Who is Ray Kroc?

Raymond Albert "Ray" Kroc (October 5, 1902 – January 14, 1984) was an American businessman who joined the Californian chain McDonald's in 1954 and built it into a nationwide and eventually global franchise, making it the most successful fast food corporation in the world.

After World War II, Kroc found employment as a milkshake mixer salesman, and it's how Kroc met Richard and Maurice McDonald who had purchased eight of his Multi-Mixers for their San Bernardino, California store; he was very impressed by their business and visited them in 1954. Kroc became convinced that the concept and design of this small chain had the potential to expand across the nation.

Controversially, Kroc would present himself as the founder of McDonald's during his later life. Kroc was included in Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century, and amassed a fortune during his lifetime. He owned the San Diego Padres baseball team from 1974 until his death in 1984.

"The Founder" is a 2016 biographical drama film directed by John Lee Hancock and written by Robert Siegel. The film stars Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc, and portrays the story of his creation of the McDonald's fast food chain.