June 24 (Bloomberg) -- Alain Ducasse, holder of 14 Michelin stars for his restaurants worldwide, became a citizen of Monaco, renouncing his French passport and lowering his taxes.

Ducasse, 51, who made his international reputation through the Louis XV restaurant in the Hotel de Paris in Monte-Carlo, said the move was a heartfelt choice and that tax benefits weren't the reason for his move.

``If I really wanted to save money I would have moved my companies offshore,'' Ducasse said on RTL radio today. ``My companies are in France and pay their taxes in France. My personal savings will be very slight. It's an affair of the heart.''

In addition to his restaurants there, Ducasse plans to open a cooking school in Monaco in 2010 that will teach French cuisine, in English, to students from around the world.

``Monaco invented me and built me,'' Ducasse said. ``And the ability to develop the image of my companies is stronger from Monaco than from France.''

Ducasse took over the Louis VX in 1986 at the request of Prince Rainier III, his company said in a statement released yesterday. Rainier died in 2005 and was succeeded by his son, Prince Albert II.

Ducasse said his move to become Monegasque was started by Rainier. He added that he will continue to pay French income taxes on his ``personal activities'' in France.

Ducasse runs 22 restaurants, inns, bistros and bakeries, as well as cooking schools and a food consultaning company, according to his Web site.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alan Katz in Paris at akatz5@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 24, 2008 06:31 EDT