The 44-year-old ran the 3-star Michelin eaterie Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville in Crissier, near Lausanne in Switzerland.
In a statement, Swiss police said: "Late in the afternoon, police... Went to Crissier(Violier's home) where they discovered at his home the body of Benoit Violier."
The statement added that it appearedViolierhad shot himself with a firearm.
Violier's restaurant was last year crowned the "world's best restaurant" by France's La Listeranking, which named 1,000 top establishments in 48 countries.
Swiss police said an investigation had been opened intoViolier's death, who was working at the restaurant since 2012 and received Swiss nationality only two years ago.
Police added that "out of respect for the family" the Swiss authorities would be making no further comment.