What happened to Padma on Top Chef? Is Padma still hosting Top Chef?

The American reality competition television series Top Chef began broadcasting in March 2006 on Bravo. Chefs compete against one another in culinary challenges on the show.

Each episode sees the elimination of one or more contestants as they face judgment from a panel of prominent figures in the food and wine industries. Magical Elves Productions, the same company behind Project Runway, will be directing the show.

Numerous spin-offs, including Top Chef Masters, Top Chef: Just Desserts, Top Chef Junior, Top Chef Amateurs, and Top Chef Family Style, have been produced because of the show. The show has also been adapted into several different languages internationally.

On March 20, 2024, the twenty-first season of Top Chef: Wisconsin debuted. A 22nd-season renewal has been granted to the show.

Chef Kristen Kish will be the new host of Top Chef season 21. However, why did Padma Lakshmi choose to leave the program?

What happened to Padma on Top Chef?

In June 2023, Lakshmi posted on Instagram, that she would be leaving her position as host of Top Chef after 19 seasons. 

Lakshmi continued her explanation, saying she quit Top Chef to concentrate on her Hulu cooking program, Taste the Nation. In addition, I believe it is time to move on and create space for my books, Taste the Nation, and other artistic projects. Thank you so much for your love and support.”

On June 8, 2023, the day of the Top Chef Season 20 finale, Lakshmi shared an Instagram video of herself getting ready for the show. She thanked her fans for their support since she announced her departure and reflected on her 19 seasons of Top Chef in her caption.

Days after her announcement, Lakshmi got on a video call from her home office in New York City. She said I felt a little shaky because it’s been so emotional.

Honestly, I was apprehensive about doing this interview because I still felt like I had unfinished business. I just walked away from a 17-year-old institution that was a large part of my personal and professional life.

How much is Padma paid for Top Chef?

Padma Lakshmi reportedly made $50,000 per episode for hosting Top Chef. It is unclear if she was paid this amount when she started working or if she got paid more after it was made public. For a 14-episode season, she would stand to earn $700,000.