Ray Kroc
Raymond Albert Kroc was an American businessman who transformed McDonald's into a global fast-food empire.
Born in 1902, Kroc had a varied career as a salesman before encountering the McDonald brothers' restaurant at age 51.
He acquired the franchise rights and eventually bought the company, expanding it worldwide through standardization and innovative operating systems.
Kroc's business acumen and persistence led McDonald's to become the largest fast-food chain globally.
By his death, the company had 7,500 outlets with $8 billion in gross sales.
Kroc's impact on the American restaurant industry earned him comparisons to Henry Ford in the service sector.
