Who Founded McDonald’s? The Brothers, Ray Kroc and the Real Story
Two brothers, Richard and Maurice McDonald, founded McDonald’s in 1940 in San Bernardino, California. Ray Kroc did not start the restaurant. He became their franchise agent in the 1950s, opened his own McDonald’s in 1955, and bought the brothers out in 1961 for $2.7 million.
So who is the “real” founder? It depends on what you mean. The brothers built the restaurant and the fast service idea. Kroc built the giant company. Here is the story, step by step.
Who started McDonald’s in the first place?
Richard (“Dick”) and Maurice (“Mac”) McDonald started it. They grew up in New Hampshire, moved to California, and opened the first McDonald’s in San Bernardino. Wikipedia gives the date as May 15, 1940.
It was not a burger place at first. The early sign said “McDonald’s Famous Barbecue.” It was a drive-in, where carhops (servers) brought food to your car. Reports say the brothers soon noticed that hamburgers were what most people ordered.
What was the Speedee Service System?
The Speedee Service System was the brothers’ new way to make food fast, and they launched it in 1948. They closed the drive-in and reopened it with a very different plan.
- They let go of about 20 carhops. You walked up to a window instead.
- They dropped plates and silverware for paper wrappers and cups. No dishwasher needed.
- They cut the menu to nine items, including a 15-cent hamburger.
- Each worker did one job, like a small factory line.
Customers were confused at first. Many waited for a carhop who never came. But families loved the low prices and the quick food. Almost every fast food place still works this way today.
Where were the Golden Arches from?
The brothers hired an architect named Stanley Clark Meston to design a new building in the early 1950s. It had two tall yellow arches. The Golden Arches came from that design, not from Ray Kroc. The brothers began selling franchises in 1953. Their first franchisee was Neil Fox in Phoenix, Arizona.
How did Ray Kroc meet the McDonald brothers?
Ray Kroc sold milkshake machines. In 1954 he noticed that one restaurant in California had bought eight of his Multimixers. That was a lot. He flew out to San Bernardino to see why.
He saw a busy place with a line of happy customers. He thought the system could work all over America. The brothers were careful and did not want a giant company. Kroc offered to do the hard work of selling franchises. He became their franchise agent in 1954. Reports say the brothers were to get 0.5% of the sales of each franchised restaurant.
Where was the first Ray Kroc McDonald’s?
Kroc opened his first McDonald’s in Des Plaines, Illinois, on April 15, 1955. The company still counts that date as the start of McDonald’s Corporation. But it was not the first McDonald’s. By then the brothers already had several restaurants, and Wikipedia says the Des Plaines store was the ninth one overall.
How did Ray Kroc buy McDonald’s?
Kroc bought the company from the brothers in 1961 for $2.7 million. Kroc and the brothers disagreed on how big the business should be. In the end he asked what it would take to buy them out, and they named a price. It was set so each brother would keep $1 million after taxes, according to Wikipedia.
The details of the deal are still argued about. Some people say the brothers were treated badly. Others point out that Richard McDonald said he had no regrets. He told the Wall Street Journal in 1991 that taxes were heavy and he did not want a yacht life.
What happened to the brothers’ first restaurant?
The brothers kept the San Bernardino restaurant, but they had sold the McDonald’s name. They renamed it “The Big M.” Kroc later opened a McDonald’s nearby. The Big M closed about six years later. The original building was torn down in 1971. Today a small unofficial museum stands on the site.
What happened to Richard and Maurice McDonald later?
Maurice died in 1971 at age 69. Richard lived longer and died in 1998 at age 89. In 1984 he was served the 50 billionth McDonald’s hamburger at an event in New York. The brothers got much less fame than Kroc, but they were never poor.
Timeline of McDonald’s history
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1940 | Richard and Maurice McDonald open a drive-in in San Bernardino, California |
| 1948 | The brothers launch the Speedee Service System |
| 1953 | First franchise opens in Phoenix; Golden Arches design debuts |
| 1954 | Ray Kroc visits and becomes the franchise agent |
| 1955 | Kroc opens his Des Plaines, Illinois restaurant on April 15 |
| 1961 | Kroc buys the brothers out for $2.7 million |
| 1971 | Maurice McDonald dies; original San Bernardino building is torn down |
| 1998 | Richard McDonald dies at 89 |
| 2016 | Movie “The Founder” tells the story |
Is “The Founder” movie true?
“The Founder” (2016) is based on a true story, but it changes many details. Michael Keaton plays Kroc, and Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch play the brothers. Wikipedia notes that critics say the film bends the facts about the buyout and some other scenes. Watch it for fun, not as a history book.
Who runs McDonald’s today?
Chris Kempczinski is the chairman and CEO of McDonald’s in 2026. Wikipedia lists him in that job, and news stories from October 2026 still call him CEO. At the end of 2025, McDonald’s had 45,356 restaurants in more than 100 countries. About 95% were run by franchisees (local owners).
More McDonald’s guides
Want to see what is on the menu today? Check the McDonald’s menu with prices, the McDonald’s hours guide, the McDonald’s secret menu and the McDonald’s holiday menu. Curious about the rivals? See the Burger King menu, the Wendy’s menu and the White Castle menu, a chain that started the fast burger idea decades earlier.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded McDonald’s?
Richard and Maurice McDonald founded McDonald’s in 1940 in San Bernardino, California. Ray Kroc later bought the company from them. He is often called the founder of McDonald’s Corporation, because he built the chain.
Did Ray Kroc found McDonald’s?
No, Ray Kroc did not found the first McDonald’s, but he founded the company that grew into today’s McDonald’s. He opened his first restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955. McDonald’s Corporation counts that year as its start.
When was McDonald’s founded?
McDonald’s was founded in 1940 by the McDonald brothers. The company itself uses April 15, 1955, the day Ray Kroc opened his Des Plaines restaurant. Both dates are right, but they mean different things.
Where was the first McDonald’s?
The first McDonald’s was in San Bernardino, California, near Route 66. It opened in 1940 and was torn down in 1971. The oldest McDonald’s still standing is in Downey, California, and it opened in 1953.
How much did Ray Kroc pay for McDonald’s?
Ray Kroc paid $2.7 million in 1961. The price was set so each brother kept about $1 million after taxes. Wikipedia says that is roughly $29 million in today’s money.
Who owns McDonald’s now?
No single person owns McDonald’s. It is a public company, traded on the stock market under the symbol MCD. Chris Kempczinski is the CEO in 2026, and about 95% of the restaurants are run by franchise owners.
Is The Founder movie accurate?
The Founder (2016) is partly true, but it changes some facts. Critics say it makes the buyout look meaner than it was. Richard McDonald said later that he had no regrets about the sale.
What happened to the McDonald brothers?
Maurice died in 1971 at age 69, and Richard died in 1998 at age 89. They stayed comfortable after the sale. They also kept less fame than Kroc, which they were unhappy about.
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