January 22 is a very special day for me. It is the birthday of my favorite celebrity, Guy Fieri. You know him from shows like Diners, Drive-Ins, Drives, and Guy's Grocery games on the Food Network, but there are a lot of layers to Guy Fieri. He is a lot more than a bleach-blonde celebrity chef.

PHOTO: lib guy fieri
PHOTO: lib guy fieri
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Guy Fieri's Number 1 Fan

So, I can honestly say that I have been a fan of Guy Fieri since 2006. That is the year that he won The Next Food Network Star, and began his path to becoming the King of Flavortown. I had the most amazing experience at a media event for the ribbon-cutting of his first-ever Downtown Flavortown restaurant in Pigeon Forge. I had him autograph his signature on my arm, and I told him that I was going to get it tattooed. Yes, I did. That was after I grabbed his attention by knowing that his birthday is January 22!

@libertyonair20 Yep, that’s me screaming @Guyfieri flavortown @Hunter Fieri @Guy Fieri #flavortown#guysallamericanroadtrip#guyfieri♬ original sound - LibertyOnAir
Photo: Liberty - Taylor Merriss and Guy Fieri
Photo: Liberty - Taylor Merriss and Guy Fieri
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 Guy Fieri has Faced Death More Than Once

Guy and his family grew up in a very small town in California. He decided that he was going to be in the rodeo. And even though his parents did not want him to, a young Guy went to practice, was thrown off of the bull, and broke his arm. He actually tried to hide his injury from his parents, but that didn't last long.

Read More: Near-Death Experience Changed Guy Fieri's Perspective on Life

Restaurateur Geoffrey Zakarian Visits The SiriusXM Studios For "Food Talk"
Cindy Ord
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Said No to The Food Network

Not every idea for a show is going to work. And even though he was new to the network at the time, Guy said no to a gameshow that involved kids in a silly competition and promoted new kitchen gadgets that nobody really needed.

The Loss of His Sister

Guy's sister Morgan lost her battle with metastatic melanoma in 2011. Anytime you see Guy feature a vegetation restaurant there is a good chance that he will mention her because she was a vegetarian her entire life.

Guy Fieri's Flavortown Tailgate
Getty Images
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Two Sons and a Nephew

Guy and his wife Lori have two sons, Hunter and Ryder. After his sister passed away, they took in his nephew Jules. Sometimes he is a guest on Guy's Grocery Games.

Guy Fieri Foundation

Guy works with a team of volunteers who step up and serve meals during disasters to thank veterans. His foundation works with The Salvation Army and helps promote healthy cooking and culinary opportunities for students.

Getty
Getty
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The Guy Fieri Empire

You can find Guy Fieri's restaurants all over the world, and even on cruise ships. His branding has now expanded into several different product lines.

  • Knuckle Sandwich Cigars
  • Santos Tequila
  • Flavortown Frozen Meals - Walmart
  • Flavortown Sauces - Including the popular Donkey sauce.
  • Flavortown Cookware - Macy's or Amazon
  • Chicken Guy! New Fast Service Franchise

Guy also likes to party!

Guy Fieri's Late Night Goldbelly Party At SOBEWFF 2022
Getty Images for Goldbelly
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Guy Fieri's Downtown Flavortown Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Ribbon Cutting

Downtown Flavortown is a family entertainment center that includes a restaurant showcasing Guy Fieri's famous culinary combinations; a 14-lane Duck Pin bowling alley; over 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art arcade games; and a full-service tiki bar.
2655 Teaster Ln, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 | (423) 518-0742 | downtownflavortown.com

Gallery Credit: Liberty

SEE INSIDE: Guy Fieri Just Spent $7.3 Million For This Massive Florida Palace

The Mayor of Flavortown's new home offers 9,850 square feet of living space complete with panoramic views of more than 230 feet of waterfront. The sprawling home on Singer Island is true high-end living with an elevator, outdoor kitchen and a 50-foot infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. Here's a taste of what Fieri is getting for $7,325,000.

Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll

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