Who Owns McDonald's?
McDonald's is owned by McDonald's Corporation, a publicly traded company listed on the NYSE under ticker MCD. The brand was founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald and scaled into a global franchise system by Ray Kroc, who purchased the company in 1961. McDonald's operates more than 45,000 restaurants in over 100 countries, roughly 95% of them franchised, and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
Parent Company
Founded
1940
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Who Owns McDonald's?
- Parent Company: McDonald's Corporation
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: MCD
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | McDonald's Corporation | Brand division |
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History of McDonald's
- Founded: 1940
- Founders: Richard McDonald, Maurice McDonald, Ray Kroc
Brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald opened their first restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1940 as a barbecue drive-in. In 1948 they closed, retooled, and reopened with the Speedee Service System, an assembly-line kitchen that served a stripped-down menu of hamburgers, fries, and shakes in under a minute at 15 cents a burger. The format was an immediate success and drew copycats.
Ray Kroc, a milkshake mixer salesman, visited the brothers in 1954 and proposed franchising the concept. He opened his first franchised restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, in April 1955 and built McDonald's System, Inc. around strict operational standards. In 1961 Kroc purchased the brothers' rights and the McDonald's name for $2.7 million and accelerated expansion. The company went public in 1965.
Menu innovation drove growth through the following decades. Franchisee Jim Delligatti's Big Mac debuted nationally in 1968. The Egg McMuffin, created by franchisee Herb Peterson, launched in 1972 and opened the breakfast daypart. The Happy Meal arrived in 1979 and Chicken McNuggets in 1983. The first overseas restaurant opened in Canada in 1967, followed by Japan, Germany, and Australia in the early 1970s, Moscow's Pushkin Square location in 1990, and China in 1990.
The 1990s and 2000s brought criticism of the menu's nutritional profile, notably the 2004 documentary Super Size Me, and McDonald's responded with salads, grilled options, and menu labeling. The McCafé concept, first opened in Melbourne, Australia, in 1993, expanded globally through the 2000s.
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In recent years the company executed its Accelerating the Arches strategy around marketing, core menu items, and digital channels. It returned to Russia-adjacent scrutiny after selling its Russian business in 2022, and it navigated an October 2024 E. coli outbreak tied to Quarter Pounder onions. In 2025 the brand launched the Big Arch premium burger, expanded its McValue platform, and passed 45,000 restaurants, targeting 50,000 by the end of 2027. A new U.S. beverage lineup under McCafé rolled out in 2026.
About McDonald's Corporation
What does McDonald's own?
McDonald's owns a portfolio of branded menu items including the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, Filet-O-Fish, Egg McMuffin, Happy Meal, McCafe, and McValue Menu. The company operates as a single-brand restaurant company, with all products sold under the McDonald's name. McDonald's also owns or leases a significant portion of the real estate where its restaurants operate.
Is McDonald's publicly traded?
Yes, McDonald's trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker MCD. The company has been publicly traded since 1965. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Global Advisors.
Who founded McDonald's?
McDonald's was founded in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald as a barbecue restaurant in San Bernardino, California. They transitioned to hamburgers in 1948 and developed the "Speedee Service System." Ray Kroc joined in 1954, proposed franchising nationally, opened his first restaurant in 1955, and purchased the company from the McDonald brothers in 1961 for $2.7 million.
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Who is the CEO of McDonald's?
Chris Kempczinski serves as Chairman and CEO of McDonald's Corporation. Under his leadership, McDonald's has focused on the "Accelerating the Arches" strategy, emphasizing value leadership, core menu classics (chicken and beef), digital growth, and restaurant development. In August 2026, Skye Anderson was appointed President of McDonald's USA to strengthen execution in the company's largest market.
What is McDonald's annual revenue?
McDonald's reported FY2025 consolidated revenue of $26.9 billion, up 4% from $25.9 billion in 2024. Operating income was $12.4 billion, net income was $8.6 billion, and diluted EPS was $11.95. Global systemwide sales exceeded $139 billion, up 7% from the prior year.
How many McDonald's restaurants are there worldwide?
McDonald's operates over 45,000 restaurants in over 100 countries. Approximately 95% of these restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees. In 2025, gross openings totaled nearly 2,300 restaurants, and the company is targeting 50,000 restaurants by the end of 2027.
What is McDonald's franchise model?
Approximately 95% of McDonald's restaurants are franchised. The company generates revenue from franchise fees, royalties based on a percentage of sales, and rent payments. In FY2025, franchised restaurant revenue was $16.5 billion, representing approximately 61% of total revenue. The franchise model generates stable, predictable cash flows with relatively low capital requirements for expansion.
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What is McDonald's loyalty program?
McDonald's has nearly 210 million 90-day active loyalty users across 70 markets. In FY2025, systemwide sales to loyalty members increased 20% to nearly $37 billion. The company is targeting 250 million loyalty users by the end of 2027. Loyalty members visit more frequently and enable personalized offers that drive higher visit frequency than traditional advertising.
What is the McValue menu?
The McValue menu is a permanent value menu strategy that evolved from the temporary $5 Meal Deal. It anchors the brand's identity to affordability and includes various combination meals for cost-conscious consumers. The strategy successfully improved traffic and strengthened value and affordability scores in 2025.
How is McDonald's responding to GLP-1 medications?
With approximately 12% of U.S. adults using GLP-1 weight-loss medications, McDonald's has expanded protein-forward options and smaller, customizable portions. The industry is seeing a 5-6% reduction in per-user fast-food spending due to these medications. McDonald's adaptability mirrors historical shifts in consumer behavior.
What is McDonald's "Accelerating the Arches" strategy?
"Accelerating the Arches," now in its sixth year, is organized around the M-C-D growth pillars: Maximizing Marketing, Committing to Core Menu Classics (chicken and beef), and Doubling Down on Digital, Delivery, and Drive-Thru. The strategy has driven consistent comparable sales growth and loyalty program expansion.
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Does McDonald's own its real estate?
Yes, McDonald's owns or leases a significant portion of the real estate where its restaurants operate. This real estate portfolio is a crucial part of the company's business model, providing stable rental income from franchisees and appreciating asset values beyond restaurant operations.
- Founded: 1940
- Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: MCD
- Revenue: $26.9 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: approximately 150,000 corporate; over 2 million including franchise staff
Where Is McDonald's Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
McDonald's Categories & Tags
McDonald's Sustainability & Ethics
McDonald's has committed to net zero emissions by 2050 and to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions 50.4% by 2030 from a 2018 baseline, targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. The company purchases renewable energy credits and has invested in U.S. wind and solar projects tied to its restaurant footprint.
Packaging goals call for 100% of guest packaging to come from renewable, recycled, or certified sources; the company reported reaching roughly 90% of that target by the mid-2020s. Beef sustainability is the biggest unresolved issue given supply chain emissions and deforestation exposure, and the company participates in the Roundtable on Sustainable Beef. It is not a B Corp and is not certified by any independent environmental standard for its core product.
Awards & Recognition
McDonald's consistently ranks among the world's most valuable brands in the annual Interbrand Best Global Brands and BrandZ rankings, typically placing inside the global top 15 and first among restaurant brands. Its Big Mac is the subject of The Economist's Big Mac Index, a currency comparison tool published since 1986. The brand's advertising, including campaigns like "I'm Lovin' It" and celebrity meal collaborations, has earned repeated Cannes Lions and Effie recognition for marketing effectiveness.
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McDonald's Recalls & Controversies
October 2024 E. coli outbreak: An E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders sickened more than 100 people across several states and was associated with one death, per CDC reporting. McDonald's removed the ingredient, temporarily pulled Quarter Pounders in affected markets, and the CDC declared the outbreak over in December 2024.
Nutrition criticism: The 2004 film Super Size Me and sustained public health scrutiny over calories, sodium, and marketing to children pushed McDonald's to retire its Super Size option, add menu labeling, and reformulate Happy Meals with healthier default sides.
Liebeck v. McDonald's: The 1994 jury verdict in the Stella Liebeck hot coffee case, reduced on appeal and settled, became one of the most debated product liability cases in U.S. history and remains a fixture in legal education.
Labor disputes: McDonald's has faced sustained union organizing efforts, minimum wage campaigns such as the Fight for $15, and NLRB proceedings over whether it is a joint employer of franchise staff. A 2023 case resolved the central joint employer question largely in the company's favor.
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Brands Owned by McDonald's Corporation
Food Service RestaurantsBig Mac
Owned by McDonald's Corporation
McDonald's signature double-decker hamburger, created in 1967 and sold in more than 100 countries as the company's most iconic menu item.
fast-foodhamburgersmcdonalds
Food Service RestaurantsHappy Meal
Owned by McDonald's Corporation
McDonald's children's meal combination with a toy, introduced in 1979 and sold in more than 100 countries as one of the most successful kids' products in restaurant history.
fast-foodkids-mealsmcdonalds
Food Service RestaurantsMcCafé
Owned by McDonald's Corporation
McDonald's coffee and beverage brand, launched in Melbourne, Australia in 1993, offering espresso drinks, frappes, and an expanded U.S. beverage lineup in 2026.
coffeebeveragesmcdonalds
Food Service RestaurantsChicken McNuggets
Owned by McDonald's Corporation
McDonald's bite-sized breaded chicken product, launched nationally in 1983 and sold in more than 100 countries in four signature shapes.
fast-foodchickenmcdonalds
McDonald's Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Unmatched scale with 45,000+ restaurants and $139 billion in systemwide sales
- +Franchise model delivers stable royalty and rent income to the corporation
- +Global supply chain and real estate ownership create cost and control advantages
- +Loyalty program approaching 210 million active users
- +Consistent marketing reach few consumer brands can match
Considerations
- -Food safety incidents such as the 2024 E. coli outbreak can rapidly affect sales
- -Persistent public health scrutiny of nutrition and marketing to children
- -Franchisee relations require constant investment and co-funding
- -Price-sensitive consumer base pressures the value menu strategy
- -Brand fortunes are tied to a single restaurant concept and its core menu
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Frequently Asked Questions About McDonald's
Sources & Further Reading
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Competitors to McDonald's
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yum Brands | USA | 1958 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| The Wendys Company | USA | 1969 | Mass market | North america | All Genders | |
| Restaurant Brands International | USA | 1953 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Berkshire Hathaway | USA | 1940 | Mass market | United states | All-ages | |
| Yum Brands | USA | 1952 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Papa Johns International | USA | 1984 | Mass market | Global | All-ages |
Learn More About Competitors
Food Service RestaurantsPizza Hut
Owned by Yum! Brands, Inc.
Global pizza restaurant chain owned by Yum! Brands, founded in 1958 by Dan and Frank Carney in Wichita, Kansas. Over 19,000 locations in more than 100 countries, making it one of the largest pizza chains in the world.
pizzarestaurantsfast-food
Restaurants Food ServiceWendy's
Owned by The Wendy's Company
American quick-service hamburger chain founded by Dave Thomas in 1969, known for square beef patties, the Frosty, and 'fresh, never frozen' beef.
fast-foodburgersrestaurants
Food Service RestaurantsBurger King
Owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc.
American fast food restaurant chain specializing in flame-grilled hamburgers, owned by Restaurant Brands International.
hamburgersfast-foodflame-grilled
Food Service RestaurantsDairy Queen
Owned by Berkshire Hathaway
American fast food chain specializing in soft serve ice cream and the Blizzard treat, owned by Berkshire Hathaway since 1998. Over 7,700 locations across 20 countries.
fast-foodice-creamsoft-serve
Food Service RestaurantsKFC
Owned by Yum! Brands, Inc.
American fast food chain specializing in fried chicken, owned by Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM), with over 30,000 locations globally.
fried-chickenfast-foodquick-service
Food Service RestaurantsPapa John's Pizza
Owned by Papa John's International
American pizza restaurant franchise company and the fourth-largest pizza chain in the United States. Publicly traded on NASDAQ as PZZA.
pizzafast-foodrestaurants
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: McDonald's competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to McDonald's
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by McDonald's Corporation, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Food Service RestaurantsSubway
Owned by Roark Capital
American fast food restaurant chain founded in 1965, specializing in submarine sandwiches and salads. The world's largest restaurant chain by location count, acquired by Roark Capital Group in April 2024 for $9.6 billion.
fast-foodsandwichesrestaurant
Privately Owned
Subway is privately owned, unlike McDonald's which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food Service RestaurantsDel Taco
Owned by Del Taco, Inc.
American quick-service restaurant chain specializing in Mexican-inspired cuisine. Founded in 1964. Owned by Yadav Enterprises since December 2025.
mexican-foodquick-servicetacos
Privately Owned
Del Taco is privately owned, unlike McDonald's which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food Service RestaurantsSupermacs
Owned by Unknown Company
Irish fast food restaurant chain specializing in burgers, chicken, and fish, independently owned and operating over 100 locations across Ireland.
burgersfast-foodirish
Independent
Supermacs is privately owned, unlike McDonald's which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food Service RestaurantsDunkin'
Owned by Inspire Brands
American quick-service restaurant chain specializing in coffee, donuts, and breakfast items. Owned by Inspire Brands. Reached 10,000 U.S. locations in October 2025.
donutscoffeebreakfast
Privately Owned
Dunkin' is privately owned, unlike McDonald's which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food Service RestaurantsGolden Corral
Owned by Golden Corral
American grill and buffet restaurant brand owned by Golden Corral Corporation and operated mainly by independent franchisees.
restaurantsbuffetsfranchising
Privately Owned
Golden Corral is privately owned, unlike McDonald's which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food Service RestaurantsFreddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Owned by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Inc.
American casual dining restaurant chain specializing in frozen custard, steakburgers, and hot dogs.
frozen-custardsteakburgerscasual-dining
Privately Owned
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is privately owned, unlike McDonald's which is under a publicly traded parent company.
McDonald's Corporation Stock Information
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Jobs at McDonald's Corporation
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