Married millionaire Herbalife salesman who enjoyed a lavish lifestyle and owned four homes across the world 'killed himself with a single gunshot'

John Peterson, 58, was found dead at his home in Steamboat Springs, Colorado last Sunday

Police say the Herbalife millionaire shot himself

Top Herbalife salesman John Peterson died last Sunday, and police are now saying the death was a suicide.

Herbalife CEO Michael Johnson announced in a memo that Peterson 'passed away suddenly, following a tragic accident at his home.'

According to Ray Birch, under-sheriff for Routt County, told the New York Post that the 58-year-old was found in a parked truck at his home in Streamboat Springs, Colorado where he 'succumbed to a single gunshot wound.' Birch says Peterson pulled the trigger.

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Suicide: John Peterson, one of Herbalife's top salesmen, was found dead Sunday and police had ruled it a suicide Success: Peterson had been named Herbalife's distributor of the year 10 times

Peterson was one of the multi-level marketing company's top salesmen. He was a member of the 'Founders Circle' of top salesmen and had been named Herbalife's top distributor of the year 10 times.

Last year, it was estimated that he made $3million.

In a promotional video for the company, Peterson boasted about his cattle ranch in Wyoming, private beach club in Mexico, in addition to homes in Colorado and Brazil.

The video shows him partaking in the lifestyle afforded him by his Herbalife business. he enjoys playing tennis, skiing, water skiing, hunting and fishing. He owns a helicopter, private plane and boat.

Tragedy: Peterson is survived by second-wife Fernanda and his three children

Family: Peterson with his daughter Jennifer on her graduation day, left. Peterson's ex-wife Susan and his son John, right



Peterson was able to do so well became he got into the company at the beginning, in the early 1980s.

Many have accused Herbalife of being a pyramid scheme - a non-sustainable business model focused on creating more salespeople than sales.

Peterson and his ex-wife Susan profited from the system by using an internet lead-generation business which is now banned in the company.

Work from Home Inc. was started in 2002 and recruited Herbalife salespeople, causing hundreds of consumer compaints to the Federal Trade Commission.

Last April Herbalife announced that distributors would be banned from buying and selling leads as of June 30.

The couple were also one of the first to bring Herbalife to Mexico, which has turned into one of the company's biggest markets.

But his immense success may have been his downfall. In the video he talks about being goal-oriented to achieve your dreams.

'I've always had another goal, another dream, a reason to keep going,' he said.