If you want to make a splash in the Aussie culinary world, MasterChef Australia is a good place to start. The show has been going for yonks, and has introduced us to some greats — like Julie Goodwin and Andy Allen. We’ve seen 15 winners across 16 seasons, and all of the home cooks have gone on to have extraordinary careers.
Some of them are making serious BANK as well thanks to the clout they received on the show, peep some of the most successful MasterChef Australia contestants HERE.
Ahead of tonight’s finale, let’s see where all the show’s winners have ended up!
Where are all the MasterChef Australia winners now?
Julie Goodwin — Season 1
Julie Goodwin’s win was a win for home cooks everywhere, with the mum specialising in warm, family-style meals. She’s gone on to become a bit of a media personality, releasing a bunch of cookbooks and appearing on other TV and radio shows.
She competed on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015, and came back to the MasterChef Australia kitchen to compete in 2012 and 2022.
Julie also published a memoir called Your Time Starts Now in 2024, and she told her social media followers she was “nervous” and “grateful”. She has been open about her struggles with mental health, but her book was vulnerable and delved deeper into her life.
“With a big deep breath and quite a lot of trepidation, I prepare to send it out there for public viewing, to be consumed and judged. It’s all in here; no stone is unturned,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I hope it can help someone to understand what’s happening to them, or to someone they love, and see there is a way through. I hope it can ring a little note of caution to anyone who carries too much on their shoulders.”
Adam Liaw — Season 2
Adam Liaw gave up his career as a lawyer to follow his foodie passions due to his MasterChef Australia journey, and we’re so glad he did! Not only has he written multiple cookbooks like Asian After Work, he also hosted his own food show Destination Flavour for SBS.
Adam created his own cooking and talk show called The Cook Up with Adam Liaw in 2021, inviting on guests like Jessica Rowe, Jock Zonfrillo and Colin Fassnidge.
Adam Liaw on SBS Food. (Credit: SBS Food)
He’s been one of the Tomorrow Tonight hosts since 2022, so it’s safe to say he’s going to stick around for a while yet!
Kate Bracks — Season 3
Kate Bracks won MasterChef Australia in 2011, and unlike many of her fellow winners, she has shied away from the spotlight.
After winning the show, she returned back to her job as a teacher, and released a cookbook called The Sweet Life: Desserts From Australia’s MasterChef in 2012.
Earlier this year, Kate opened her own gelato shop at Bulcock Beach in Caloundra called Fifty Acres Gelato.
“It’s a place where people come to relax and enjoy themselves, often with loved ones. I wanted to create a business that supports people in connecting with others around good food in a relaxed and fun way,” she told Caloundra News.
Andy Allen — Season 4
Andy Allen is one of MasterChef Australia’s biggest success stories. Going from winner to MasterChef Australia judge? That’s a *chef’s kiss* right there!
“The MasterChef kitchen brings out the best in people. There’s an energy that is indescribable, so much passion, happiness, and positivity that you just can’t help but get swept up in it,” Andy previously told Channel 10.
Andy Allen is one of MasterChef Australia’s most successful exports. (Credit: Ten)
He’s the co-owner of Three Blue Ducks restaurant and was given a Chef’s Hat in 2018. Not too shabby! Along with his MasterChef duties, he also co-hosted a travel and cooking show called Three Blue Ducks based around his restaurant menu.
Emma Dean — Season 5
Emma Dean has been a busy bee since she snagged the MasterChef Australia title in 2013. She published her own cookbook A Homegrown Table in 2013, and co-hosted My Market Kitchen with fellow contestant Lynton Tapp.
She regularly contributes to EatWell Magazine and posts recipes on her own website. She recently hosted an EatWell Christmas Special for Channel 9, serving up a bunch of yummy treats.
Brent Owens — Season 6
MasterChef Australia 2014 winner Brent Owens made a splash when he gifted runner-up Emelia Jackson $50,000 of his prize money.
He’s opted for life outside of the public eye since his win and is currently studying Life Science at Harvard University. His Instagram account is set to private, and he recently co-founded a biotech company called Vitrafy.
On LinkedIn, he revealed why he is so passionate about his new career path.
“With a passion to assist underprivileged regions Brent has worked with leading international Food Scientists for the development of low cost, but nutritionally dense food items, for global distribution,” his bio reads.
Billie McKay — Season 7 and Season 14
As a result of her winning MasterChef Australia finale dish, Billie McKay was offered a job at Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant The Fat Duck. She moved to London to work in the kitchen, before heading back to Australia.
In 2022, Billie competed in MasterChef Australia: Fans Vs Favourites and took out the title AGAIN! She beat Sarah Todd in an epic finale, and she’s still the only contestant to have ever won twice. Can we bring her back so she can give a third win a red hot go?!
Winner winner, chicken dinner! (Credit: Ten)
Elena Duggan — Season 8
Elena Duggan is proof you should never give up. The season eight winner first applied for the show in 2015 but didn’t make it, but when she was chosen to compete during MasterChef Australia 2016, she went and won the whole damn thing!
She came back to MasterChef Australia in 2019 to act as a guest mentor, and in the same year, also joined Khanh Ong to co-present My Market Kitchen.
She uses her social media channels to educate and build connection in the cooking community. Her latest post encourages people to keep food “inclusive” as part of her food education series.
Diana Chan — Season 9
Diana Chan has continued her food journey after winning MasterChef Australia. Her biggest accomplishment has been creating her dumplings brand Golden Wok, which can be found in Coles and Woolies. In 2024, she released her first-ever cookbook called The Golden Wok.
“One of my greatest achievements to date and I couldn’t be more proud of this masterpiece,” she said on Instagram. “Promise you lots of fun and wonderful recipes to enjoy with your loved ones.”
Sashi Cheliah — Season 10
Sashi Cheliah tested the waters after MasterChef Australia by starting a pop-up restaurant in Melbourne called Gaja. He then opened a restaurant in Gaja in Adelaide before concentrating on his dream — a modern Peranakan restaurant in India called Pandan Club.
“This city is a mix of tradition and authentic flavours, and at the same time favours experimentation and new flavours, and therefore perfect for my foray into India,” he told The SCMP. “Indian food is all about diversity and different flavour profiles, with nuances in every state and region.”
He also competed on MasterChef Australia: Fans Vs Favourites in 2022!
Larissa Takchi — Season 11
22-year-old Larissa Takchi won the finale with her Szechuan Pavlova. Since the show wrapped up, she’s had a lil’ bub with her husband Luke and shares a bunch of foodie content on social media.
From time to time she’ll pop up on TV like The Morning Show for a cooking segment,.
Larissa Takchi slayed the kitchen down! (Credit: Ten)
Emelia Jackson — Season 12
Emelia Jackson had a second chance to win when she competed on MasterChef Australia: Back To Win, and she beat Reynold Poernomo and Laura Sharrad to finally walk away with the title.
She has released a cookbook called First, Cream the Butter and Sugar, and placed second during Dessert Masters season two.
Justin Narayan — Season 13
Youth pastor Justin Narayan told Yahoo! Lifestyle he actually ended up giving most of his prize money away.
“I wanted to be generous with it, so I ended up donating a lot of it and giving some away to some people that I thought needed it more than me. And then made some investments with the rest of it,” he said.
“There’s heaps more where it came from. Just be generous, keep helping people, and things will work out.”
He has a taco pop-up called Juzzy’s Tacos, and published a cookbook called Everything is Indian in 2025.
Brent Draper — Season 15
Brent Draper first competed in season 13, but pulled out due to mental health issues. When he came back to compete in 2023, he walked away victorious!
He’s since worked with his wife on his Behind The Drapes podcast and currently co-hosts Channel 10’s Farm To Fork alongside Michael Weldon, Louis Tikaram, Courtney Roulston and Diana Chan.
Nat Thaipun — Season 16
Nat Thaipun is the latest MasterChef Australia winner, snagging the $250,000 prize in 2024. The young cook also won a week’s work experience alongside Jamie Oliver in London, was offered a job by Vicky Cheng in Hong Kong, and had an Alumni Restaurant residency at the Crown Melbourne hotel.
Since the show wrapped up, she’s been busy doing food pop-ups and also writing her very first cookbook! It’s called THAI: Anywhere and Everywhere, and it’s going to be released on October 28, 2025. It’s described as “a celebration of her Thai Australian heritage and global culinary adventures”. Sounds DELISH!
Can’t wait to see who will be added to this list once MasterChef Australia: Back To Win wraps up!
MasterChef Australia: Back To Win premieres Monday, April 28 at 7.30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
