© Getty ImagesBenoit Violier outside his Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville in Crissier near Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2012.
The "world's best chef" was found dead in his home in Switzerland over the weekend in what appeared to be a stress-related suicide, reports said Monday.
Benoît Violier, 44, ran a renowned Swiss restaurant that gained worldwide recognition in December when it was crowned the best in the world by France's Foreign Ministry.
The French-born chef had beaten out 1,000 others in 48 countries. New York City's Per Se came in second.
But the pressure of being on top would prove too much for Violier.
Fueled by the stress of his job, the Michelin-starred chef took his own life on Sunday night — shooting himself with a hunting rifle inside his home in Crissier, according to French reports.
While authorities have opened an investigation, they said they are "99 percent certain" the cause of death is a suicide by firearm.
News of Violier's passing shocked the culinary community Monday as the much-anticipated Michelin Guide released its 2016 edition for France. Violier had been scheduled to appear at the event and was supposed to take a train to Paris Sunday morning, according to French media reports.
Organizers chose to start the proceedings with a moment of silence in his honor.
Comment: A reality check. Unfortunately, the US is far down the road to a fascist military-police state accountable to no one. It is gearing to implode and it appears there's very little that can stop it.