'World's best chef' found dead in apparent suicide

Updated
Head Chef of World's Top-Ranked Restaurant Dies in Apparent Suicide
Head Chef of World's Top-Ranked Restaurant Dies in Apparent Suicide

Legendary chef Benoit Violier has died in what police say was an apparent suicide. Authorities say Violier was found dead Sunday at his home in Switzerland.

The suspected reason for his death comes as a shock to many. France's esteemed La Liste had recently named the 44-year-old's Swiss restaurant the best in the world.

Many of the world's top-ranked chefs shared their grief and condolences on social media. Some have speculated that the stress of maintaining elite rankings could have played a part in Violier's death.

See photos of Violier:

According to The Guardian, the chef spoke of that stress in a 2014 interview with Swiss channel RTS, saying, "It's my life. I go to sleep with cooking, I wake up to cooking."

Out of respect for the family, authorities haven't released any more information regarding their investigation.

More from AOL.com:
Death toll up to 70 from ISIS Damascus attack: Monitor
African boy attacked by chimps recovers after New York surgery
Timbaland accused of refusing to play Flint Benefit due to wrong champagne order

Advertisement