success, but in reality — he isn’t. His worldwide fame and success are the result of his hard work and determination that you probably don’t see while you get entertained by his funny videos.

Nusret believes that nothing is impossible. And why not? He is the real example of his belief. And he inspires young people as well to work hard to achieve what they want in life.

So, dear reader — don’t just sit idle thinking that one day luck will cross your path and make you a huge success. Instead, do things that you are good at and work harder than ever — to be fully prepared to grab every opportunity on your way.

Thank you for reading!