With millions of followers, the man from California will be missed greatly from social media as well as greatly at home.
Viral chef Michael Duarte aka ‘FoodWithBearHands’ dies aged 34: what we know about “horrible accident” in Texas
He’s known online as FoodWithBearHands, but the sad news arrived that the California-based food creator Michael Duarte has died in Texas. This was confirmed by his talent agency and friends.
How did FoodWithBearHands’ Michael Duarte die?
Duarte passed away on November 8 2025 while travelling in Texas with his wife, Jessica Duarte, and their six-year-old daughter, Oakley Duarte, according to a GoFundMe established to assist the family. The incident is described as a “horrible accident,” though the exact cause has not been made public.
What was Michael Duarte famous for?
Originally from Calipatria, near the California–Mexico border, Duarte learned cooking at age 14 in his uncle’s small Mexican restaurant. He later worked in San Diego kitchens before switching to full-time content creation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Taking the handle FoodWithBearHands, he built a following of more than two million across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube by posting barbecue, grilling and home-cooking videos.
@foodwithbearhands Cajun Surf & Turf Ramen 🍜 🥢 Recipe ⤵️⤵️ @TFTI BBQ - Tony Ramirez ‘s Cajun Honey Rub and cookbook is available now at TFTIBBQ.com Bear Hands Cleaver 🔪 L!nk in B!0 Recipe makes 2 Servings Ingredients: 1 Steak of Choice 1 Lobster Tail 2 Packs Buldak Carbonara 4 Tbsp Mayo 2 Tbsp Minced Garlic 2 Egg Yolks 1 Tbsp Butter 2 Tbsp @tfti.bbq Honey Cajun Rub 1 Tbsp Salt 1 Tbsp Pepper 2 Eggs How to: 1. Boil the Buldak noodles and save 1/2 a cup of the water 2. In a Bowl add the Buldak Sauce Packet, Buldak Powder Packet, Mayo, Minced Garlic, and Egg Yolks and give that a good stir 3. Add in the 1/2 cup of noodle water into the bowl and stir 4. Add in your Ramen then top with Cajun Honey Rub, Lobster, Steak, Boiled Ramen Eggs, and Chives For the Steak: 1. A good steak like this only needs salt and pepper but that Cajun Honey Rub goes on EVERYTHING! 🍯 2. Cook on Medium/High heat pan and sear on each side flipping every minute until you reach an internal temperature of 120 degrees for Medium Rare or cook over open fire like we did 3. Let rest for 5-10 minutes and it will climb in temperature to 125-128 degrees 4. Slice and serve For the Ramen Eggs: 1. Boil your eggs for exactly 6 1/2 minutes setting a timer (cool gadget we used in our bio) 2. Then plunge in an ice bath to stop the cooking process TFTI 🔪 @Montana Knife Co RAMEN BOWL @YETI GRILL @Tagwoodbbq #buldak #ramen #viral #recipe
♬ original sound - foodwithbearhands
He was open about his personal struggle: in an earlier post he revealed he’d left restaurant work amid a “mental health crisis”, entered rehab, then discovered that creating food content made him happy and could be something “bigger than myself.”
What was Michael Duarte’s net worth?
Before his death, Duarte’s online success had turned into a full-time livelihood. According to reported estimates, his net worth in 2025 was believed to be between $750,000 and $1 million, largely earned through brand partnerships, ad revenue, and sponsored content across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Beyond earnings, Duarte often used his platform to support local businesses and charity food drives, emphasizing that “the real reward is feeding people who need it.”
Family tribute and fund raising
His agency, Alooma Media Group, issued a statement saying: “It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our valued client and dear friend, Michael Duarte… his legacy of integrity, compassion, and dedication will continue to live on through the lives he touched.”
The GoFundMe campaign explains that Jessica now faces the expense of repatriation of his remains to California and funeral arrangements, asking for donations and prayers for her and Oakley.
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