10 Facts About Big Mac Inventor Michael James Delligatti The McDonald's franchise owner died at 98 this week.

By Nina Zipkin

McDonald's

McDonald's has been around for 61 years, but its most well-known offering, the Big Mac, wasn't even on the menu until more than a decade into the chain's history. It was the creation of Michael James "Jim" Delligatti, a franchise owner in Uniontown, Pa. This week, Delligatti died at 98 at his home in Fox Chapel, Pa.

In 1967, Delligatti had to work to convince the higher-ups that the 45-cent burger was worth the risk. It took only a year for the now-iconic sandwich to land on the restaurant's national menu. Today, it is available in more than 100 countries.

The Golden Arches recently added two new Big Mac options for diners: an even bigger and a slightly smaller burger. These ideas originated at franchise locations in Ohio and Texas.

Read on for ten facts about innovative franchisee Jim Delligatti.

Related: McDonald's to Sell a Bigger Big Mac -- and a Less Big, Big Mac?

10. Delligatti decided to open a McDonald's after meeting founder Ray Kroc at a restaurant trade show in Chicago in 1955.


9. He was the first person to own a McDonald's in western Pennsylvania. He opened his first location in the Pittsburgh suburbs in 1957.

8. During World War II, he served in the army and was stationed in Europe.

7. After the war, he hitchhiked from West Virginia to California, He first got into the restaurant industry by working at drive-ins and managing a Big Boy.

6. Over the course of 25 years, Delligatti opened 48 stores across Pennsylvania.

Related: McDonald's Will Soon Have Self-Serve Kiosks and Mobile Ordering in U.S. Stores

5. For the burger's 40th birthday in 2007, he opened a Big Mac Museum Restaurant in North Huntingdon, Pa. Visitors can see not only a statue of Delligatti, but also the largest Big Mac in the world – a 12- by 14-foot bronze sculpture.

4. Delligatti reportedly never tired of his creation, and he ate one Big Mac every week according to his family.

3. You can thank him for those breakfast sandwiches. He was among the first to serve breakfast at McDonald's. He put hotcakes and sausage on the menu to feed his customers who worked long, late shifts at steel mills.

2. He helped launch the seventh Ronald McDonald House, which opened its doors in Pittsburgh in 1979.

1. McDonald's became a Delligatti family business. His two children and two of his grandkids are also franchisees.

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'Everyone Can Profit From It': What Is DeepSeek? China's 'Cheap' to Make AI Chatbot Climbs to the Top of Apple, Google U.S. App Stores

DeepSeek researchers claim it was developed for less than $6 million, a contrast to the $100 million it takes U.S. tech startups to create AI.

Business News

Elon Musk's DOGE Is Hiring People Eager to 'Work Long Hours' to Eliminate 'Waste, Fraud and Abuse' in the Government. Here's How to Apply.

The Department of Government Efficiency is hiring U.S. citizens to help cut spending and headcounts in the federal government.

Business News

'I Love Doing Product Reviews': Bill Gates Stepped Down from Microsoft in 2020, But Admits He Still Spends 15% of His Time Working at the Company

In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, Gates also said he is still close with Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella.

Leadership

Strong Leaders Thrive in Complexity — Here Are 5 Leadership Level-Ups for 2025

Leadership isn't static. It's a journey of continual learning and evolution. Here are some lessons for leaders this year.