Rick Stein: Heart Surgery, Divorce, Michelin Star Facts
Ask any seafood lover in Britain to name one chef, and Rick Stein’s name comes up before most others. But behind the Cornwall fish-and-chip empire and the television charm lies a life marked by serious health scares, a high-profile divorce, and a surprising Michelin track record.
Age: 78 (born 4 January 1947) ·
Michelin Stars: 0 ·
Restaurants: 6+ ·
Spouse: Sarah Stein (m. 2011) ·
Notable Award: CBE ·
Cookbooks Published: Over 20
Quick snapshot
- Rick Stein was born 4 January 1947 in Oxfordshire (Wikipedia)
- He underwent open-heart surgery in 2022 (The Independent)
- Divorced Jill Stein in 2007 after 32 years (The Independent)
- He has never received a Michelin star (Leading Restaurants)
- Exact net worth (estimates vary) (Wikipedia)
- Whether he will ever pursue a Michelin star (BBC)
- Full details of his heart condition before 2017 (Wikipedia)
- Exact number of restaurants (estimates range from 6 to 11) (OysterLink)
- 1975: The Seafood Restaurant opens in Padstow (Rick Stein official site)
- 2003: Awarded CBE for services to tourism and food (Rick Stein official site)
- 2007: Divorces Jill Stein (The Independent)
- 2022: Undergoes life-saving open-heart surgery (The Independent)
- Stein continues to lead The Rick Stein Group with family (Rick Stein official site)
- New restaurant openings remain possible (OysterLink)
- Health recovery after 2022 surgery reportedly good (The Times)
Six biographical facts, one pattern: a career built on seafood, family, and resilience — but with notable gaps in industry recognition.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Richard Stein CBE |
| Date of Birth | 4 January 1947 |
| Occupation | Chef, restaurateur, television presenter, author |
| Spouse | Sarah Stein (m. 2011), previously Jill Stein (m. 1975–2007) |
| Restaurant Group | The Rick Stein Group |
| Notable Award | Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) |
What is Rick Stein’s illness?
What health problems has Rick Stein faced?
- In 2017, Stein suffered a heart attack (Wikipedia).
- In 2022, doctors at Royal Brompton Hospital performed open-heart surgery to repair a defective heart valve (The Independent). He later told The Times that his aorta was failing and the surgery was urgent.
Stein’s health scares are not just tabloid fodder — the 2022 surgery was described as life-saving. Without it, doctors said the condition would have been fatal, according to reports from The Independent.
When did Rick Stein have heart surgery?
Stein underwent open-heart surgery in 2022 at Royal Brompton Hospital in London (Wikipedia). A 2024 Times interview noted that doctors warned him the condition could be deadly.
The implication: Stein’s health journey reveals a chef who faced serious mortality risk but recovered enough to remain active in his restaurant group.
Rick Stein’s heart surgery in 2022 saved his life; he continues to lead his restaurant group.
Did Rick Stein ever get a Michelin star?
Why hasn’t Rick Stein received a Michelin star?
- None of Rick Stein’s restaurants currently hold a Michelin star (Leading Restaurants).
- One venue has a Bib Gourmand and another is listed in the Michelin Guide, but no star (Leading Restaurants).
- In a BBC interview, Stein said: “I’m not disappointed. It’s not something I chase.”
Which chef has 32 Michelin stars?
Joël Robuchon held the record with 32 Michelin stars at his peak (Wikipedia).
Stein built a multi-million-pound seafood empire without the industry’s top badge — a fact that fuels both his fans’ admiration and critics’ questions. For a chef with his profile, the missing star is a deliberate choice, not a failure.
The pattern: Stein’s success has come from volume, brand, and tourism, not fine-dining recognition — a different business model than Michelin-chasing rivals.
Rick Stein has never received a Michelin star, a deliberate choice that has not hindered his empire.
How many restaurants does Rick Stein own?
What are the names of Rick Stein’s restaurants?
- The Seafood Restaurant (Padstow, founded 1975) — flagship (Rick Stein official site)
- Rick Stein’s Cafe (Padstow)
- Rick Stein’s Fish and Chips (multiple locations including Padstow, Falmouth, Truro, St Ives, Newquay, and in Ireland)
- Rick Stein’s (Marlborough, Sandbanks, Barnes) (Sophie Farrah)
Where is Rick Stein’s flagship restaurant?
The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall, has been operating since 1975 (Rick Stein official site).
According to OysterLink, the total portfolio stands at 11 locations as of 2025. The group includes venues in Cornwall, London, Dorset, and Ireland.
The trade-off: Expanding to 11 outlets has spread the brand but diluted the single-restaurant focus that typically earns Michelin attention.
Rick Stein’s restaurant portfolio has grown to 11 outlets, broadening the brand but moving away from Michelin focus.
Why did Rick Stein leave his wife?
How long were Rick and Jill Stein married?
Rick and Jill Stein were married for 32 years — from 1975 until their divorce in 2007 (The Independent).
What did Jill Stein say about their divorce?
“I felt I was losing him to his work.”
— Jill Stein, The Independent
According to The Independent in 2026, the marriage ended after Stein’s affair with Australian publicist Sarah Burns, who later became his second wife.
Why this matters: The divorce reshaped both the Stein brand and the family business — Jill remains involved in The Rick Stein Group alongside Rick and their three sons (Rick Stein official site).
Rick Stein’s divorce from Jill Stein reshaped his personal and business life, but she remains involved.
Is Rick Stein’s wife younger than him?
Who is Rick Stein’s current wife?
Rick Stein married Sarah Burns on 7 October 2011 (Wikipedia).
How much younger is Sarah Stein?
Sarah Stein is 17 years younger than Rick (Wikipedia). Stein divides his time between Padstow, London, and Australia with Sarah (Rick Stein official site).
The implication: The age gap and cross-continental lifestyle have become part of Stein’s personal narrative, often mentioned in profile pieces about his second act.
Rick Stein’s marriage to Sarah Burns, 17 years his junior, is part of his second act.
Timeline of Rick Stein’s life and career
- 4 January 1947 — Rick Stein born in Oxfordshire, England (Wikipedia)
- 1975 — Opens The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow with Jill Stein (Rick Stein official site)
- 2003 — Awarded CBE for services to tourism and the food industry (Rick Stein official site)
- 2007 — Divorces Jill Stein after 32 years (The Independent)
- 2011 — Marries Sarah Burns (Wikipedia)
- 2017 — Suffers a heart attack (Wikipedia)
- 2022 — Undergoes open-heart surgery at Royal Brompton Hospital (The Independent)
Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Rick Stein underwent open-heart surgery in 2022 (The Independent)
- He divorced Jill Stein in 2007 (The Independent)
- His current wife Sarah is 17 years younger (Wikipedia)
- He has never received a Michelin star (Leading Restaurants)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth (estimates vary) (Wikipedia)
- Whether he will ever seek a Michelin star (BBC – context: his public statements suggest indifference)
- Full details of his heart condition before 2017 (Wikipedia)
- Exact number of restaurants (estimates range from 6 to 11) (OysterLink)
Quotes from those who know him
“I’m not disappointed. It’s not something I chase.”
— Rick Stein, BBC interview (on Michelin stars)
“I felt I was losing him to his work.”
— Jill Stein, The Independent
What ties these two perspectives together is a shared story of success and sacrifice — one that built a seafood empire but cost a marriage and never won the industry’s top prize.
virginradio.co.uk, facebook.com, youtube.com, chandlerfuneralhome.com, ostrich.se
Frequently asked questions
What is Rick Stein’s favourite seafood recipe?
Stein has said in interviews that his go-to dish is simply grilled fish with a beurre blanc sauce (Rick Stein Recipes).
How did Rick Stein become a chef?
After studying at Oxford University, Stein worked in a restaurant in Cornwall and taught himself to cook, opening The Seafood Restaurant in 1975 (Rick Stein official site).
Where did Rick Stein train?
He is largely self-taught, though he attended the University of Oxford (degree in English) and later gained experience working in restaurants (Wikipedia).
What is Rick Stein’s net worth?
Estimates vary widely, with figures between £10 million and £30 million reported in different sources (Wikipedia).
How many cookbooks has Rick Stein written?
Stein has written over 25 cookery books, according to his official biography (Rick Stein official site).
Did Rick Stein appear on MasterChef?
Yes, he has appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef (Wikipedia).
Does Rick Stein still cook?
He remains actively involved in the kitchen and in recipe development, though day-to-day operations are run by his team (Rick Stein official site).
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