Monica Galetti: Husband, Net Worth & MasterChef Exit

Monica Galetti has a way of making the impossible look achievable. For more than a decade, she has balanced the pressure of a Michelin-starred kitchen with the spotlight of national television, all while keeping her personal life firmly out of the headlines.

Full Name: Monica Galetti (née Faʻafiti) ·
Born: 26 August 1975 ·
Age: 49 ·
Nationality: New Zealander (born in Samoa) ·
Known For: MasterChef: The Professionals ·
Spouse: David Galetti

Ten key facts about Monica Galetti, one pattern: her career has been defined by steady, deliberate progression rather than sudden leaps.

What has happened to Monica Galetti?

Monica Galetti remains a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals, though she stepped back from filming the 2022 series. In April 2022, she announced she would take a break from the show to focus on her family and her London restaurant Mere, according to The Caterer (hospitality industry news). She had been a fixture on the programme since 2009, when she joined the judging panel alongside Michel Roux Jr. and Gregg Wallace.

Why did Monica Galetti leave MasterChef?

• Galetti stated she needed to prioritise her family and her restaurant business (The Caterer (hospitality industry news))
• She later described the decision as necessary for her mental well-being, saying circumstances had become “very dark” (Yahoo News UK (news aggregator))
• Anna Haugh replaced her on the judging panel for the 2022 series (Wikipedia (biographical entry))

Galetti did not announce a permanent departure. Her Instagram activity continues to feature culinary projects, including the release of her new book Gathering, and she has not ruled out a return to the show.

The pattern: Galetti’s MasterChef departure was not a firing or a scandal — it was a deliberate recalibration. She chose operational control over broadcast exposure, a move that aligns with her long-stated ambition to own and run her own restaurant.

How rich is Monica Galetti?

Monica Galetti’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. Unlike some celebrity chefs who publish financial details or appear on wealth rankings, Galetti has kept her earnings private. Her income is understood to come from multiple streams: television judging fees from MasterChef: The Professionals, book deals (her cookbook Monica’s Kitchen was released in 2012, followed by Gathering), and her role at Le Gavroche, where she worked as senior sous chef for more than a decade.

According to The Drinks Business (trade publication), Galetti opened her debut restaurant Mere in 2017, which combines classical French training with her Samoan heritage. Restaurant ownership in London carries significant operational costs, and profit margins in the industry are notoriously thin. Without audited accounts or public statements, any estimate of her net worth remains speculative.

What this means: For a chef of her stature and longevity, financial privacy is a deliberate choice. Readers should treat any online figure claiming to know her exact net worth as unverified.

What restaurant does Monica Galetti own?

Monica Galetti does not own a restaurant in the traditional sense of being the sole proprietor. She holds the position of Senior Sous Chef at the Michelin-starred Le Gavroche in London, a role she has occupied since returning to the capital in 2000, according to The Independent (UK national newspaper). She left Le Gavroche in 2015 after 12 years in the kitchen, but has since maintained a close association with the restaurant group.

In 2017, she opened Mere in Fitzrovia, London, which she co-owns. The restaurant’s menu reflects her dual heritage — classical French technique layered with Samoan flavours. The Drinks Business (trade publication) describes Mere as “classical French training with Samoan heritage.”

Additionally, Galetti and her husband David Galetti opened Le Gavroche des Tropiques in Mauritius, a venture that brings the Le Gavroche ethos to the Indian Ocean, as reported by Our Way of Life (travel and lifestyle publication).

The catch: Galetti’s career is often described through her television role, but her professional identity is rooted in restaurant kitchens. She has never claimed to be a restaurateur in the empire-building sense — her moves have been deliberate, single-restaurant decisions rather than a chain or franchise model.

Who is Monica Galetti’s husband?

Monica Galetti is married to David Galetti, who worked as a sommelier at Le Gavroche, according to Our Way of Life (travel and lifestyle publication). The couple have one daughter, and they have collaborated professionally on the Mauritius restaurant project.

How old is chef Monica Galetti?

• Born 26 August 1975, making her 49 years old as of 2025 (The Drinks Business (trade publication))
• She was born in Samoa and raised in New Zealand, where she trained as a chef before moving to the UK (The Drinks Business (trade publication))

What is Monica Galetti’s religion?

Monica Galetti’s religion is not publicly known. She has not spoken about her faith in interviews or on social media, and no credible source has reported on her religious affiliation. Any claims about her religion are speculative.

Why this matters: In an era where public figures are expected to share every dimension of their identity, Galetti’s silence on religion is itself a statement. It reinforces the boundaries she has maintained around her private life throughout her career.

Who is considered the best female chef in the UK?

There is no official ranking, but Monica Galetti is widely regarded as one of the top female chefs in the UK. Her 12-year tenure at Le Gavroche, a Michelin-starred institution, and her role as the first female chef to cook the meat and fish sections there, as reported by NZ Herald (New Zealand national newspaper), place her in a select group.

Who is the richest female chef in the UK?

The richest female chef in the UK is likely Clare Smyth, whose net worth is estimated in the millions, though exact figures are not publicly confirmed. Smyth, who earned three Michelin stars at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay before opening her own restaurant Core, has built a significant business. Monica Galetti, while highly respected, has not pursued the same level of commercial expansion.

Is Nigella a qualified chef?

Nigella Lawson is a food writer and television personality, not a formally trained chef. She studied at the University of Oxford and worked as a journalist before transitioning to food media. Unlike Galetti, who trained professionally in New Zealand kitchens, Lawson’s authority comes from writing and broadcasting rather than professional kitchen experience.

Four female chefs, one comparison: the difference between television fame and kitchen pedigree.

Timeline

• 26 August 1975: Born in Samoa (The Drinks Business (trade publication))
• 1999–2000: Joined Le Gavroche in London (The Independent (UK national newspaper))
• 2009: Became a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals (Wikipedia (biographical entry))
• 2012: Released first cookbook Monica’s Kitchen (The Drinks Business (trade publication))
• 2015: Left Le Gavroche after 12 years (Hardens (restaurant guide))
• 2017: Opened restaurant Mere in London (The Drinks Business (trade publication))
• 2021: Last series as full-time MasterChef judge (Wikipedia (biographical entry))
• April 2022: Announced she would step back from filming MasterChef (The Caterer (hospitality industry news))

The implication: Galetti’s career arc shows a deliberate shift from institutional prestige (Le Gavroche) to independent ownership (Mere, Mauritius), with television serving as a bridge rather than a destination.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Born on 26 August 1975 in Samoa
• She is a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals
• She was Senior Sous Chef at Le Gavroche for 12 years
• Married to David Galetti
• Has a daughter
• Author of Gathering and Monica’s Kitchen
• Opened Mere in 2017
• First female chef to cook meat and fish sections at Le Gavroche (NZ Herald (New Zealand national newspaper))

What’s unclear

• Net worth
• Religion
• Exact reason for stepping back from MasterChef beyond family focus
• Injury status
• Exact date of joining MasterChef

Quotes

“Galetti is a formidable presence on the judging panel — sharp, precise, and never afraid to call out a lack of seasoning.”

Time & Leisure (London lifestyle magazine)

“I am one of the best-known female chefs in London, and I have worked hard to get here.”

Monica Galetti’s official website

“Something had to give. I needed to prioritise my mental well-being, and the circumstances had become very dark.”

Yahoo News UK (news aggregator)

“Leaving Le Gavroche was a career detour caused in part by having a child. My plan was always to have my own restaurant.”

The Staff Canteen (hospitality industry platform)

Monica Galetti’s story is not one of dramatic rise or sudden fall. It is a career built on steady, deliberate choices: training in New Zealand, earning her place at Le Gavroche, using television to build a platform, and then stepping back when the balance no longer worked. Galetti’s lesson for the aspiring chef in London or Auckland is clear: longevity in this industry comes from knowing when to say no, not just when to say yes.

Frequently asked questions