21 Facts About Buddy Valastro

Buddy Valastro has taken his small, family-owned bake shop, Carlo's Bakery, and turned it into a baking and restaurant empire.

Buddy Valastro has starred in Next Great Baker, Kitchen Boss, Buddy's Bakery Rescue, Bake You Rich, Bakery Boss, Buddy vs Duff, Buddy vs Christmas Buddy Valastro's Cake Dynasty and Legends of The Fork.

Buddy Valastro grew up there and in Little Ferry, New Jersey.

Buddy Valastro's mother, Mary Tubito was born in Altamura, Italy.

Buddy Valastro is the daughter of Italian immigrants Nicola and Maddalena Tubito.

Buddy Valastro grew up with four older sisters: Grace, Mary, Maddalena and Lisa.

Buddy Valastro attended Ridgefield Park High School and took baking courses at the Bergen County Technical High School, Teterboro Campus.

Buddy Valastro began working at his family's business, Carlo's Bakery at age 11, alongside his father.

When his father died in 1994, Buddy Valastro was 17 and began to take over the family business.

Buddy Valastro grew the family bakery business into designer wedding cakes that were featured in bridal magazines.

Buddy Valastro followed it up with other books, including, Baking with the Cake Boss: 100 of Buddy's Best Recipes and Decorating Secrets, Cooking Italian with the Cake Boss: Family Favorites as Only Buddy Can Serve Them Up and Family Celebrations with the Cake Boss.

Buddy Valastro was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2017 and was introduced by Yankees' pitcher Mariano Rivera.

In 2018 Buddy Valastro partnered with The Pound Bakery, a pet treat manufacturing company to redesign and launch a new line of pet treats.

In 2019, Buddy Valastro launched "cake ATMs" - slices of cake sold through high-tech refrigerated vending machines in Las Vegas and Toronto.

Buddy and Elisabetta "Lisa" Valastro married on October 14,2001.

Until 2014, Valastro resided in East Hanover Township, New Jersey, with their four children: Sofia, Bartolo "Buddy" III, Marco, and Carlo.

Buddy Valastro was sentenced to nine years in prison for the assault in 2012.

On November 13,2014, Buddy Valastro was arrested for driving while intoxicated.

In September 2020, Buddy Valastro had his right hand impaled by a pinsetter at his home bowling alley.

Buddy Valastro underwent two emergency surgeries and several subsequent surgeries.

Buddy Valastro supported and campaigned for Republican Governor Chris Christie in his 2013 re-election bid, and in 2014 baked his birthday cake.