Joël Robuchon, the World's Most Michelin-Starred Chef, Has Died

French chef Joël Robuchon has died at the age of 73, his spokeswoman confirmed to CNN on Monday. Robuchon was the most decorated Michelin-starred chef in the world, holding 32 stars at his peak in 2016, and close to the same astronomical figure — 31 — at the time of his death in Geneva, Switzerland.

In addition to the stars, Robuchon lays claims to diverse significant culinary achievements: He was the first to popularize the concept of diners sitting at a counter overlooking the kitchen, and make it cool to observe chefs' cooking and plating techniques. He appeared on Bravo's Top Chef, and various French cooking shows.

Robuchon owned restaurants on three continents, in cities around the world including Las Vegas, Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Bangkok. Robuchon was perhaps best known for his take on mashed potatoes.

The cause of death was pancreatic cancer, which also claimed the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold at age 57 last month.