Who Owns Burger King? The Company Behind the Whopper
Burger King is owned by Restaurant Brands International, often called RBI. RBI is a big restaurant company based in Toronto, Canada. It also owns Tim Hortons, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs.
But RBI does not run most of the restaurants itself. Most are run by franchisees, which are local business owners who pay to use the brand name, menu and recipes.
Who is Restaurant Brands International?
RBI was created in 2014, when Burger King joined with the Canadian coffee and donut chain Tim Hortons. The new company was set up in Canada. Later, RBI bought Popeyes in 2017 and Firehouse Subs in 2021.
The burger chain’s main U.S. office is still in Miami-Dade County, Florida, where the chain grew up.
Has it had other owners?
Yes, a lot of them. The chain has changed hands many times since it started. Here is a simple timeline.
| Years | Owner |
|---|---|
| 1953 to 1967 | Founders (first called Insta-Burger King) |
| 1967 to 1989 | Pillsbury |
| 1989 to 1997 | Grand Metropolitan |
| 1997 to 2002 | Diageo |
| 2002 to 2010 | An investor group led by TPG |
| 2010 to 2014 | 3G Capital |
| 2014 to today | Restaurant Brands International |
Who started Burger King?
The story begins in 1953 in Jacksonville, Florida, with a small chain called Insta-Burger King. It used a special oven called the Insta-Broiler. The next year, in 1954, David Edgerton and James McLamore opened a location in Miami. They later took over the company and built it into a national chain.
The Whopper came along in 1957 and is still the burger most people think of when they hear the name.
Does RBI own any of the restaurants?
A few. In 2024, RBI agreed to buy Carrols Restaurant Group, which was the biggest franchisee of the chain in the U.S. The deal was worth about $1 billion and included more than 1,000 restaurants. RBI said it planned to fix up and remodel many of them, then sell them back to local owners over the next several years.
So for now, RBI runs more stores than it used to. In the long run, it still wants most of them in franchise owners’ hands.
Is Burger King owned by McDonald’s?
No. The two chains are rivals with no shared owner. McDonald’s is its own public company based in Chicago. They have been fighting over burger fans for more than 60 years.
What other brands does RBI own?
- Popeyes: Louisiana style fried chicken, bought by RBI in 2017. See the Popeyes menu.
- Tim Hortons: the Canadian coffee and donut chain. See the Tim Hortons menu.
- Firehouse Subs: hot sub sandwiches, bought in 2021. See the Firehouse Subs menu.
What does a Whopper cost today?
A Whopper costs about $5.49 to $6.19 in most places, and a Whopper meal runs about $9.99 to $11.49. A Whopper has about 710 calories. Since most stores are run by franchisees, prices change by city. For the full list, see our Burger King menu with prices, or check today’s Burger King deals.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Burger King?
It is owned by Restaurant Brands International (RBI), a company based in Toronto, Canada. Most of its restaurants are run by franchisees.
Is Burger King a Canadian company?
Its parent company, RBI, is based in Canada. The burger chain itself started in Florida, and its U.S. office is still in Miami-Dade County.
Does the company that owns Burger King also own Popeyes?
Yes. RBI owns Burger King, Popeyes, Tim Hortons and Firehouse Subs.
Who founded Burger King?
It started as Insta-Burger King in Jacksonville, Florida in 1953. David Edgerton and James McLamore opened a Miami location in 1954 and later took over the company.
Is Burger King owned by McDonald’s?
No. They are separate companies and long-time rivals.
What was 3G Capital’s role?
3G Capital, an investment firm, bought the chain in 2010. In 2014 it helped join it with Tim Hortons to form RBI.
Prices are typical U.S. prices before tax and can vary by location. Menus Info is not affiliated with any restaurant mentioned. See how we check prices.
