Ray Kroc
Born 1902 · Age 123
American businessman who turned McDonald's into a global fast-food powerhouse; franchising agent, owner and executive of McDonald's (1955–1984) and owner of the San Diego Padres (1974–1984).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Oak Park, Illinois
Raymond Albert Kroc born to Czech-American parents Rose Mary (née Hrach) and Alois "Louis" Kroc in Oak Park (near Chicago).
Left high school and enlisted with Red Cross
At age 15 Kroc left high school and lied about his age to enlist with the American Red Cross as an ambulance driver (trained in Connecticut); war ended before overseas service.
Met Walt Disney during Red Cross training
Kroc met Walter (Walt) Disney while training as ambulance attendant trainees in Old Greenwich, Connecticut — connection later referenced in business correspondence.
Worked varied early-career jobs
During the 1920s–1930s Kroc worked as a paper-cup salesman, jazz pianist/musical director, and Florida real-estate agent among other jobs.
Paid $68,000 for exclusive Multimixer rights
Kroc paid about $68,000 to secure exclusive rights to sell the Prince Castle 'Multimixer' and formed Prince Castle Sales, increasing his debt to roughly $100,000.
Founded Prince Castle Sales (distributor of multimixers)
Kroc formed Prince Castle Sales to distribute multimixer machines to soda fountains and restaurants nationwide.
Sold multimixers at scale (approx. 8,000 in one year)
Prince Castle Sales had major commercial success — in one reported year Kroc's operation sold about 8,000 multimixers to drugstores and restaurants.
Visited McDonald's in San Bernardino
While selling multimixers Kroc visited Richard and Maurice McDonald's efficient hamburger restaurant and saw their 'Speedee Service System'.
Sent franchise proposal letter to Walt Disney
After finalizing franchise arrangements Kroc wrote Walt Disney proposing a McDonald's at Disneyland; account of Disney's response varies and may be apocryphal.
First-year expansion and sales
After opening the Des Plaines store, two more stores opened the same year and gross sales for Kroc's first year reached about $235,000.
Founded McDonald's Systems, Inc.
Kroc established McDonald's Systems, Inc., predecessor to McDonald's Corporation, and began franchising the McDonald's format nationwide.
Opened first McDonald's (Des Plaines, IL)
Kroc opened the first McDonald's restaurant of his franchising company (McDonald's Systems, Inc.) in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15, 1955.
Hired Fred L. Turner (early employee)
Kroc hired Fred L. Turner (who began as a grill operator) and who would later write training manuals and lead Hamburger University.
Set up Franchise Realty Corporation
Kroc (with Harry Sonneborn's counsel) established a realty arm to buy land and lease it to franchisees — a core profit model for McDonald's.
100th McDonald's store opened
By 1959 McDonald's had opened its 100th restaurant under Kroc's franchising system.
Over 200 McDonald's stores
By 1960 the McDonald's system had grown to more than 200 restaurants.
Company scale at buyout: 228 stores, $37M sales
At the time Kroc bought the company he had established about 228 restaurants and annual sales of roughly $37 million (Britannica figures).
Purchased McDonald's from the McDonald brothers
Kroc bought McDonald's Corporation from Richard and Maurice McDonald for $2.7 million; financing arranged with help from Harry J. Sonneborn.
Opened new McDonald's near original San Bernardino location
After the buyout dispute over the original San Bernardino property/name, Kroc opened a new McDonald's near the original Big M; the Big M later closed.
Alleged handshake royalty promise to McDonald brothers
Allegations exist that Kroc orally promised to continue a 1% annual royalty to the McDonald brothers as part of the buyout; documentary evidence limited.
McDonald's sold over one billion hamburgers
By the end of 1963 McDonald's had sold more than one billion hamburgers — widely used as a promotional milestone.
Founded the Kroc Foundation
Kroc established the Kroc Foundation to fund medical research and charitable work (diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis).
McDonald's Corporation went public (IPO)
McDonald's went public in 1965 — common shares offered at $22.50; price rose to about $30 at close of first day.
Became CEO of McDonald's (1967–1973)
Kroc served as McDonald's chief executive officer beginning in 1967, executing aggressive expansion policies.
First McDonald's outside continental U.S. opened
McDonald's opened its first locations outside the continental United States (Puerto Rico and Canada) in 1967.
1,000th McDonald's opened; became Chairman
McDonald's opened its 1,000th restaurant (in Des Plaines, IL) and Kroc served as chairman of the board from 1968 to 1977.
Married Joan Mansfield (Joan Kroc)
Kroc married his third wife, Joan Smith (née Mansfield), who later became a major philanthropist.
McDonald's in every U.S. state
By 1970 Kroc had achieved a McDonald's presence in all 50 U.S. states.
First McDonald's in Japan
McDonald's opened its first Japanese restaurant in 1971, continuing international expansion.
Donated $255,000 to Richard Nixon's reelection
Kroc donated $255,000 to Nixon's 1972 campaign; donation later drew controversy and accusations of trying to influence policy.
Golden Plate Award
Received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 1973.
Retired from running McDonald's (stepped back)
Kroc retired from the day-to-day leadership of McDonald's in 1973 (served as CEO through 1973), shifting responsibilities.
Kroc Foundation and Ronald McDonald House (foundation's signature initiative)
The Kroc Foundation is credited with establishing the Ronald McDonald House to provide housing for parents of hospitalized children (foundation era work).
Padres drew over 1 million attendance
In Kroc's first year as owner (1974), despite poor on-field performance (102 losses), the Padres drew over 1,000,000 fans.
Purchased the San Diego Padres
Kroc purchased the MLB San Diego Padres for $12 million, keeping the franchise in San Diego.
Public address mic incident at Padres opener
On April 9, 1974 Kroc took the PA mic at a Padres game and publicly criticized the team's play, an event widely reported.
McDonald's surpassed $1 billion in revenue
1976 marked the first year McDonald's total revenue exceeded $1 billion under Kroc's expansion model.
Published Grinding It Out (autobiography)
Kroc co-authored and published his autobiography Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's in 1977.
Reassigned to Senior Chairman
Kroc became senior chairman in 1977 and held that title until his death in 1984.
Fined $100,000 by MLB Commissioner
In 1979 Kroc drew a $100,000 fine from Commissioner Bowie Kuhn for public interest in specific free agents (Graig Nettles and Joe Morgan).
McDonald's added to Dow Jones Industrial Average
In 1980 McDonald's Corporation became one of the 30 companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Suffered stroke and entered alcohol rehabilitation
Following a stroke in 1980 Kroc entered an alcohol rehabilitation facility.
System-wide sales exceeded $8 billion; personal fortune reported ~$600M
By 1983 McDonald's system-wide restaurant sales exceeded $8 billion; contemporaneous reports estimated Kroc's personal fortune at about $600 million.
McDonald's global footprint at death
At Kroc's death McDonald's had about 7,500 outlets worldwide in roughly 31–36 countries (sources vary).
Died of heart failure in San Diego
Ray Kroc died of heart failure at Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego on January 14, 1984; buried at El Camino Memorial Park.
Kroc Foundation dissolved (approx.)
The Kroc Foundation dissolved in April 1985 about a year after Kroc's death; it had funded medical research and grants during its existence.
Joan Kroc sold the San Diego Padres (after widow's ownership)
After Ray Kroc's death his widow Joan owned the Padres until she sold the team in 1990.
Inducted into Padres Hall of Fame (posthumous)
Kroc was inducted posthumously as part of the inaugural class of the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame in 1999.
Featured in song 'Boom, Like That' (Mark Knopfler)
Kroc's acquisition of McDonald's and tactics inspired Mark Knopfler's 2004 song 'Boom, Like That.'
Biopic 'The Founder' released (Michael Keaton as Kroc)
The 2016 film 'The Founder' dramatized Kroc's role in expanding and acquiring McDonald's; based partly on his autobiography.
Key Achievement Ages
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