Ray Kroc was an American successful businessman who had a net worth of $600 million. He is best known for his prominent role to expand the business of the American fast-food company McDonald’s Corporation from the local chain to international. This entrepreneur died from heart failure in January 1984.
As a businessman, Kroc is an iconic figure. His name was enrolled in the Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century chart. He played a leading role to introduce McDonald’s worldwide. Apart from working in McDonald’s, he was the owner of the baseball team San Diego Padres.
A movie, The Founder, was released regarding him in 2016. The popular American actor Michael Keaton portrayed his role in that film. Considering McDonald’s current stock price, Ray Kroc’s net worth would be approx. $18 billion! However, most of his wealth has been donated to numerous nonprofit charity organizations.
Ray Kroc: At a Glance
| Full Name | Raymond Albert Kroc |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of Birth | 5 October 1902 |
| Birth Place | Oak Park, Illinois, U.S |
| Died | 14 January 1984 |
| Death Place | San Diego, California, U.S |
| Spouse | Ethel Fleming (m. 1922-1961); Jane Dobbins Green (m. 1963-1968); Joan Kroc (m. 1969) |
| Children | Marilyn Kroc Barg |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Nationality | American |
| Net Worth | $600 million |
Early Life
This prominent businessman was born in Oak Park, a village in Cook County, Illinois, Chicago on 5th October 1902. His parents were Rose Mary and Alois Kroc. Ray passed most of his time in Oak Park. During the First World War, he worked as an Ambulance Driver of the Red Cross Society lying his age.
Career
Before entering McDonald’s, Ray worked in numerous jobs like a real estate agent, a paper cups seller, and playing the piano in bands. In 1954, Ray joined the American fast-food company McDonald’s Corporation.
Kroc’s leading role made the company a worldwide famous name for fast-food lovers. Talk about this company, beneath the leadership of Ray Kroc, the company had 7500 outlets in the U.S and 31 in other countries. In 1983, the worldwide sales of these fast-food restaurants were $8 billion.
Besides, Kroc was the owner of the baseball team San Diego Padres. He bought this team with $12 million. In 1999, Ray Kroc was enrolled in the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame.
Apart from these, Ray was introduced in films. In 2016, the popular American producer, John Lee Hancock, produced ‘The Founder’ film involving Ray Kroc. Here, the popular American actor Michael Keaton portrayed him. Besides, a docudrama called The Food That Built America was released involving Kroc.
FAQs
Ray Kroc is the only person who made McDonald’s Corporation a worldwide popular name. He expanded this company from the local chain to international. According to McDonald’s current stock price, Ray Kroc’s net worth would be approx. $18 billion.
Chris Kempczinski is now the president and CEO of the world’s largest restaurant company, McDonald’s Corporation. Ray Kroc worked for this fast-food company from 1954 to 1983. His contribution to this company is noteworthy.
In 1948, Richard McDonald along with the Maurice brothers first established the fast-food restaurant, McDonald’s. Later, it became the world’s largest restaurant company through the leadership of Ray Kroc.
