McDonald's

Overview

Fast food giant McDonald's first opened in San Bernardino, California, in 1940 as a small drive-through run by the brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald. After a now-legendary meeting, Ray Kroc (who was selling the brothers a multimixer for milkshakes) became the McDonald's franchising agent and is responsible for transforming the family-run restaurant into a global powerhouse. As of June 2026, McDonald's was worth more than $200B and had over 40,000 locations in more than 100 countries.

While other fast food companies already existed, most notably the burger joint White Castle, McDonald's revolutionized the industry through its emphasis on highly efficient operations and its success in franchising.

Since its widespread expansion throughout the latter half of the 1900s, McDonald's has become one of the world's most recognizable brands. The iconic golden arches outside each drive-through are proxies for American culture (and have even been considered political symbolism), thanks to McDonald's uniquely American founding story and its emphasis on cheap, efficient dining.

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McDonald's

Overview

1440 Findings

Explore Business & Finance

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