Julia Child

Julia Child's 1961 cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking sold 2.3 million copies, making her the best-selling author on this list by 1.7 million copies more than Anthony Bourdain. Her television show The French Chef aired 119 episodes, introducing French techniques to 80% of American households—a television reach unmatched by any other chef here. Child transformed culinary education for a mass audience.