McDonald’s was founded on May 15, 1940, in San Bernardino, California, by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald.

Quick Scoop: Origin Story

  • Founding date: May 15, 1940.
  • Founders: Brothers Richard “Dick” McDonald and Maurice “Mac” McDonald.
  • First location: A drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California (originally focused on barbecue before shifting to hamburgers).

They later streamlined the menu around burgers, fries, and shakes with an assembly-line style “Speedee Service System,” which helped define modern fast food.

From Stand to Global Brand

  • In 1955, Ray Kroc opened a McDonald’s in Des Plaines, Illinois, and created McDonald’s Corporation, turning the concept into a large-scale franchise business.
  • Kroc eventually bought the rights from the McDonald brothers in 1961, pushing rapid expansion across the United States and then worldwide.

A simple 1940s burger stand thus evolved into one of the world’s most recognizable fast-food brands.

Tiny Timeline

  • 1940 – First McDonald’s restaurant opens in San Bernardino, California.
  • 1948 – Menu and operations are overhauled into a highly efficient burger-focused system.
  • 1953 – The Golden Arches design begins appearing on McDonald’s locations.
  • 1955 – Ray Kroc opens his first McDonald’s in Des Plaines and forms McDonald’s Corporation.
  • 1961 – Kroc purchases the McDonald brothers’ interests in the company.

Mini FAQ Style View

  • Q: So, when was McDonald’s “founded”?
    A: The original McDonald’s restaurant business was founded in 1940; the corporate franchise powerhouse really begins in 1955 with Ray Kroc’s corporation.
  • Q: Who gets credit as founder—McDonald brothers or Ray Kroc?
    A: Historically, the McDonald brothers founded the restaurant, while Kroc is often credited with founding the modern McDonald’s Corporation and globalizing the brand.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.