Most Michelin stars awarded to a chef

The chef with the most Michelin stars ever was Joël Robuchon (France, 1945–2018), who in 2016 held an unprecedented 31 stars in restaurants across 13 different countries. Robuchon passed away on 6 August 2018, aged 73.

Robuchon founded his first restaurant, Jamin, in Paris, France, in 1981 when he was 36 years old, earning his first Michelin star the following year. At the time of his death in 2018, he still retained 28 stars, including five three-star restaurants.

He was named "chef of the century" by Gault et Millau in 1990, and was known as a highly disciplined perfectionist as well as something of a kitchen rebel. He was particularly well known for his decadent pomme purées (mash potato) recipes.

Initially created as a resource of information for motorists, the Michelin Guide started to award ratings in the form of stars to restaurants in 1933.