Big Mac became a major global McDonald’s brand after the sandwich was introduced in 1967.
The sandwich was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee in the United States. It used two beef patties, a middle bun section, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and a special sauce. Its distinctive name and construction made it useful not only as a menu item but also as a powerful advertising symbol.
The Big Mac became one of McDonald’s most recognizable products and later inspired the Big Mac Index, an informal comparison of currencies based on the sandwich’s prices in different countries.
The 1967 introduction was regional at first; nationwide U.S. availability followed in 1968. That timeline is why sources may describe either 1967 or 1968, depending on whether they mean the initial launch or national rollout.