The Tragic Truth About Gordon Ramsay's Brother

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By Wendy Mead/Updated: Feb. 27, 2023 10:21 am EST

Ronnie Ramsay, the younger brother of famous celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, has reportedly struggled with substance abuse issues for years. The Ramsay children had a difficult start in life, moving frequently because their purported alcoholic father, Gordon Sr., often got fired and had to change jobs. They also had to witness their father become "terribly violent" with his mother, "to the point where she feared for her life," Gordon Ramsay explained to CNN. "There were instances when the police were called to take him away; mum was taken to the hospital, while we kids were taken to a children's home."

According to The Sun, Ronnie Ramsay started out using cocaine and later moved on to heroin. His addiction was reportedly so severe that he nearly wasn't able to make it to his father's funeral. Gordon Ramsay Sr. was only 53 years old when he died in 1997 (via the Mirror). Gordon tried to get his brother to the service, as he wrote in his autobiography, "Humble Pie" (via Metro). "Ronnie was a desperate heroin addict, and he was refusing to go. I was at my wits' end. Finally, about an hour before the funeral, I gave him money, so he could buy what he needed to get him through." But Gordon Ramsay later regretted paying for Ronnie's drugs that day, believing that he may have been too high to even know what was happening.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Ronnie Ramsay jailed in Bali

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Ronnie Ramsay's reported battle with drug use landed him in trouble with the law in February 2007. He was arrested in Bali with 100 milligrams of heroin on him, according to a Reuters report. Ramsay spent six months in prison awaiting trial. He was found guilty of heroin possession, and he was given a 10-month prison sentence and ordered to pay a fine that September. That decision proved to be remarkably generous, considering he was originally facing up to 10 years in prison (via Express). Indonesia is known for its harsh prison sentences on drug-related offenses.

Since being released from prison, Ramsay returned to England and has spent time living on the streets. He told the press in 2009 that "I'm down on my luck and haven't had any contact with Gordon or my mum for a while" (via the Daily Mail). "They have wiped their hands of me." According to Gordon Ramsay's autobiography, Ronnie has threatened his brother and his family in an effort to get money from his famous sibling. In 2017, Gordon Ramsay revealed on the "Jonathan Ross Show" that his brother continued to struggle with drugs (via Hello! Magazine). "We've done everything we can to help him, now he just sort of binges and disappears," he said.