Ray Kroc
1902-1984 · American · 20th Century
Known for: Built McDonald's from one restaurant into the world's largest fast-food chain
52-year-old milkshake salesman who saw the future at the McDonald brothers' restaurant. Franchised it, bought them out for $2.7M—cheating them of royalties.
Detail-obsessed about fry quality. 40,000+ restaurants, 100+ countries. Didn't found McDonald's—took it.
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